Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-04-26
TEE NoRTuExS PACIFIC RAILROAD
COMMISSIONERS.
They visit seattle and Are Inter
by the Ctssrrns' Commitaee.

The Commissioners appointed by
President Arthur upon the application
of the Northern Pacific Railroad Com
pany to inspect and report upon the
condition of a % mile section of the
Puy.llup coal road completed their Ia
bors on Wednesday last. On Thursday
thew took the steamer Olympian for
Victoria. returning yesterday. On iheir
arrival at the wharf in this city, they
were met by a committee delegated BY
the Citizens Executive Committee TO
present the Commissioners With copies
of the memorials adopted by the Cham
her of Commerce., Board of County
Comnissi ners. and at the public mees-
ing of citizens held last Saturday even
ing, and TO express in person the views
of our people respecting the proposed
of portion OF said roal
road as a section of the Cascade divis-
ion Of the Northern Pacific railroad.
The committee were most courteously
received and invited to the main saloon
of the steamer. where they were sever
alIy introduced 70 the Commissioners.
Judge Jacobs, on behalf of the COM
mittee and citizens of Seattle and hing
county. then presented each Commis
-ioner sIth copies of the memorials,
and, IN A brief address, after welcoming
the Commissioners to the city, luc,diy
and cogentIy expressed the public senti-
ment of this section of the Territory re-
specting this latest attempt OF the
Northern Pacific Railroad Company to
obtain patents to the most valuable
public lands west of the Cascade Noun
tains through the official action of the
President by tho appointment OF the
commission to inspect a section OF
local coal road. The remarks of judge
Jacobs we're courteously wOrded, and
were listened to attSLtively.
Mr.. Cole, one Of the Commits ion 'rs.
replying, said that he came as one OF q Q
Commissioners at the request OF IT, Q
President of the Northern Pacific Rtl
road Company, who is and has been his
life long personal friend. He had been
made aware that there was a feeling of
uneasiness, if not hostility to the com
pany, prevailing to some extent among
the citizens of this portion of the Terri
tory, especially of this city, owing TO
prevalent opinion that the management
of the Northern Pacific Railroad Com
pany W ~ inimical to the best interests
of our people and intended TO discrlmi-
nate against this city. He said that he
was authorized t. say by President Har-
ris that there was no anlmoslty existing
in the mind of any of the Northern Pa
cific Directorate against Seattle, nor
was there any intention to dlscrlmi-
nate in any way whatever to the detri-
ment of her business and bindrauce cf
her prosperity. He thought that Seat
tie was destined to be a very large CITY.
and that the Northern Pacific railros d
would aid materially i'll Fastening that
result. Mr.. Cole paid A most eloquent
tribute to the country penetrated by the
Northern Pacific railroad, especial
ly dwelling upon the magnlticence
and undeveloped resources of this
section of the Territory. In con-
Guiding his remarks, he SAID
that the questions presented by Il
memorials at hand and the remarks ui
Judge Jacobs we're entirely new, and IN
his view their consideration would
hardly come within the scope of the :
structlons to the Commissioners .iven
by the President as forming part of
their official duties. He would, how
ever, for his own information take
pains to investigate the subject. Mr..
Coles remarks were very interesting,
and commanded earnestlattention.
Mr.. u. McGilvra then succinotiy and
in detail gave a history of the con
structiOn of the Puyallup road. the data
and objects of its construction. its 10
cation with respect to the land grant
already earned by construction of the
main line from kalama to Tacoma. and
the impossibility Of utilizing twenty
five miles of 1t as part of the Casca g
division by the only route now selected
over the Cascade Mountains, to-wIt. the
Cowlitz pass. He adverted to the fact
that when the coal road WAS built the
general line of the Cascade branch was
through the Skapit pass, lO0 miles TO
the north of Il sec ion now claimed as
part of that DIVISION; that 1t was aftor-
wards shifted To the Natchess pass with
out any survey having been made, and
i'll 1879 AGAIN moved further to the
southwark and established through the
CowlitE pass, where it still remains Off
cially recorded in the Interior Depart
ment. Mr.. McGilvra disavOwed personal
or public hostility to the Nortnern Pa
oific Railroad, but thought its action in
and unwarranted by the ciroum sta, g
of its construction.
Rev. j. II. Smith, of the Commission
ers, briefly responded, stating tbs ma
ters submitted by the committee were
members of the Commission. He had
been sele Jted by the President to III
spect certain completed sections of the
n >rNh Ap s., IL al ha
mission had been over the section of
valley, and had found it VOL construct
ed and i'll compliance with the require
ments of the company's charter 80 far
as the mechanical work " rs concerned.
He conceived that his oiiclal duties as
a Commissioner went no further than to
make formal inspection of the con-
struction of the railroad; certainly the
Instructions of the President did
not include inspection and re-
port upon the matters raised by
the memorials presented lie was,
however, Inclined to go to the bot
tom OF things for his own satisfaction,
and should do 50 III this case. He, too,
expressed himself rs surprised at the
resources, growth and rapid develop
ucut VI TIC .NDTtuWeSt, tiu IFVuICttu u
future Of Astounding prosperity.
Mr.. Wadsworth, the third member of
the Commission, was decidedly non
committal, expressing within the hear
ing OF the reporter no opinion what
ever. A plea SAINT conversation ensued
between the Commissioners and meu,-
beers OF the committee, after which,
under escort of ex Governor Ferry,
they were driven in an open carriage to
various points of interest in and about
the city. They left on the Olympian ut
four p. N. for Portland and the East
In response TO a question, Mr.. Smith
denied that. as stated by Tacoma pa
per. the report of the Commission after
inspection Of the SEQ ion referred to ha
been tele.raphed to the President.
COUNClL PROCEEDINGS.
SEATTLE, Friday, April -, 1884.