Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-07-10
THERE SHALL BE NO REST.
I Wasco SUM-

To the Northwest settler we say in
loud, earnest tones, let there be no rest.
Trust to no promises or probabilities a.
to the benefits due the people. There
10 no limit which will bound the rapaci
ty of the companies who have attempt
ed to build railroads across the west
shores of the continent. They may be
deferred for awhile by calamities in the
great markets of the country from ex-
tending their demands. The public
may in measure become awakened to
the result, but when u IL too late TO up
ply remedies adequate 20 protect them
IN their rights.
We feel sure from Information which
comes 10 as very directly, that the most
determined fight Ia 10 be made against
forfeiture upon the ground that the
Government has no right to alter or
qualify its professions of assistance !;
and that 1t matters not whether the re-
cipient of benefits have performed their
part of the contract or not, the Govern
ment Is TO be held to tho grant made.
The assistance of the courts in manu-
featuring olsims and legal points is to
be insisted upon.
We urge a determined, outspoken
fight by the people. We ask them for
once 30 lay aside party differences. and
demand that these lands be opened to
settlement and purchase by actual set
tiers. and that the opportunity which
has been given this road 10 group large
bodies of lands under one holding for
speculative purpos-s be- stornly fought
by every man.
II was not the in ention OF the Gov
srnment TO allow tie grant 10 be held
for speculation, anu to allow the rail-
road TO speculate out of the people, but
that the people should have the lands,
and the railroad should hava the money,
they paid for IL but that they sh uld
not be kept OF from settling and MAX
ing homes upon IL.
Ii is enough for the Governmet 10
give the railroad monopoly Of right OF
way, or what amounts to that, without
giving them the privilege To hardship
the people in the accommodation offer
ed. The absurd rates of transportation
which are now demsnded are great
imposition. to say nothing of their gath
ering the earnings Of this great high
way. without paying one dollar OF tax
upon the lands held for their benefit.
10 place this matter IN a different light.
let us make this statement, and let the
farmer who pays a tax 10 help support
the State and couuty. decide where jus
tice Laws: Mpre than twenty years ago
the Government granted to certain
wealthy individasls who joined them
sslves into q corporsts company. half
OF ali the unoccupied lands IN a strip
tan miles wide in States. and twenty
miles wide Ia Territories, upon each side
OF located line for a railroad; msktna
every other section OF land in a strip
twenty miles vide In States, that Was
unoccupied land. and every other SEQ
ton of uuoccupied land in strip forty
miles wide In the Territories.
The Law WAS disregarded here m Ore
gon, by which, although IL Was q State,
the railroad company succeeded In Get
ting q strip forty miles wide across the
State withdrawn from occupancy by
the people. and they have held this
twenty years. refusing TO pay taxes
upon IL. while the settlers have bad %
build the roads, bridges, etc., and osh-
erwise add 90 the value OF the grant
All this injustice TO the grant as it Was
originally made has not only been suf-
fered, but no stroke Of work under the
grant has been made 10 build railroad
across the north side OF the State Of Or
eoon, for which the grant vas enacted.
And no that q bill forfeiiIng these
lands has been placed on passage, evsrv
effort 10 being made 30 hinder u and 20
destroy It's eject by the railroad Inter
~sis. IL becomes not only the interest
OF the settler. but ef the local anthori-
ties 20 insist that tho people have ias.
tice In this matter of shsir landed
rights. even IL they are Obliged 90 De
hardshippsd In their transpor alton OF
products, etc. We have repeatedly
called attention 10 the looss drift OF the
peoples privileges. and shsi. contiuue
10 do 90. Il rsmsins 10 BE- sssn whether
the people Gill insist upon defining the
boundaries of them or not.