Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-08-03
DAILY POST.INTElllGENCER.


Our contemporary, the walia "aiia
Uu;on. stakes the cake" for asking
ousstions-a form of argument OF
rather defense, tolerated but not usual
lv effective. Although the foli'W'te
yolley of queries was not fred directly
a. this naper, We feel free TO answer
them first, because they we're directed
IN those who favor forfeiture OF the un-
earned land grant 10 the Northern
Pacific Railroad Company IN this Terri
orv. and second. because they nave
been reproduced With flourish by sew
sral eorporation crumb pickers on THIS
side of the mountains. Here IL TIE
Uuson's list, which the Tacoma LedgSr
says comes ringing across the Gas
cades from Eastern Washington =
Wonld a railroad across the Cascade
nountaias be of value to washington
Territory Gan the nOnev TO b1iid u
he raised in the Territory IL tue lana
Tor forty miles on ZACH side Of the pro
mad railroad as valuable - tue settler
xitnout tns road as IL will be with u Z
D,es il make any difference to tns vsst
majority of the citIZeas OF the Tern
t0ry whether the road ends At lacont
ar Seattle 4? Is thsre a reasonable pros
nact that the Northern Pa5Ihs VIII
build the roid? Wolld the company
b1ild 1t without the land giant
Would any company Of capitalists
h.iId the road without the land grant Z
VINO il injured By allowing tue grant
10 stand intact for a reasonable tlLns
Who gives the land for the Iotd, tue
psools of the United States or tue pep
Die of Washington Territory no"
MANY of the readers of this would Do
in Washington Territory today had IL
not besn for the hops OF deriving some
bsasfit from tue cJns.rdction OF tue
Northern Pas.fici Wac nAs been IN.
iursd by the construction OF the 81
Cannot the reader tnIn< OF some Oene-
q. he or she b " derived from IN con .
stfuction of the Dad TO date would
additional benefit follow tue compile
ton of tbs Csc lds branch way ask
for the cancellation OF the grantE
We reply to these questions se''af'"'
u Undoubtedly, if economically oper'
ated. 81 Probably not at this time'
(3) Certainly not. ~ No. 90 Not at
present. 90 Yes, when business viii
Justify or probable competition com
psls. ca Yes, whea 1t becomes bust
ness proposition. 81 Everybody. The
price of even sections is doubled and
the intending settler does not know
how much he will finally be compelled
TO pay for his claim. 90 Both, but the
people of this Territory are by far the
most interested, because Of location
(lo) We give 1t up. Ask as something
easy. IN No one, unless the lane
Rraut goes with the road. Ii so, every
body unc0anected with the corporation
who resides or expects to reside In the
Territorg. (l2) Certainly. IL other
wise, why il the road allowed even
right of way. Presumably the Govern
ment would not charter = public enc
my. OBJ See answer No. l. (l4) Be
cause it is right because it is at Thu
day grant without adequate consider
alton because the land il needed fol
the people because the company doei
not deserve it; because its ownership
thereof would be public and perma:
nsnt menace, an irreparable injury
because the land belongs of right tc
those who need il for homes and are
willing to come here and occupy 1t
because the giving away OF public land'
In this Territory at this time is abso
lutely unnecessary for its healthy de
velopment and growth because th'
aggregation Of SO vast an area OF land
In the hands of any corporation is il
derogation of the natural right Of ever,
American citizen because it is Grim
insl appropriation Of public propert,
for private and personal aggrandizs-
ment because neither the Northern Pa
ciao Railroad Company nor any othei
corporation is entitled 10 receive. excep
for public benefit, favors from the gen
eral government denied 10 its citizens
and finally, because every honest, in
telligent man whe favors justice, pre-
fers liberty 10 bondage, and who be
Esves that flesh and blood citizen /,
entitled to equal privileges aud benefits
with corporation, demands that
wholesale transfer of the people land
ed heritage shalt cease forever In the
United States. These are few of Tia,
reasons why cancellation OF the un
earned land grant is demanded w
think them worthy of consideration.