, 1888-05-24

the line in question, II would only be for
the purpose of giving us an outlet Tor the
traffic originating on our main line west OF
Spokane Falls, and not In the nope Vor
years at least) of realizing any direct bene-
fits from the local traffic between Spokane
Falls and Colvllle. If what assume be
the truth, yourself and few OF your citi-
zens have projected the enterprise you
speak OF for the benefit Of your own cor
poration, and your corporation proposes TO
build a railroad for what profit there might
be In 1t; profit or benefit which would
not be divided among the citizens at large:
Then you scarcely have the right TO plead
the interest Of the city or the citizens at
large as reason why we should not enter
the territory In question. IL then be-
comes matter OF railroad 'competi-
tion, which can only rebound to the
benefit OF the city OF Spokane Falls Far
from intending an injustice or dscourtesy
to our citizens or any OF our subscribers;
or any interference with thoir Interests, L
frankly admit that AZ our interests ana
the interests OF your citizens are practi-
cally identical, any good reason which
can be advanced by our Subscribers or
the citizens OF spokane Falls tending to
show that II Would be- disadvantage To
have us build the line In question, wouid
| conclusively show that 1t was equally
which event we would surely give up all
idea Of the construction OF such line.
Assuming, which | can scarcely believe,
that the citizens OF Spokane Falls are inter
ested in having but one railroad from Spo-
kane Falls northwardly, and that they de-
sired to be Interested in such ROAD, an
authorized to state that We would be will
ling to give every citizen In Spokane FAILS
an opportunity To interest himself to any
extent he m ght choose in sucn a line OIL
rail way, and to reserve for all such persons
their full share Of any benefit incident TO
al tAss nj N
line OF railway. Furthermore, we would
readily offer to the gentlemen composing
your company all the benefits they could
possibly derive from building the line indie
pendently, consolidating their interests
with ours. will even go further than this,
and state that we would much rather the
Spokane q Northern Railroad company
would build the railroad in question. We
would give them every aid in our power to
facilitate the work provided you could sat
isfy us that your arrangements were sucn
as would make you not only independent
OF the Northern Pacific Railroad company,
but such as would enable you to accord to
our company equal facilities with all other
companies in the way OF carrying our
freight to and from the Canadian Pacific
railway. As remarked before, in build
ing this line to Covile, we do so as me-
it profitable enterprise. l assume 1t to
be fact that neither Spokane Falls
nor Seattle, which are to-day the larg-
est towns in the territory, could spare
sufficient capital 10 build line and main
tain the control Oft. They are both enter
prising and energetic cities. but they are
still too young to be great financial CEN
tres, and such citizen or individual not
only requires his capital to develop his
own business, but his returns, whether
in the way Of interest, or business profits
are so much greater than he could possi-
Ill la
railroad investm ent, that they Will for
many years prefer that the abundant and
cheap capital OF the east, which is satisfied
with small returns, shall enter into these
railroad enterprises.
If am correct In my premises, we must
assume that in your Gaze your com pany is
not already more or less identified with
the Northern Pacific railroad, the amount
of capital you can raise in Spokane Falls
would not be su tiicient to scontrol 1t. In
other words, Whatever may be The source
of your financial aid, the control of your
company must rest with the persons iur
nshing the bulk of the capital. Further
more, l cannot see how either the indvid-
ual subscribers, or our company could safe
ly count upon your ability to maintain the
absolute and independent control Of the
road which you propose to build.
Sixth--ln answer to your demand for
positive declaration of our intentions, is it
not unfair of you to ask such thing in the
absence of clear definition of your own
position? 1t is, perhaps, unfortunate for
your argument that such men as ID. @. Cor
bin and yourself who are recognized az
strong allies and friends of the Northern
Pacific railroad, are at the head OF the Spo
kane Falls IL Northern railroad, and l
would certainly violate one of the principal
points of railroad ethics by offering you
declaration OF our intentions under the cir
cumstances. except TO say positively that II
is not the intention nor the desire of this
company to interfere with the hopes or
pursuits Of the citizens of Spokane Falls, or
with their interests. am perfectly willing
to recommend that this company refrain
from entering the territory in question, in
case II can be shown that it is contrary to
the interests of all, or majority of your
citizens, for us to proceed in the direction
of Colville.
OF course / should require that the peo.
pie express their sentiments directly,
which they can do, either at u mass meet
ing or in some equally efficient way. You
could hardly accept the statement of your
self or any small minority as representing
the sentiment of all your citizens, unless in.
deed the persons interested in your com.
pany should have formally delegated to
them by the citizens the authority to rep.
resent them and their opinions.
In closing wish TO say that l can assure
you that it is is the policy of this company
to develope the resources OF this territory,
and particularly Spokane Falls and Seattle;
that this company would make as low
rates Of freight as a local organization
could possibly make. and that there is not
the slightest question of our ability to fin.
ish the road should we commence 1t, and
that while we invite the participation of
the citizens, we would not ask dollar of
chem to build road to Coiville. i am
respectfully yours,
]. r. MCDONALD,
President Seattle, Lake Shore 81 Eastern
Railway Company.