The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-01
~ Conflict With the
northern Pacific.
.rrss MEANT DESTRUCTION
|,rsre and Strength Result In
Great Triumph.
5. v.rther . Townsite scheme
Great Railroad Corporation
8 ...,erats War with a vigorous
rev,ew of Causes and Result

i tAe close of 1890 an incident oc-
ruite tri.Iing in itself. which re-
nsmories of the years of contest
s.attie and railroad interests. 1t
sd an attempt made by the Puget
seho,e Line to secure possession of
.fway across Columbia street be-
c,ont and West. The rails were
midnight, but at noon next day
s, torn up by the city authorities,
AIN twenty-four hours the question
4 rrlegated TO the courts. 1t will
nberrd. probably, as the last inef-
ssat Of a railroad corporation to
.~h.shod over the streets of Seattle.
~ he Northern Pacihc railroad,
n heen under construction since
lreep ST. Paul and Puget sound,
rbed Kalama. That great corpora
5hen endowed by congress with
- acres of land, of which consid-
rytion Iay in Washington. as an in
=, 10 open up the little known but
fmthgest. 1t had not decided upon
inus. but there was reason to be-
IN Seattle would be selected.
IN had only 1900 population
- even then the most consider
IN on the Sound. Tacoma was
-, and Olympia. Stella
nd Mukilteo were the only
ettlements worthy of note.
a road neared the Sound
ne Of Seattle offered local land,
NH millions of dollars. as site for
Inns and necessary buildings. The
1ifjon by other places was very
ht I'll inducements were ignored. A
4 syndicate. cooperating with
ckhoiders in the Northern Paci. c
bought for a mere song great
q land on Commencement bay,
M Tacoma, which was a mill site,
imeefing in New York, September
Il the board of directors de-
IN favor of Tacoma as the
nj Eight days later the Irn
Cooke a Co., of Philadelphia,
had been financial agent for the
hction company building the North
Nc failed; there was hut short
uthin which to complete the road TO
Iiu and save the franchise, and the
10 hurriedly completed to Tacoma.
ibst time on there was an in
struggle for supremacy be-
he tao places. Seattle was
\ fast, owing to her natural adj
p and the enterprise of her citizens,
nilroad used every effors to sup
III in order to advance the interests
dty in which it's stockholders held
y property.
people OF Seattle, headed by A. A.
D. 7. Denny. J. j. McGilvrs, John
James Mcknight, Henry L. Yesler,
Andrews. Frank Matthias, s. F.
and James colman, dedicated the
- subsidy intended for the Northern
ioan independent venture. They
the Seattle & Walla Walla
y Company, and built a mar
zge line 10 the Talbot mines,
knton, and in 1874 con-
d spur to the Newcastle mines.
we great impetus to the fortunes
ntrepid city, and the pro..ts of the
70 up to as high as $50. 600 a year.
me the warfare with the transconti-
line continued.
rsoution passed in congress on
$50 the Northern Pacihc was en-
y 70 locate and construct its main
2 some point on Puget sound via
Veg Of the Columbia river, with the
. construct its branch from some
afnt point on its main trunk line
NE Cascade mountains to Puget
The resolution went on to recite
ss then assumed to be a repetition
PROVISIONS of the original land
wi under ruling of the secre-
zoe interior the company laid
. zioSs,0o0 acres of land between
and Tacoma. From an estimate
alhe time the coal Lelds Of Western
asion embraced an area of 1900
nles, extending from the Nesqually
oofihward and parallel with the
mountains more than 100 miles.
Immense coal held one-half Tor 80
miles) belonged TO the Northern
anaer the land grant. The govern
aee Tor coal land was $40 per acre.
we $4,000 acres on the western
saeo by the company, was worth
Ihis Is the lowest calculation,
acres owned by the Carbon Hill
enpany were sold about 1852 for
9 al The rate of $3.50 an acre.
sana grant had included q con-
Ao' tne strip of lands along the
woe OF the Cascades to Bellinghan
ls The people of Seattle endeav-
uase released, as the line had
morf Of the intended route.
ssae was the only political question
s'a'oFy for several years. Not con-
I ! 'ne action Of the delegate in con-
waffle sent Judge McGilvra to
s.0n City TO keep up the light.
I vas Just one. The Northern
q sa1 sacrificed is right 10 retain the
z ~ Ang countv's advance was be-
4 a ey the locking up of thou
4 ae'es OF land. The in..uence of
], "froration, whose stockholders
Z Wy Boston and Philadelphia cap
! ssssai'ed against the energetic but
7 -uAsrances Of the Insignificant
! sseceeded in deferring govern
eongressional relief
! aae, henry Willard had acquired
4 ahes over the Northern Pacinc,
I .aanested disposition to deal
4 80 with Seattle He deprecated
I made upon tha; city, and Ia
! ,;1easive scheme he devised of
y ..9n he succeeded in ailaying the
4 i y Seattle. Tempted by his
= ~ s.e Seattle & Walla Walla rail
= mines and vessels. was sold
egon Improvement Company,
49,, = sientity by becoming part of
la q Puget Sound rail-
Z ong as Willard remained
saere Was a cessation
isand Seattle prospered. The
& pfosement Company built for
iranscontinental Company
A.. blanket corporation was
! ,-hs the Northern Pacinc and
ary railroads) a road from
, an, Tacoma. bat stopped short
Z junction. With Wizards fall.
i @assie vas renewed. The people