Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-04-22
DAILY P0ST-INIEluCENCER.


the hundredth time that We are opposed
IN the construction of a railroad by the
Northern Pacific Company across the
Cascade Mountains, because, II built IL
vouId terminate at Tacoma. 1t alleges
that this is the reason why our Chamber
of Commerce and the people IN mass
meeting protest against ofhciai ihspee-
tion and acceptance Of the fnyailop
oo.I road a. part Of the Cascade DIVE
ion. 1t SAYS if Seattle we're wiling 10
sec the road speedily built 1t W"nla h''
OBJECT to Incorporating this coal f''u
into the Cascade Division. |
Seattle does not object to such ih'"''
no,ation. II the Northern Pacihc kail- |
road Company desires to extend It's coAi
ro.d acyosa the mountains TO connect
with its main line at "aiinia OF ei7e-
where, no one here has any objection
II has the ind1bItable right TO buiio
railroad IN any direction and I" any
point its management may deem ad'is-
.hle There are general laws under
which il can claim night OF way iahus
%, citation p1rposes, etc. II has Just
the same right, and no more tha'
anv other company has to build rail-
roads iu Washington Territory. Up
to 1879 it had special privileges accord
cd. and was favored with muulhceht
bonus. In disregard of its contract
and ia total derogation Of public right,
il has laid claim 10 millions OF acres OF
pablo land not earned. This II what
it is trying to do with respect to this
GOAL road. To prevent this the citizens
of Seattle have taken action.
We claim that the Northern facihc
Railroad has no right 10 demand from
the Government any lands not earned
in accordance with the provisions OF It's
charter that the construction OF TINS
branch of local road for local purposes
was not in conformity with said char
ter that il was not built AZ section
Of the Cascade branch {; has never been
40 Intended, and cannot at this time be
40 Incorporated into said branch a. To
entitie the Northern Pacific Railroad
Company to a land grant for Its con
struotion. Not until recently tif at all ,
was il definitely located as part of that
branch. The time of its construction
is, in law, as we understand 1t, hIed by
the date of definite location, inspection
and acceptance. This is new attempted
to be done five years after the date liked
for fulfillment of its contract. 1t IL an
outrageous and iniquitous perversion OF
law and fact which is now being at
tempted by the Northern Pacific Rail
road Company.
We repeat that it il not to the fact
that the coal road referred to IL to form
part Of the Cascade branch that OBJ
lection is made. We protest against
giving the Northern Pacific Railroad or
any other company any more public
lands for building railroads Ill thus Fer
rit0ry. II can and will build the Cas-
cade branch without such aid. 1t can
by no possibility earn them. They are
worth today Ear more than its road
would cost even If double tracked over
the mountains. They are worth SO
much that to develop the coal mines
situate therein railroads have already
been built and others are projected
which depend absolutely on the iegiti-
mate development of such mines and
the support received from the region
penetrated. Tho Puyallup coal road
has been a good piece of property. 1t
has realized III profits the expectations
and promises tho President and Vice
road made prior To its construction. 1t
was built a. local road, and ~ such
HAS been proftably operated. With
what justice then, seven years after Its
completion, oan the Northern Pacific
Railroad come forward and claim a
landed bonus of immense value for its
construction? As well would the pur-
chase of the Newcastle coal road, and
widening of its gauge, ontitle the North
ern Pacific to land grant therefor.
This people and the press of this city
are not opposed tn the construction of
railroads across the Cascade Mountains.
On the contrary, we all desire to see not
one alone but several railroads connect
ing Puget Sound with the East. More
over, We expect them at no distant day.
But, while thus eager for railroad con
neotioA, we are not willing to see sur
rendered a large portion of our landed
patrimony to secure that result The
lands of this Territory are valuable and
dozen points east of the Missouri rail
roads are stretching westward. They
are building without subsidy depending
upon the business of the country pene-
trated. Take away the land grant. and
they will be met by other lines starting
from this side of the continent The
time has long since gone 10y when land
grant WAS necessary To build a railroad
in Washington Territory. IL will never
return
The acceptance of - miles of the
Puyallup coal road ~ part of the Cas-
cade branch of the Northern Pacific
railroad is intended To he the basis for
claiming title to very large area of
most valuable coal and timber lands. Ii
Is 10 prevent the seizure of these lands,
not the building of "A railroad. that pro
tests have been sent to the President
We claim that the Northern Pacific
Railroad Company has not now. never
Mad, nor should be allowed to have
through the action OF the President a
color of title to these lands. Tie
lands sought to be grabbed by the nc
ceptanoe of this - miles of railroad
would sell IN the market today for more
money than would he necessary 10 con
struot the Cascade branch. Ii these