, 1884-03-08

The following is a sample the
letters now being written Sur
merchants to public men in the East

SPoKANE FALLS, ". T., March S, 1884,
Hon. Shelby NJ. CullOm, Washlng on, d. C.
DEAR SIR As u former resident OF Chica-
go though now located In spokane Falls I
deem II my duty to call your attention To an
unjust discrimination us against Chicago and
Illinois and in favor Of Portland and this
coast, made by the Northern Pacinc railroad
Company In their new tariff in eiTect March
1854 Upon the completion OF the Northern
Pacific the merchants OF Chicago With that
progressiVeness so characteristic Of the peo-
plel entered the field as trade competitor
with the coast, for the supply OF merchan-
disc to this country and the Northwest and
as usual with great success. Merchants all
along the line Of the Northern Padfic, soon
discovered 1t was to their interest topurchase
In Chicago, and notwithstanding, better terms
commercially were offered by San Francisco
merchants, goods were not only cheaper but
more readily obtained from the East than the
coast Many merchants Of Spokane had
made, or were preparing to make their pur-
chrses East to the detriment Of Portland Mr.
Muir, the OrmerSuperintendent OF the North
ern Pacific, whose interest lies soeIy with
Portland, feels gTicved at the pecunaTy loss
he and his friends had sustained by the de-
probation Of Portland property, aid deter
mined that the coast should supply this
country with its produce aud that tlP mining
and agricultural country along the Northern
Pacific should pay tribute TO the cOBit and as
he termed II in conversation with the Presi-
dent Of the First National Bank Of spokane
"where It belongs" rather than the East and
the places selected by the merchants, and
hence the new tariff. BY reference to the
schedule you will see that rates from Chicago
are made the same In nearly every Instance
as from New York. The rate upon some
goods has been nearly doubled, and ali RFti-
cles naturally belonging TO the East or East
ern manufactures have been increased by Is
or 30 per cent, while the rates from Portland
has been decreased l0perc. Nails the former
tariff WIS Sl.5O and Is now S2S5, the same from
New York. Agricultural Implements, S225,
now Al5, same hs New York Plowsand haT'
rows, 500, now $3.50; Anvils, 500, now 81 90 :
Bedsteads, 500, now s6.65; Billiard tables,
Ss65 Buggies, $50, now sll.65; Carriages,
S325, now Sass; EaTthenware, Sl.5O now 81 a
Dry goods, 800, now 1856; Furniture, s2OO
now now SIe; Woodenware, $40, new sal5;
throughout the list, hout selection, except
ing, as remember Chicago industrtps. This
Is being done by. a company who advertIses
that the railroad lands can be obtained for
81 90 per acre, when they we'll know that ali
their lands are from s. TO 81 per acre The
emigTant from Illinois, and number OF them
are coming to this country arc thus purpOSely
deceived by this company through this mis-
representation. A ticket from ST. Paul to
Portland makes the rate from Spokane Falls
TO Portland but $50, while the local rate il
S220O An emigrant or land seeker, induced
by the representation OF land OF s. O0Der acre
Is taken to Portland and then charted So 30
when he finds Tanoma lots are worth less for
agricultural purposes and seeks 70 be re-
turned To Spokane Falls, or the prAnts In
washington Territory where land can be OBJ
hlned. And this by company who pays no
territorial or local taxes upon its lands hut a.
soon as the land is sold 10 the emigrnnt and
land seeker Il becomes taxable properly and
must pay It's tribute. Cannot things be REM
edied Can company asking at yOurhnnds
for what II terms Justice and equity In its
land grant not be compelled to Be tuu and
honest In Its dealings with the citiEeu, emf
grant and merchant Many have been In
duced to locate here by the printed reprcsen-
tntons Of this company, forming business
connections with Chicago and Eastern
houses, TO find their goods too high fer this
market IN consequence of frPlpht raj M