Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-09-04

Northern Pacific lands and doing other
zork for that company even less credit
.ble. Mr.. Smalley was over here few
weeks ago. Ostensibly bis object in
visiting this coast vas to write up the
scenery, resources, towns, ETC., of the
region tributary and adjacent to the
Northern Pacific in Washington Terri
tory. He visited several towns here
about, an finally tJok his departure for
the East via Stanpede Pass and the
kittitas and Yakima valleys Immedi-
ately upon his departure it was noticed
that nearly all the purchasable papers
ia this section of Washington Territory
became strenuous supporters of the
Northern Pacific Railroad Company,
and were vociferously opposed to for
feiture of its unesrned land grant. 1t
Was remarked also that a great many
editors and others connected with that
sort of newspapers we're travelling about
the country on passes. This coinci-
dence, however, may be merely acct
dental.
When Mr.. Smalley returned TO st.
Paul, in addition to his editorial labors
On the Northeast, he wrote some letters.
From one of these. addressed to the
Philadelphia Times, the following ex-
tract is taken. 1t refers to the Cascade
Branch Of the Northern Pacific Rail
road:
The cost of the branch will be about
$1,000 600, of which the great tunnel
will consume about 100000. The
company expects 20 obtain the money
for construction by the issue of bonds
at the rate OF $500 a mile. As author
ICED in the act of Congress of 1870. Ii
Is thought that there will be a margin
between the actual cost of construction
and the proceeds of the sale of the
bonds nearly. sufficient to build the
tunnel.
The length of this branch Of the
Northern Pacific Railroad from Aims
worth to Tacoma is, according to Mr..
Smalley, 245 miles. Its construction,
including two miles of tunnel. will cost
s. 100000. The land grant in aid Of its
building. is forty square miles, or rs, 600
acres fer every linear mile of road, that
ia to say for building the Cascade
branch the company will claim title TO
6,272, 600 acres of public land. This
land lies in alternate sections, with
hose reserved by the Government. Not
an acre of public land within the limits
of the railroad grant can be purchased
of Government at less than $3.50 per
acre. The large area of coal lands
lying therein il obtainable from Gov
eminent only ty paying $50 per acre.
Ii will not be commended that odd Sec
tions within railroad limits ore worth
less than even sections. The odd sec
tions are claimed by the railroad CON-
pany. At Government price ($250 per
acre) the value of the land grant to the
Northern Pacific for building the Cas-
cade branch aggregates Sl5. 6S0. 900, COR
siderably more than double the estimat-
ed cost Of the whole line, tunnel and
all.
In this ve have not included the large
ly increased value of lands cont aiming
coal and iron, thousands of acres OF
which are included in the grant. NOT
has the real average value of the land
been given. On this side the mountains
the average value of the land grant is
not less than $40 per acre. The average
v,lue along the whole line of road, at a
low estimate, is not less that IS pei
acre, or valuation of 81, 360, 600
nearly -four and one holf times the cost OF
its construction. Upon what grounds
liz this enormous surrender of public
property demanded? Upon what reassn-
ing can il be justified? Why should
the Northern Pacific Railroad be thus
exceptionally favoredS Why should
public property be used to build rail-
roads for private ownership Why. in
addition to presenting completed
railroad to corporation, should ii be
given a subsidy quadruple its valuei
Has that company any greater claims
upon the public than others? Is 1t en-.
titled to more consideration than Other
citizens and corporations? IL it moi
entitled to less2 Has il not forfeited It'd
right to claim exceptional privileges by
long continued and exasperating de-
laysf For more than twenty years il
has played fast and loose with the Gov
eminent. Il was conceived in fraud
The original owners of its franchise
never contributed a dollar to building
its road. The common stock of the
company today represents not dollar
contributed TO its construction. Ii ID
purely water. Every mile of the road
has been constructed with borrowed
rsoney. Mr.. Harris. now President OF
the company, recently declared that the
Cascade branch would be built by the
same means. Mr.. Smalley. in the ex-
tract quoted, reiteratee the statement
II ought not to be very difficult to raise
$4,000 per mile on a land grant worth
at Government prices more than twice
that sum. An unencumbered company
could raise double the amount.
The proposition to coafrm to the
Northern Pacific land grant forfeited
over seven years ago. lie identical with
making new grant. II is opposed to
the declarations Of the Republican
party in National Convention. II is in
conflict with Law and justice. Il Ia an
outrageous attempt 10 pervert a gift
which. when made, Was for the public
good, into an engine of oppression aud
iniary Of indefinite duration. 10 10 an
assault upon the landed heritage Of the
people of the United States unwarrant
ed and indefensible. IL Ia an outrage
against which th. people. no, alone of
Washington Territory, bat of the whole
nation Indignantly protest.
But IL Il be wrong to confirm TO the
Northern Pacific lands along the line OF