Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-03-27
olIly poS1.lNTEluGENCtR.
,,s~arsACEs IMMIGRATION AM
.vra.Ds DEVELOPMENT.

I, ;s maintained by those Who oppose
fo,f.;.nre of the onearned land grant OF
,bs Northern Pacific Railroad Company
and the restoration of said lands to 'he
rnb,ic domain that such action Wonia
he At once unjust to the company anu
preiudicial TO thu best in'ere - :"
Washington Territory AZ 70 'oS oi"'"'
;,;,a,;ce We lave heretofore shown
that it il baseless that the Nof''"i"
poc;fc Railroad Company long ago. hs
;,e Facilitating. tardy and unousiiiesA
like course, forfeited all legal or eqait"-
h,s claim 70 the lands granted by Tie
law of ls64 and Subsequent enac'nieh'S'
S,,ic, instics would compel forfeiture
not alone of the lands clAined py 'ho
oonstrnction Of It's road since 1893 ou'
every acre Of the original grant ana III
our Judgment there is NJ lack OF power
in Congress to 81 declare, nor ooaD'
that the courts Of the country "ou'o VII
force such declaration.
With the second claim, that tue fee'o-
ration OF these lanes would DE hui''"i
;patsad Of beneficial to this Territory
We also take decided Issue, maintaining
that. Oh the contrary, such action "ouio
be Of great immediate and almost III
.a,culabIe future benefit to our present
and prospective poi uiatlon that IL
stsad Of retarding, 1t wonid s'ith"'a'e
immigration that, Instead OF hamper
inc. it would accelerate settlement 'ha''
ms cad Of tending 80 monopoiize' u
woo,d encourage and distribute busi-
ness and trade that, instead OF reduc-
ipg people to condition OF va-saiaee
and r nderinR every industry tributary
to a sole gigantic and perpetual monop-
DIV. it would extend lands to the land
legs give homes to the homeless, make
the present and future citizens OF wash
,no,sn TeIritory independent, self AZ
serting and pr sperous, and that' III
stead Of clouding IN perpetuity and rem
derinp incapable Of untrarnmeled allen
alton nearly half Of the best lands IN
this commonwealth, it would permit
those here and those to come hereafter
To obtain from the source of title III
this country, the government Itself.
warrant Of perfect ownership, unincum-
barred with odious and unrepubiican
conditions and penalties. These results
we claim would follow upon forfeiture
lust AZ surely as their converse exists
and will continue under perpetnaiion OF
this improvident aud, at the present
time, utterly unjust grant of public
lands.
When Congress made this Rrant II
raised the price of even numbered SEQ
tons within tho limits thereof jast ont
hundred per cent. The motive doubt
Less WAS 10 recompense the Government
for parting with the odd sections by re
oeivinQ double prices for the portion
left. 1t was argued that the land
would by reason Of its constr uctiOi
through them, or proximity Of the rail
road thereto, be worth more money
The effect of this policy has been two
fold. Ii has compelled intending set
tiers to pay more for their homes, there
BY To some extent retardine settlement
and it has enabled the railroad compa
nv to charge and obtain a higher aver
age price for what 1t sold. II ties
lands were now restored to the govern
ment domain, and the great black shad
ow OF withdrawal lifted. the immediat
effect would be to throw open to home
stead, pre- -emption and purchase no
far from lO,0OO,OOo acres of aRricultu
raj, grazing, timber, coal and iron land
in this Territory. Il.o three forme
Glasses would DO subject TO homestea
entry OF to presumption ut the old rat
adopted before railroads were endowe
with vast domains, by Government. I
wit, $l.25 per acre. The latter clas
would be purchasable, just ~ now. froI
Government, the amount attaiHabl
being doubled. IL is idle to SAY tbs
under such conditions immiaratio
would not DO stimulated and settlemer
Of these lands be prompt aud rapid.
This railroad company il new chars
ing for its lands in Washington Teri
tory III average price per acre of abot
$3.50, reserving rom sale all coal al
iron lands, and imposing conditions
its deeds which cloud the title acquire
hereunder. The Immigrant who com,
into this Territory and purchases raj
rOaa lands must pay nearly $1,000 70
his farm of l60 acres, subject, NOR
ever. TO the harsh conditions rcferrs
~. Were the lands restored to the pal
lilo domain. he could acquire this SAN
farm from the Government by hom,
stead entry for less than $50. OF
presumption for about $225. aud
both evs nts obtain "a perfect It'll
Will it be argued that in this YET
1884. IN face Of the fact thu
the area Of attaina ble land is rapid
diminishing. and of the knowledge til,
u generation hence there will he Vol
little owned by Government ayailnb
for purchase and settlement, continue
withdrawal of these lands enhaac,
prosperity, or that their restoration vi
not encourage settlement and develo,
meRtp In Yakima and k,ttitas coui
ties, ON the line of the sd called Cascad
branch, nearly 100000 acrs of ric
lands are claimed. by this compan,
This at the present day, and at Il
present average price AT which the con
panv holds its lands, represents tot,
of nearly $20,00O.0eo, which Immigrant
and future settlers in those valie,
must contribute to the treasury Of d
Northern Pacific Railroad Company Il
the privilege Of making homes adj,
cent to a railroad not yet constructe,
and to which railroad they must fo
ever pay tribute for transportation ,
products and imported necessaries. .
HarY No.. H.