Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-07-29
DAILY P0ST.INTElLIGENcER
CONTINGENCIES.

GFU X ACluC tstitAOf%S
contrary. il has espoused the canss OF
that corporation upon nearly all qneS
.ions which are at issue between 1t ana
the neople with vigor and considerable
ability. II has especially opposed the
forfeiture of the unearned land grant,
declaring its belief that II tns gram
were continued, the company Would
push the Cascade Branch to speedy
completion.
An arrangement has been entered
into bet ween the Northern Paclhe hii-
road Company and the Oregon Railway
and Navigation Company whereby ihe
railroad, steamships and all other prop
erty of the latter company are to be
leased to the former for ninety nine
wears. This is practically sale, ana
when completed there will be delivery
of the property. The lease only awaits
thu signature of President harrls'
which will be affixed upon his return to
New York city.
This is a result which has been for
some time foreshadowed, and which mas
been Justly regarded with great appre-
hension by those who realize It's scope
and can foreses its inevitable effect. In
a word, it places the territory OF tue
Northwest under the absolute dominion
of one corporation, which, except upon
nayieable waters, can and will control
all TRANSPORTATION, and upon them Will
exert its power and use its means 10
strangle and drive away successful CON-
petition.
Its effect upon the speedy completion
of the Cascade Branch has not yet been
developed. Naturally, however, the ten
denoy will be to delay the construction
of that section of railroad. With
continuous line of railroad to Underwater
on the Columbia river and to Puget
Sound, on easy grades, secure from
competition, aud holding the key of the
great eranaries of Eastern Washington
and Oregon, the Northern Pacific ha,
no urgent need to expend the 5000 OOC
estimated for completion of its Cascade
Branch.
The Union evidently has been care
fully considering the effect of this lease
and in a thoughtful editorial discusses
the situation at considerable length
The article closes as follows:
President Harris says the leasing OF
the Oregon Railway d Navigation Com
pany will not affect the completion OF
the Cascade branch. IL may not. But
it ia very evident that it will remove a
strong incentive to its speedy csmple-
ton. With road reaching Puget
sound around the pot tail as it Lays
down, there will not be much induce
ment for building another road to the
same point over the pot bail standing
up. Engineers deciars that the differ.
ence in grade equalizes the difference IL
distance between the river and mount
ain routes from Wallula to Tacoms,
It is certain that If the Northern Pacific
will take the produce of the interior t.
deep ea-going vessels for reasonable
freight charges, the producers will not
care whether their wheat IL hauled
down the river or over the mountains.
We commend the above to the con
sideration Of those who believe in the
sincerity of the Northern Pacific Rail
road Company's promise, that 1t vii
complete the Cascade branch within
f..u A.f =,
from date. Let US put a snppositiou'
yet not impossible case. Let IL be con
ceded that the Northern Pacific will
build the Cascade branch to the foot OF
the Cascade range on the east, thereby
laying claim to half the fertile region
for twenty miles on each side of its
line. That portion of the road is com
paratively inexpensive in construction.
Let il be further conceded that il will
extend the Puyallup coal road from
South Prairie to the western base of the
Cascades, thereby laying similar claim
to half the GOAL mines, half the simber
and half the agricultural valleys for 20
miles each side thereof. Construction
Of this section would not be excessively
expensive. There will yet remain a
ssotion of perhaps 60 miles that will
cost more than all the balance. Ii will
include n tunnel two miles in length.
The lands opposite suoh uncompletod
section are comparatively of little value
They lie along the snow line of the Cas-
cade Mountains, the timber is not heavy,
there is no agricultural and but little
grazing land. What then more patural
than that the company should stop
work !?
In view Of the suggestion In the fore
going extract, why should this no, be
the result ? The road will be expensive
to construct; IL is not essential TO the
company, which already will have ac-
quired the best lands and monopoly
Of transportation on both sides of the
mountains; the approaches to the STAN
pede Pass will also have been appropri-
estAs on& t1e HNh
tenn Of the Northwest will have beeu
secured. Why then should the CON.
pany expend $4,000, 900 or s5.Ooo.ooo for
something that it does not need for a
section of railroad that can be dis
pensed with, after having grasped all
the material advantages TO be derived
from its land grant? These are timely,
and, we think, pertinent queries. Some
one will answer that the company will
complete the Cascade branch speedily,
because il has solemnly pledged itself
20 do 80. Keep its promises That
makes US laugh.
OF INTEREST To THE BAR.
Ghiaf Iaattca Gp,aara a. t,as