The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-01

Seattle it would have had year ago.
Then such contamination would have
been great public calamity; but today, so
radical have been the mutations of rail-
road conditions in one short year, the re-
suit Is regarded by the majority with feel
ings of indifference. or of satisfaction that
the struggle of years is ended IN practi-
cal identity of interests between the
two hostile roads. Yet those who
participated in that memorable struggle,
and who upheld the Lake Shore road
through its long and precarious light will
witness the change with sadness, not I'M
mixed with a reluctant conviction that
this settlement is, under the circum-
stances, the most satisfactory that could
have been made. A year and half ago
the Northern Pacinc wanted to kill or con-
troll the Seattle. Lake Shore s. Eastern
railroad because ii was peculiarly and dis
tinctly Seattle enterprise. Now that the
Northern Pacific has undergone removal
ton, It's accession means that it will be
operated in legitimate business way, for
the up-building of the Northern Pacific
railway, and, as necessary corollary, for
the development of the country. The new
arrangement means, doubtless, cessation
of construction on the eastern branch of
the Lake Shore and that is not matter
of very serious regret, inasmuch as the
nominal purpose for which the Seattle,
Lake Shore & Eastern was organized, and
never fulfilled, will be carried out by
another and much more powerful and in
tiuential railroad, of which sketch viii be
given later. The Seattle, Lake Shore &
Eastern was the balm that assuaged the
grievous hurts inflicted upon Seattle by
the Northern Pacific Ii was the stimulant
that aroused the people from despair and
defeat. 1t was the child that was long re-
garded with jealous and fostering care by
all people of Seattle. In so far as it served
to stir up the energies and enterprise of the
people, it has fulfilled its purpose.
One of the purposes of the Seattle, Lake
Shore & Eastern was to build north from
Seattle to the international boundary
and make connection with the Ca
madam Pacific 1t was authoritatively
announced about October I, 1889, that ar
rangements were completed for such con-
struc.ion; but active work did not begin
until the spring of last year. The Lake
Shore was at this time completed and in
operation from Seattle to point six miles
north of Snohomish, with branch diverg
east toward the Snoqualmie pass. with its
terminus on Salal prairie. There were,
therefore, about eighty-two miles to be
completed TO the boundary line, where a
spur ofthe Canadian built from Mission,
forty miles east of Vancouver, was to be
met. Construction has been carried for
ward actively during the summer. On
November % the road was opened TO
- l. g L
and the remainder of the road is practi-
cally finished. Connection viii be COM
plete some time this month, and the road
viii be in operation in February.
While the construction of the Lake Shore
road north to the boundary line has
opened up valuable country, the chief
purpose of such extension was TO give
Seattle connection with the Canadian Pa
CHIC railroad, which had long been ex-
tremely anxious for an American outlet,
and which fostered and encouraged the
Lake Shore project in many ways. The
object was TO bring Canadian Pacific trains,
freight and passenger, into Seattle, max
ing this city its American terminus and
giving il all the advantages to be derived
from direct transcontinental connection.
1t is too much to say that this design has
been frustrated by the absorption of the
Lake Shore by the Northern Pacific. No
doubt the original purpose viii not be
realized in its full sense, for it is not rea-
sonable 10 suppose that the new manage
ment of the Lake Shore road will allow
rival transcontinental road unrestricted
use of its local line for all sorts of traffic,
through and local; but undoubtedly sat-
isfactory traffic arrangement will be en-
tered into between the corporations. The
operation of the coast line of the Great
Northern from New Westminster to Seattle
viii in all respects carry out the primary
purpose for which the Lake Shore was to
build TO the Canadian. The interests of
the Great Northern and the Canadian in
the middle Northwest are in entire har-
mony The Canadian PACING now
reaches st. Paul over the lines
of the American road. The same arrange
ment viii no doubt be extended to the
Pacific coast; and Seattle viii this year
reach st. Paul and the East over contin-
uous line other than the Northern Pacific.
PRESIDENT CAKES ANNOUNCEMENT.
When such men as Judge Thomas Burke
and d. II. Gilman, who had always been
the foremost advocates and hackers of the
Lake Shore road, were announced as Off
GERS and trustees of the new Seattle &
Montana railroad, it was generally thought
that the Great Northern had taken up and
would carry out the projects of the Seattle
road, running into this city over its lines.
1t was, however, declared by Messrs.
Burke and Gilman, and by Colonel Clough
of the Great Northern that the Seattle d
Montana would reach Seattle over a new
and independent line. The interests of
the two roads were, however, declared to
be friendly, and the public accepted the
statements as the truth. and awaited de-
velopments. They came nrst in the shape
of rumors that the Northern Pacinc had
shortly after by the authoritative an
nouncement TO that effect by President
Cakes, in the following terms:
The Northern Pacific company has purchased
little more than 8 majority OF the capital stock
OF the Seattle, Lake Shore s. Eastern company
that Is about 100000 out of 100000, and has
leased the property upon the basis OF guaranty
OF % per cent. interest on the outstanding
bonds. and further issue OF bonds Necessary to
complete the line 10 the international boundary,
q total OF about 100000.
The annual rental will be about $4,000 but
inaSmuch a. the Seattle company has thus Tar
earned interest the Northern Pacific is not likely
10 be called upon 10 make good any deficit
The operating department of the Seattle,
Lake Shore g. Eastern has not vet been
turned over to the Northern Pacific; and.
indeed it is said that the latter has not vet
completed its payment of stock. II is not
likely, however, that the sale Of the road
VIII not be finally consummated.
THE GREAT NORTHERN.
Seattle the Chief Terminus of a Great