Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-05-02
ot.N wpt,. .sHt>.To> TtU.
OliNpI,. IRlpN Nl\I\C, WI ;. 1881.
The Railroad Lands g..

Tho Seattle mn NnFf"T lutN
rcoio CT more II questions to the
Sr,>rur on tho subject OF the
Northern Pacific land grant, not SO
much evidently TO elicit information
from a reply as 10 strengthen the
prejudice against the company 1t has
already caused 10y IT. sophistry and
misrepresentation. Probably no an
aver "a desired Our esteemed con
temporary may he using the iuterro-
CATION point for the Same purpose
that certain clergyman used pray
or IA the Legislative Assembly. to
consuro things It does not approve,
bat we shall nevertheless concedc
that they possess enough sincerity to
warrant q brief consideration. IL Is
not expected that wo will throw new
light on subject 80 well understood
b, ,hc public, bu, We isay focus the
rays on facts 40 az 60 dispel so,Ae
q tho mists which obscure tho view.
Tho first inquiry made IL, " Is
there any moie reason for giving the
Northern Pacific Go. grant OF land
for building line Of railroad from
kalama 10 Tacoma than there was
for giving the Olympia Co. n grant
II land from Olympia TO Tonino 2
Possibly not. Neither would have
been built without 1t, or an oquiva
lent. aud our pooplc not only gave
money aud land, but the county is
sued bonds. to serve Just tho object
Of the Northern Iaclio's land grant.
Had not tina. company assumed that
tho resolution Of Congress dated
April 10, 1869, carried with it oil
the rights aud privileges OF the orig
inal act, the road would not have been
built II will hardly be denied that
the company had right to locate its
main line from Lake Superior TO
tide-wateI on Puget Sound anywhere
north Of the forty-fifth parallel.
Many questions involving priority Of
construction OF different sections Of
the road could only DO answered as
the progress OF tho work afforded a
means Of solution. Most Of those
depended upon profitable applica-
ton OF the capital Of tho company.
The portions which could DO longest
delayed were those for which navi-
gable rivers could DO used as a sub
s.itute. This doubtless suggested
The link between the river and the
Sound, 10 DO operated in connection
with an alienation OF rail and boat
service. which should unite, at the
earliest possible date. the Great
Lakes and Puget Sound.
II the grant did not attach TO the
lands which were claimed to have
been earned on the Kalama section,
Why have the people Of Seattle, who
now, through authoritative sources,
demand forfeiture, allowed tho mat
tsr 10 rest 20 longf Why have they
permitted the company to withdraw
and sell the lands without protest :?
Why have they acquiesced in the nc
ton Of the President in appointing
commissioners and sanctioned the ia
voSsbls rspofts made by them, il such
soourss gave no legal evidence Of
. claim by the company Why has
their stalwart champion, the Mtclii.
genccr. whose tail-feathers now stand
no erect, bssn % silent? Were its
moral ssnsibilitiss dormant all the
time II thought the Northern Pacific
would terminate At Scatter Was il
willing that the people Of the remain.
der 81 the Territory should bs cheat
Cd by THE grasping corporation"
just 70 long - iis prospective opera
tions sustained the inflated values
Of King county real sstatsi Itssems
rather late 10 interpose objections
with any hope Of success. Congress
10 supreme in the matter, and will
undoubtedly confirm 10 the company
oil lands earned. whether in strict
accordance with law or not. 1t will
scarcely be claimed by our respected
contemporary that this course would
mot euro any defect and it would close
the door 10 the confusion and strife
which would inevitably follow any
other course.
The query. "Why should a grant
Of public land be given for the build
ing Of q coal road up the Puya)lup
valley. and not for building coal
roads 10 Newcastle or Cedar River, I"
the Iniei',gencer 10 doubtless able to
answer itself. II may DO that, with
Tacoma a. tho grand terminus, the
company Intend to make that iden-
teal local road" o section OF the
great hanscontinontal railway. over
which the commerce Of the world
shall pass. II that journal can give
any other reason, ws would be
pleased to have II.
The remainder Of tho questions re-
late 10 the action OF q former man
sgsment Of the railroad company,
and no matter how uniustly Olympia