Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-06-26
DAILY POST lNTElIlGENCER.


Seattle is dull. With practically IN
limited resources close at hand, busi-
meas il slack, and complaints OF hare
times are general. We have heretofore
advarted 10 the direct causes OF 6usi-
ness depression. They are neisnef
wholly nor mainly local, bat affect tne
entire Northwest. Cessation OF ran
road building, with its attendant dis
burssments. dizziness in the lunoer mar
ket. and diminished output OF coAi
roinas hay. combined to create sea
SON Of hard times. Money has ceased
to flow into the Northwest as copiosSiy
az IL did last summer, and the result -
a marked scarcity of that essential
factor OF business prosperity and e.
tension.
The ONE thing necessary to stimulate
business. put money in circulation ana
place this city upon the open highway
that leads to success, is prompt deVei-
opment of the coal deposits which lie
adjacent 10 and within our county
boundaries. There are situate within
thirty miles of this city half dozen
coal mines, more or less prospscteo ana
developed, all of which are known TO De
valuable. The only hindrancs 70 the
urompt utilization of these mines Is
lack of transportation. In short, what
Seattle needs and must have Is Fall
road over which to haul the output OF
these mines 10 this city en- route to
market.
There il a proposition now before the
ueople of Seattle which undertakes To
solve this transportation problem. Ii
Ia. in brief, resurrection IN modifed
form of a tender which was accepted by
our people year ago, TO wit; to aid by
subsidy, the construction OF railroad
10 the Green river coal fields, such rail-
road to be eventually extended to con
meet with the Cascade ranch OF the
Northern Pacific, when 1t shall be con-
structed. The original subsidy was for
feitsd by non compliance with the st,p'
ulations OF the contract, in falling u
complete the road within the time stip-
ulated therein, although not less than
half q million dollars have been expend'
ed in its building. The company
through It's representative, now asks the
people of Seattle TO aid it to the extent
of 100000, and promises to complete
the road to the coal mines at Green
river by the first day Of November, 1884
and proposes TO give ell necessary guar
antees Of good faith In perform anoe oil
its pledge.
We have, In view OF its extreme i'm
portance 40 this city, examined this
question very carefully, both M to the
ability of the company to fulfill the
agreement il entered into, aud az to the
direct and immediate benefits TO be de-
rived from the extension Of the partly
completed railroad to the Green River
coal fields. The facts obtained are given
in another article in this issue. We are
strongly impressed with the conviction
that, in the acceptance of the PROPOSE
ton made by Mr.. Howard on behalf OF
his company lies the safest. best and
speediest remedy for present business
depression, and the must practical road
to q steady and stable revival Of general
prosperity.
Il is evident to all who are not wilfully
blind that the Northern Pacific Rail
road Company has liz view project
which, IL not oheckmated, will injure
this city. IL is asserted, and IL Is not
at all unlikely. that a section Of rs miles
of its road will be built from South
Prairie TO extend into and tap the very
coal fields we hope to utilize for the
benefit of Seattle. The motive of the
Northern Pacific is obvious, and need
only be limited at to be understood. IL
wants to earn the GOAL lands by building
the railroad, and haul the output over its
railroad TO its pet terminal city TO help
out the Tacoma Townsite Company.
With local road completed and in oper-
alton, another argument would be given
those who do net believe it right TO give
away valuable public lands without con-
sideration, and an opportunity afforded
to companies who desire to ship their
coal to market via Seattle to do so. II
needs no argument TO show that, unless
this railroad be built. the Northern Pa
cihc will soon have practical control OF
the coal trade In this region. This
would work this city irreparable injury.
We think the proposition Of Mr.. How
ard, II accepted, will put the means of
sell. protection in our own hands and
render this city practically and forever
independent of the Determinations Of
the Northern Pacific Railroad. More
overland this fact must not be lost
sight of--this railroad 10 ON the NEST
feasible route over the Cascade noun
tains 10 Eastern Washington, aud Ia a
year OF two, II successful, II can be there
extended. twill be profitable from the
day II begins to haul coal. and as the
business interests Of its owners will
center here, in It's successful operation