Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-03-22

lac meh1Oflal IotloWfn9 was INTRO
duoed in the Tacoma City Council BY
Mr.. John e. Burns at the meeting Of
that body on Wednesday last. and it
was duly referred to q committee With
view to further consideration and fu-
ture action
Memorial and petition Of Common
Council of Tacoma to the Northern Pa
cifc Railroad Company
WHEREAS. the Northern Pacific Rail-
road Company and the Tacoma Land
Company are TO the city OF Tacoma
relatively one the dominant one being
the said Northern Pacific Railroad
Company.
Whereas. the city of Tacoma, nov
estimated TO contain about six thousand
inhabitants, has been largely built upon
lots and lands purchased from said
dominant company at large prices, IN
der contracts with penal obligations OF
forfeiture IN case of n0n-improveme nt
thereof pursuant to which some one
thousand dwellings and other houses
have been built, thus c.eating the bulk
Of the present city.
Whereas, The city Of Tacoma, the
theoretical western terminus of the said
Northern Pacific Railroad Company's
transcontinentai railroad, has been 50
built with 90 far comparatively little
aid by the said company. stimulated 10y
| it and induced thereto by its promises,
both expressed and implied, Of doing its
part in upbuIldIng and supporting the
| same thereby, making 1t in fact. what 1t
Is only yet in theory, their Western
| Terminus.
Whereas, The city has promptly va
GATED many valuable streets TO, and for
| the exclusive ownership and benefit OF
said company, upon the express under
| standing that such vacated streets. and
their abatting lands, we're to be speed
| " improved, and that SO far part
| thereof ~ still encountered with the
standing timber, another and nearly all
Of such remaining part in the geograph-
ical center of the city, containing up
wards Of 40 acres. IL still filled With
stumps, and has been used only as a
COW pasture for several years past, save
and except few comparative cheap
and temporary wooden structures. pre-
| viouslv built and used as car shops,
etc.
Whereas, While fully approaching
what II has done toward the building OF
our city. We would respectfully repre-
sent what seems To Us, as detrimental to
our growth and prosperity, hooing that
frank statement of the case from OuI
standpoint of observation may procure
US your favorable consideration, name
ly: The practical closing Of the at bes,
insufficient and insignificant car and
machine shops; thereby rendering
many of our citizens therein employed
hopelessly and helplessly idle at oul
worst season of the year. when employ
ment WAS difficult to obtain elsewhere
The removal of all the company's Off
GERS to Portland, Oregon, and their Con
tinued maintenance there. The exelu
sive ownership, refusal to sell. and &c
far failure to improve the water front OF
our harbor, save and except one roac
way to one cheap and limited wooden
wharf, said roadway being kept In re-
pair by our city exclusively, thus plac
ING US in tho unfortunate and helpless
and anomalous condition of d maritime
commercial city without access to OF
slightest control Of orr water front
I he disastrous policy of railroad build
ing upon the Cascade division by which
all its Incidental trade through the Ore
gon Navigation Company lines IL IN I'd.
tributary to Portland. The building OF
what seems comparatively useless
though expensive piece Of railroad be
tween Tacoma and Seattle, or par
thereof, leaving the same unfinished
and imperative. The failure 40 far o
authoritatively declaring the rout.
from Tacoma eastward of the Cascade
division. The rapid advancement oI
the best of the working season for tn,
present year without, rs We are inform
cd. the purchase or forwarding Of an,
considerable railroad construction ma
terial, rendering doubtful the intention
OF the companyo of keeping its expressed
Iromise of any speedy construction
from this end eastward of said division
and esp, cially the failure of any com
mencement thus far of the work of har
Dor and yard improvements foreshad
owed and promised. All of which tend
ing to the creative feeling of distrust oil
good faith on the part Of the compan,
towards the city. Now therefore, II
view Of these premises. while not IN
mindful of the many difficulties envi-
rOning yonr corporation, be II
Resolved, That the said N. =. X. Il
Go. Is hereby respectfully urged to frs
remove all its officers from Portland
Oregon, to this place, at its earliest
possible convenience. Second, to re-
csds or grant our city right of WAY
by and through its streets extending Il
the navigable water front. Third, :,
Immediately begin with all possibl,
available force the proposed and pro
jected water front improvements anc
commensurate permanent car shop,
and terminal yard improvements, con
tinuously employing therein, If posi-
BILE, not less than ZOO white laborer,
and citizens. Lastly, the immediat,
beginning of continuous construction
from Tacoma eastward of the Cascad,
division branch railroad, bell. wing tba
all, bat more particularly the last, is Of
vital Importance to tue continuou,
growth and prosperity of Tacoma. par
ticularly, Western Washington gen
orally, and the consequent and insepa
rable benefit Of your company AS we'll
and that duly certified copy of thes,
proceedings be- forwarded to the before
named related companies at New
York and Philadelphia. one each
with request TO acknowledge the re
ceipt thereof. and earnestly soliciting