Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-03-28
.,pCoS TRANsCONTlNENTAL q
The PACIFIC COAST.

TIE PACIFIC COAST.
The Rail,ood record aud Inueator's
Guide, which is a Northern Pacific or
esu ia Philadelphia, published the fol-
lowing as its leading editorial on the
18th Of March:
A President both OF the Northern
paci6c and Transcontinental Compa-
nj+s. Mr.. Willard was committed to two
conflicting policies.
He WAS pledged to the stockholders
~ the Northern Pacific Railroad to uss
ali the resources placed at his disposal
for the completion Of the main line TO
Wallula, at the terminus nf the Oregon
Railway and Navigation Railroad. and
thereafter to construct the Cascade
branch from the Columbia River to Pu-
oct Sound ~ the best available route,
With Tacoma as the terminal point.
By the seventh article of the deed Of
trust securing the bonds Of the Oregon
Transcontinentai Company to the Far
msrs' Loan and Trust Company Of New
Ysrk. as copied from PoOr's Railroad
Manual Of 1892" it was declared the pur-
nose of tho TranscOntinental Company
TO construct "a railroad and telegraph
line from point ON the Columbia River
at or near tho town of WGllula, by che
most practicable route Though the Sno
uualmie or other available pass In the
Cas- ,ade range of mountains. To the oity
Of Seattle, on Puget Sound, in Washing
ton Territory, and Il branch line from
this line at point near the town OF
Renton, in the county of King. in Wash
ipRtou Territory, i'll a general south
ga .terly direction through the Valley Of
Cedar River to the Cedar River mines :;
and also a branch line from point
upon said main line at or near the said
town of Renton, in a general south
easterly direction, by the most raoti
cable route, to the Carbon River coal
mines, in the county Of Pierce"
In Pursuance of this purpose con
tract was made by which, on condition
Of the payment by the citizens Of Seat
tie to Willard or the company to be des-
ignated by him of a bonus Of $l5O,OCO,
the Cascade branch was to be built by
the Northern Pacific Company through
the Stampede Pass to point on Green
River, and IA road thence to Seattle by
the Cedar River, with a branch to tho
Green River coal fields by Mr.. Willard
or the Oregon improvement Company.
1t WAS. however, distinctly and explicit
ly understood in the words Of the
fourth article of the contract that the
railroad up the Cedar River valley
should be continued to a junction with
the Cascade division of the Northern
Pacific railroad, sd as to form COIL
rlete connect ion with said division, and
that the completion of the coal road
alone would not be regarded as a full
tllment of the contract.
II was also promised that the kalama
branch of the Northern Pacific railroad
should be extended to Seattle by the
Northern Pacific and rranscontinentai
Companies.
II WAS also proposed by Mr.. Willard to
sell all the coal lands of the Northern
Pacific to the Oregon Improvement
Company, who would thus transport
over the proposed system of brauoh
lines to Seattle az their terminus, the
Green nhd Carbon river mines, and
control the coal trade Of the Pacific
Coast.
Ia fulfillment of these pledges to the
Seattle and Oregon Improvement inter
ssts, the extension of the road from Ia
coma to Seattle has been nearly com
pleted, and large force has until re-
cent period been kept at work on the
Cedar River branch; but on the Cascade
lranch nothing has been done except
the construction, at the expense of the
Northern Pacific Railroad Company. of
seven miles, as part of the extension
from Tacoma to Seattle via tue Puya!-
lup branch to Stuck junction.
10 the construction of these roads oy
m independent company, with Seattle
AZ a terminus, no objection could be
raised, but in fact il was proposed to
make the Northern Pacific Company n
party to the building of a Competing
system Of roads interpOsed between
their lines and the coast, and depriving
tnem 0f the transportation OF the GOAL
from their own mines and lands.
AT the time when the route through
The Stampede Pass WAS adopted by Mr..
Willard, it had been conolusiveiy shown
oy thoroaeh examinations and surveys
mat the route through the Natchess
rass Was superior to any other as re-
sards length Of line to DO constructed
and operated, and in economy Il COST
and transportation, and this with refer
ence to either Tacoma Or Seattle AZ
terminal point.
In fact, the shortest and best route
oy the Natchess line, but Tacoma has,
from its position, the advantage over
any other point in distance, and what Is
really demanded by the Seattle and Vii
lard interests IL the adoption by the
Northern Pacific Railroad Company of
.ae cireuitous and costly route through
zoe Stampede Pass. for the sole purpose
VI neutIalizing the advantages possess
oy their own lire and terminus, and
snording facilities for the construction
competing system of roa1s.
railing in these purposes 1t 10 nov
osmanded, openly BY the Seattle press,
Saa quietly BY those interested in the
wizard system of roads, that the land
Rtants Of the Northern Pacific Railroad
.aaii be forfeited, in order to prevent
.ue extension of the road to its termi
H"us' and 10 make it subsidiary to the
OreRon Improvements and Oregon Rail
way Navigation Companies.
~ fact. from the exploit declaration
~ tne deed OF trust above Qaoted to the
Farmers Loan and Trust Company, and
i1om the policy subsequently pursued.
can no longer be doubted that il was
v'M ,om the beginning the purpose of Mr..
,uiard that the mri in line of the North
Srn T faeific railroad should terminate at
uNluia. on the Columbia River. and
we Cascade branch at such point on
Me onoqnalmie or Green River ~
wlent present the greatest facilities for
Se construction, in the interests Of the
Oasgon Improvement Company, Of q
.S1d to Seattle AS a terminus, which
Taonid compete to advantage with the
Nosthern Pacific railroad for through
Suo local freight destined to Puget
souhd, and for the ownership and
transportation of the coal from the
uFten and Carbeu River fields.