Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-02-01

lie are due to tia Yakima Signal for
it. constant. able and fearless cham
pionship of the peoples rights. and that
1t deserves and should receive liberal
support: and that we also recognize with
pleasure and approval the editorial
course of the Goidendale >sstiHsl, the
Dalles Times .HouHtaiheer, the Walla
Walla Journal, she Seattle Posi-
lNTELLIGENCER, and that of all other
journals now doing battle for the rights
of the people.
Memorial protesting against the &c
ceptanoe of the PuyalIup coal road.
To the President: Your memorialists.
the Chamber of Commerce of the city
of Seattle, Washington Territory, re
spectfuIly represent that they have Just
learned of the appointment by your Ex-
cellencv of Commissioners for the ex-
animation of p miles of the railroad
running easterly from the city of Ia
coma through the Puyallup alley to the
Carbonate coal mines, and heretofore
known as the PuyallHp branch. said ex-
animation being preliminary to the &C
eeptance of said - miles of road by
your Exoelleney as part of the Cascade
branch OF the Northern Pacific Rail-
road: thht said section of road was built
in 1871, wholly within the limits of the
grant of lands claimed to have been
earned by the Northern Pacific Rail
road Company for the building of that
portion of its chartered lines between
Portland and Tacoma; that said road
was built at that time as a local coal
road to reach certain mines up ~ the
company's then alleged earned lands,
and that il has ever since been used as
such that no effort has been made to
extend il or use il for any other pur
pose, nor has any pretenss been made
by the company that 1t WAS built for
any other purpose. The best evidence
that it was not built as a part of the
Cascade branch authorized by the COM
pany's charter, is the fact that, al.
though it has been built and in opera
ton for the past seven years, no appli-
cation has been made to the President
for its acceptance, or has it ever been
adopted by the company as a part of
SAID braach, nor a map of definite looa-
ton thereof filed until the month of
March, 1884.
Your memorialists further represent
that, under the practice and rulings of
the Interior Department, the company
would, upon your Excellency's accept
anoe of said section of road, claim pat
ents to over GOO, 600 acres of land mostly
in this King county, aud of the most
valuable chaIaster, being principally
timber and coal land that slid lands
are worth fully $l0,000,000, ald have
been 81 rated by we'll known organs of
siid company, being of far greater value
than any equal amount OF the compa-
ny'S land grant that your memorialists
bell Va that said company has now only
adopted said section of road as part of
the dehaitely located line across the
Cas- ,ade range for the p Irp Sse of anticis
pating, and if possible defeating by this
device, SO far as these lands are con
cerned, any action Congress may take
on the question of FORGETTING this com
pany's land grant, and they therefore
respectfully request your Excellency
Immediately to cancel the appointment
of said Com missioners and to refrain
from accepting said road until Congress
shall have made some disposition of
the question of forfeiture now pending
before il.
Your memoralists further represent
that any action on your ExcelIenoy's
part by which this vast body of valu
able land shall be turned over to said
corporation without consideration, or
any action by which legal advantage
may be obtained in their possession by
It, would be gross injustice upon the
people of this Territory, and particn-
larry of this county, aud they there
fore earnestly protest against snch no
ton, and your memorialists will ever
pray.
After the adoption of the above men,
orial, some discussion WAS had over the
previous action taken by the Chamber
regarding the land grant. which action
had been condemned by the press and
people of the entire Territory ALWAYS
barring fAooma), and il was finally
agreed that the Chamber should right
the wrong, or correct the mistake made
in passing she non-forfeiture resolu.
tons. 20 far as il could be done. A com
mittee was appointed aud the following
PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTIONS
Drawn up, and. after discussion, adopt.
ed and ordered spread upon tbs records
Of the Chamber of Commerce
WHEREAS, At a special meeting of this
on the 18th day of February,
1884, certain sresolutious protesting
against the forfeiture OF the land grant
10 the Northern Pacific Railroad Com
pany were adopted by this Chamber
and
WHEREAS. Sach action vas taken by
this Chamber under a mistake of fact.
and under the belief, superinduced by
The represe ntatlrns of agents Of the |
company, that the company was en-
gagged in good faith in the construction
Of the Cascade branch Of said railroad |: |
and
Whereas, Il has since become appar-
snt that such representations were false |
and that the company 10 not acting in |
good faith IN regard 10 the construction |
Of said branch. bat that, on the con-
.Eary, its show of work was and is solely |
made With a view of influencing Com |
lFessional aston in its favor; that there |
,ould be no more conclusive proof of /
he hagfant bad faith Of the company |
n this regard than its recent action in |
from the President of the /
United States the appointment Of Com
nissioners to examine as rsart of the /
Cascade branch the PuyalIup coal road, |
oaiit IN 1871. fJr and ever since operated |
Is = coal road; and
whereas. This last extraordinary /
move no longer leaves any doubt a. 20 /
he real purpose of the company with
reference TO the Cascade branch. but |
hat the eompany's efforts are directed.
lot 10 tie construction of the road. bat
o securing without consideration. With
,1s any shadow of right, for the con.
ltrnc'l9n OF a mere csal road within the
lnits 0t q land grant claimed 20 be al.
eady earned. upwards of 10000 acrA
II lad. mostly in King county. and
Ialued By the compauy's organs al up-
rzr3s Of <l0.O0.oo0. and mat this 10
'ce0ht 10 be done By device and trick
IA @oEihy al grsas company; there
ere be u
ksssinea. That ths resolutions hereto.
ore pssssd, opposing the forfeiture of
Isid land grant. be and the sane are
hereby revoked and annniled, aud that
ii lsnds MT hsrst0fore fairly earned
y The enmpauy ought 20 be Al ouss re-
i.ored 10 ths psislie dem ala
Aneshsr psos>sa aeAinss ssospsanes OF