Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-04-10
DAILY PoSI.IN1Ell|GENCER.
An OPES LETTE3 To- DELICATE
RRENTS

10. II
Congress Of the Uni.ed State f'o'" ash
inoton Territoyy-DEAR SIR Near
" ak wears ago YOU were elected by ths |
citizens of Washington Territory to re-
present them in the Congress OF the
United States. You have since been
t~ice reelected. This manifestation OF
reliance in your ability to further the
intarests of this Territory and conhd -nce
in vour integrity, doubtless has been,
and now il, extremely gratifying. f"u
are the only officially recognized expon-
ent at the seat Of government OF pop
ulation nov numbering fully lJ)tW
souls. To you your fellow members
Of the House of Representatives. look
for information and advice concerning
the needs of this Territory. and the
wishes Of its citizens: upon you the iat-
ter must rely to voice their views ana
present their demands. 1t is needless
70 uros that You are expected to be fam
iliar with both.
During the present session OF Con
press, a measure OF vast interest and
import to the people Of this Territory
has been introduced, and received much
consideration. We refer to the bill
proyidinp for forfeiture of the unearned
land grant to the Northern Pacitic
Railroad Company. The subject has
occupied the time and attention OF the
Committee on Public Lands of tho
House Of Representatives. for several
weeks past. Representatives OF the
Northern Pacific Railroad Company
have been heard in advocacy OF Its
claim to a continuation OF the epor'
nous grant. They have b sen reinforced
TO some extent by resolutions adopted
nv boards of Trade" and Chambers
of Commerce" in some of the cities OF
this Territory. The committee, how
ever. after exhaustive investigation, de-
oided by pronounced majority, that
the Northern Pacific Railroad Company
had, under its charter, earned no public
lands since July 4, 1879, and have pre-
pared a bill, declaring forfeited and re-
storing to the public domain. all lands
not earned by construction of said rail
road on or before the date above
named.
The people of Washington Territory
are practically united in urging the pas
sage of this bill a. prepared aud agreed
upon by said committee. Numerous
public meetings have been held during
the past month in various sections Of
the Territory. The matter has been
fully presented and discussed. Pream-
bles setting forth facts connected with
the subject, and resolutions praying for
and demanding the prompt forfeiture
by Congress of the huge unearned land
grant to this COMPANY within the limits
Of this Territory have been adopted
with spontaneity and unaniraiiy un-
paralleled. They have been forwarded
to you at Washington. Petitions signed
by thousands of citizens have also been
transmitted for presentation to Con
Rress. The press Of this Territory, with
out distinction Of party, with but rare
and not weighty exceptions, unite in
urging upon Congress the prompt re-
storation Of this vast area of valuable
land to the public domain.
You have been for some months alb
sent from this Territory. eng aged in
your public duties at the National capi-
tai. II IL not improbable that, being 30
far removed from your constituents,
you may fail to grasp the situation or
70 appreciate the widespread and in
tense interest on this subject which per
vades every city. town and hamlet
within the Territory which you repre-
sent. With the kindest motives, there.
fore, your attention IL called TO the
facts, which are AZ above stated. II is
autographed by the Associated Press
that you will offer substitute for the
bill agreed upon by the Committee on
Public Lands when such bill is brought
up for consideration in the House OF
Representatives. which, while declaring
forfeited the land grant between Wal
lula and Portland, confirms to the
Northern Pacific Railroad Company all
the rest of its grant, under conditions,
a. follows:
1.-The company shall henceforth con
street not less than 100 miles of its rail
road each year, and complete and equip
the whole by July 4. 1886, except that
section between Wallula and Portland.
All lands confirmed to the company
shall he subject to assessment and tax
alton by the State, Territory. county or
municipality; and all agricultural ,aads
NO confirmed which were not sold be-
fore January l, 1884, shall be- sold by
the COMPANY only TO citizens 81 the
United States in quantities not exceed
ing l60 acres to any one person and at
prices not exceeding e2.d0 per acre"
II oan hardly be possible that you
have been truthfully informed A. to the
wishes and demands Of your constitu-
ents. Your attitude on this important
matter occasions profound solicitude.
The citizens of this Territory would
most reluctantly be forced to the con
ciusion that you are wiifully endeavor-
ing to misrcpresent them before Con
gross. or from unworthy motives essay.
ing to do them injustice by acting in
the interests Of great corporation,
whose claims II confirmed must eventu-
ate in unmeasurcd injustice and injury
They have confided in your devotion to
their service they will be very 10th to
admit that your allegiance has been
transferred to corporation, whose p.l-
ICY and demands are amply shown To
be hostile to the public welfare.
II Ia the province of newspaper TO
deal with and discuss public men and
measures TO voice 80 far as possible
the popular desire to criticise aud con
demn that which conflicts with public
interest. We assure you. sir, that il
you introduce and advocate the passage