Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-02-17
ANeIuER BEaaxp req yassr.r.
IRE,

Ina people along the Columbia EIver,
fron Portland 10 WalluIa, hay. ione
been aggravated by the Northern Pa
cane land grant. Net q mile of road
has Yet been built between the two
plaesa and there is no Indication tha,
any road vill be built by that company
Sun It tenseiously hangs tO its grant,
and no longer ago than the Sch Of jan
uary, lssA made @ new hiinQ, Intended
70 fnaher strengthen its bold upon the
region in question This action, from
q company twenty one years old, and
the most generously aided company in
the unitsd States. company that has
spent, sq1andssed and stolen sl75 600.
600 in dong 100000 worth Of work
was cause Of new disturbance 10 the
psopse along the river, which has al
ready found expression in indiona.ion
meetings, and verbal and written nro-
tests. AZ The Dallee q meeting of ei,i.
zsus and the Board Of Trade vas held
IN the Court House sn February 9Th. Al
which memorial was drawn up for
presses station 70 Senators Slater and
Dolph, In which, among other thinos.
they are Informed a. follows:
We respectfully bat earnestly call
your attentiou % the fact that Ihe citi-
zens of this region have been for many
yeara prevented fruH obtaining titles 10
the lands held within the limits uamed
and that these lands have also been
Kept nom taxation. We also hereby
represent, that under existing statutes
and sfestfsry rulings, II is futile to
make any extended effort as q comma
mtg toward the settlsment Of the up-
oceupied lands In Wasco county. We
also respectfully call your attention 10
the late withdrawal of 100 miles in
width of lands granted 70 the Braneh
North8rn Pacific Railroad, which, 10 it,
ming OF JannAry 8, 1885, involves
portion OF tbs Identical lands aIready
held ky the Northern Pacific Railroad
Company's grant, from section north,
ID east, on ths south bank of the Co
lombtA river near the town of Grant.
Waseo county.
We fespcetfuliy represent 10 you tha,
We fail 70 see any Justice In allowing
the Northern Pacifc Hganeh to seize
and hold the lands of the grant made
70 the Northern Pacific Railroad Com
pany, August Is, 1870, (which lands nov
await iorfeitnre) by the said Branch
Northern Pacific Rlilroad Company,
and Withdrawn January 8, 1886. And
In view Of the heavy burden which has
been f0fcsd upon Wasoo osaaty by the
withdrawal from settlement of the
Llalkss wilitasy leagos road laada. The
Noyfhsrn PSeifc Raliroad lands and
Northern Pscikc Branch Railroad lands.
We, the citizens of Wasoo county and
Board Of Trade Of Dalies city. urge VOC
TO ingiss upon the passage OF the for
feitars Of the Northern Pacific grant.
and the withdrawal Of this new fifine
upon the new location Of the Northern
Paeana Branch road In the State of Ore
gon.
In sdi,oiaily commenting upon the
meeting and upsn the situation the
DaIlss Sun says:
''It WAS tbs sense of the meeting that
the new ding upon the lands Of Wasso
county hy the Northern Pacifie bransh
TO suit their new location in Washing
ton Territory, is an injustice which the
roople will not tamsly submit 10. After
having suffered from the withdrawal 90
long Of such an immense area Of land.
which citizens have not been able to
purchase and obtain titles 20 from the
Northern Pacific Company: aud since
the pablio have been led 10 believe that
these uniustly acquired lands we're 20
be forfeited, they do not look with sat
isfaction at the new location made by
the Northern Pacific Company Of their
branch from Walluia via Yakima to the
sound, and their retiliug. without any
extended authority, apon the very
iands 30 long held, and, az they be.
lisved, were about 30 be opened to the
publie.
There has from the beginning Of the
grant made 30 the Northern Pacific
Company by Congress, course of
double dealing and duplicity exercised
by that corporation towards the people,
who we're or have become settlers with
In tbs limits covered by their grant,
shieA calls FOR stern rebuke from the
people. The increase in the price of
public lands per acre FROM 81 % 20 e. 80
was supposed by the public TO be fer
the esnefit OF the grant TO the railroad
company, and that &2.5O fixed the Limit
of the price OF such lands. instead OF
that, whenever the road has hpen con-
pletsd and its lands turned over % the
raiirDad company, the price Of 9. 81,
g, u and ~ per asre has been pot np
ON tAszn, yes these lands could not pre-
vionaly be taxed.
in zoe Ssats of Oregon double the
ares 0f ianGs granted BY Congress was
Withdrawn instead Of che odd sections
In q strip ten miles each side Of the
roads location. A strip twenty miles
vide was allowed 10 be Withdrawn BY a
Secretary af the Interior, who, no mAn
doahts, vas an instrument OF the cor
poration. The people have had 10 suf-
fer grom these acts Of iniasiice and
nov, when this matter ID before Con-
afesH, and shs question Of forfeiture Ia
being quietly hidden under q mantle Of
public forgiveness, eunninaly spread by
corporation infiasnce. and pnblic men
who are owned By this corporation are
trying % have The forfeitufs bill with
dr6Nn and its privileges made Of No
avail 70 the people of 0reeea. IL II not
highly impaftsnt that ve state IN clear
tsrms our wishes 10 our Congrsssienal
Representatives Does it rot become
us % pabliciy endorse the sets OF eur
SssAtors and membsrs ef Congress II
they have claarly acted IN good faith
10 ths people OF stamp uith disap
prosal any iukewAFmness or lack Vt ap
preeiation Of the ills under which Ne
labor In consequence Of the iniustice of
the Northern Psoiao grant 10 Oregon,
or hesitate 20 attsmpf 10 fenaedy the in