Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-02-24
DAILY Posi-.


V00kv BUOU eSSs SsSOssss
I'm CaDAn RgvR0 ExrKnssos.
Amid the oomplioatioos which appear
to bssst everything connected win
What have besn known - tie Willard
companies and combinations. MT the
least important, both TO the companies
directly interested and to the people Of
King county, are those which have re-
suited in the suspension-temposa'iiy'
We trust-of work on What 10 knows ~
the Cedar River extension. The 6rssn
River eoal 6slds are in King county,
about thirty miles distant from Seattle.
This harbor 10 the natural shipping
point for the product Of the mines there
opsued and to Be developed. Up 70 the
time when Mr.. Willard President
Of the Northern Pacific Railroad Com
psuy and the Oregon and Transeonsi-
mental Coupany-visitsd this city last
April, thsss had existed . rivalry De
tween this city and Tacoma relative 70
thaas eoai Aslds. EAeh desired TO b
connsotsd By rail directly with the
mines. and sash demanded thas il b
established . ths point Of tranship-
msnt Of thsir prodsct from rail 10 oesan
esrriaes. Tbsrs Vas also another sie-
rnsnt Of direst interest," - both cities
Seattle desired direct connection With
the Cascade branch Of tbs Northern
Pacific railroad, not through or by way
of Tacoma, bot independently thereof.
That city bad been officially designated
~ the terminus Of the Northern Pacific
railroad. The Cascade division was 70
connect with that section from Port
land st or near that point. seattle Vas
NOT sstisi3sd with the condition Of IT.
fairs, nor With The proposed location OF
the new line over the mountains. She
desired not alous 70 have the King coun-
" coal fields made tributary 70 hsr
growth, but 70 have direct connection
With the Cascads division at sons point
between the Cascade Mountains and
Poaet Sound. Hhs wanted this oonuoc-
ton made southeast. instead Of south
via Tacoma.
This, " say, Vas the situation when
nearly a year ago Mr.. Willard visited
this city. The matter had been dis
sussed among the prominent business
and uonsysd N On Of Seattle. SuRges-
lions were made and plan devised
tho execution Of which would secure
g this city the advantages 70 DO de-
rived BY being established a. the point
Of coal tsanshipment from the Green
River mines, With the reciprocal benefit
Of furnishing supplies thereto. and
which furthermore would sventuate In
establishing direct standard gage con-
motion with tho Cascade division Of tho
Northern Pacific Railroad independent
Of the city on Commencement Bay. In
other words, an isosceles triangle was
70 b formed. the point Of which should
b % some place between tho Cascade
mountains and Puget Sound, with Ia
coma ct the south end Of the base line
and seattle at the north. The practical
o6sos Of this woald b. 10 establish two
tsrmini for the Cascade division on Pa
~ Sound. With these motives in view
- interview vas had with Mr.. Willard,
the matter was thoroughly discussed
and proposition sabmitted BY him was
formally accepted and afterward en-
bodied in = written contrast, duly exc
sutsd By his Representatives and the
psopls Of this city.
That contract bound the subscribers
thsreto TO pay the amounts not opposite
their names, aggreRating $4,000, to
Henry Willard, or 10 any company
named By him, II and when certain aots
therein stipulated 70 b done BY him, or
bis dssiRnatsd agent, we're performed.
Those acts wore (1) 70 complete and
Pot in operation q standard gage rail.
read from Seattle. via Rsnton and
Cedar River Valley. 70 tho Green
River coal fields; (2) 70 commence the
construction Of 70 miles Of railroad from
Renton up ssia Cedar River Val
Icy ON or before July 70, 1888. and 70
establish direet connection BY standard
cage railroad between seattle and said
Green River fields. via Renton and
Csasr River Valley, ON or before May l.
1854; 90 that all the oeal production
Of said fields, controlled by said CON-
pany (ths y. !. Coz, and shipped 70
Puget Sound. shall b shipped over said
railroad to Seattle a. that this rail-
road % bailt shall BE- continued 70 q
Junction With the Cascade Division Of
the Noethsrn Pacific Railroad a soon
~ said division shall be built 70 point
nearest ths end Of said Cedar Valley
road.
This was the status Of Affairs In the
last Of April, 1883. The people Of g.
attic In . phsnomenally short time
pledged shsmsslvss - pay this som Of
noasy In accordance with tHsss stipa.
latiO0s. Work vas commenced upon
The road. and antil latsly has been con
tiaUonaly prosecuted. Recently oil sp-
srations havs bssn suspended. An agent
aad representative Of ths parties or
COMPANY ounoQed In IA oonaHruoAion I.