The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-10-09

IVY no has thus claSpoQ n0uus with the
railroads in every edort to defeat or
longer delay the free navigation OF the
Columbia river?"
On September it insisted: ssThe Dalles
boat railway, which would have made all
the other improvements on the Columbia
available and valuable, was defeated ct
the last session by this canal job.
September % the Ledger said: "He (Sen-
ator Allen) knows that tlie canal was not
an issue when the memorial was adopted.
The people then did not know, and their
representatives did not know, that the job
would deprive the state of just and
fair apportionment for the Columbia
river"
In view of the foregoing tables. esti-
mates and comparisons tie latter stands
out prominently as . misstatement. OF
course the canal was not an issue when
the legislatures of the territory and state
passed memorials urging congress to build
it. 1t remained for the Oregon people and
Mr.. Bennett to make it an issue.
On July 30th, the LeG1er said: "The
Dalles boat railway improy ement has been
defeated by it (the canals, as everybody
knows. Nothing has been secured for
public buildings"
Does the Ledge, not knew that the last
Democratic congress refused to make any
appropriation for public buildings in the
worse than any other stats in this particu-
lar, and If Senator Allen is to be blamed
for getting no appropriation for this state,
the LEDGER might as we'll blame him for
having defeated all public buildings ap-
preparations in the United States.
As matter OF fact, Senator Allen Sc
secured the passage III the senate of bill
providing an appropriations OF $4O0, 600 for
q public building at Tacoma. This does
not show that he disregardsd the interests
of Tacoma Seattle had ne public build
ing appropriation provided for her. Tho
Tacoma public building appropriation was
killed by the Democratic house. Yet it is
the same Democratic house that the De-
mocracy of the state of Washington. led
by the Pierce county Democratic delega-
tion, acting under the inspiration of Mr..
commended in their state platform.
One startling fact has been lost sight of
in extolling the Dalles boat railway. It's
proposed route is very valuable right-of-
way owned by a company whose pro-
motors are Mr.. A. NJ. Cannon, of Spokane,
and Mr.. Paul Mohr, of Tacoma. Mr..
Cannon is q public spirited citizen. He
owns one-third of the Oregonian's prop
erty, the Spokane Review. He is greatly
interested in the farmers of Eastern WASH
ington, and has on more shan one occa-
sion shown his unseifish regard for their
prosperity. The farmers of Eastern
Washington have suffered very much
from extortionate railroad rates. The
profits of their harvests, Though the pro-
cess of the tariff schedules have been re-
solved largely into interest payments
on railroad bonds. Relief from railroad
oppression was beseeched long ago; and
Mr.. Cannon was one of the first wealthy
and energetic citizens Of the state to rush
valiantly to the rescue Of the Eastern
Washington farmers. An independent
railroad was organized. II was to con-
meet the wheat belt with Seattle, indie
pendently of all other corporate in
fiuences. It was to be peoples railroad,
owned and operated by citizens Of the
that would insure to the people in East
ern Washington the lowest possible
freight rates between them and the Sound.
It was q measure of public relief, and az
such Mr.. Cannon was the chief promoter
in securing public subscriptions in
Spokane for this enterprise 20 the extent
Of SIZE, 600. The rich and poor were taken
scheme for the benefit of the $3.50, 600
square miles" comprised in the drainage
of the Columbia river. Many of the good
people of Spokane are now. asking each
other, Whence have these Collars flown
and, What has become of oar great relief
railroad? It is q wreck, AID Mr.. Paul
Schulze, Of Tacoma, rides about the conti-
nent in what was once the special car of
its president. The Northern Pacific TODAY
owns what is left of this superb undertak-
ing on behalf Of the down-trosiden farmers
of the East, for which Mr.. Cannon secured
$4,000 out of the private purses of
Spokane.
Mr.. Cannon and Mr.. Mohr are inter
ested again in succoring the farmers of
Eastern Washington by 11leans of q
portage, or railway system 1hey propose
establishing at the Dalles. They have
possessed themselves of tie necessary
rights and franchises. In coarse of time
they may ''place" this new enterprise for
the good of the farmers.
In the heat of their desire for an open
river, the Oregon senators. Gu the other
hand, insist that the govern1nent try the
experiment of boat railway at the
Dalles to open the Columbia. Mr.. Cannon
and Mr.. Mohr do not propose TO surrender
their valuable right-of-way. AS def
nitely as can be ascertained. they estimate
it to be worth to them IS, 0O0, 800.
The Oregon senators, fully aware of
these facts, when the canal appropriation
stood a chance for passage, dug up their
boat railway scheme out of the committee
on railways and canals in the house, and
fastened it on to the river and harbor bill.
Senator Dolph was one of the sonferees on
the bill.
An examination of the two nrovisions-
that for the ship canal and the one for the
boat railway-disclOses the fact that the
only evidence of q job exists in the boat
railway amendment. The canal clause
provides that no part of said amount 1.-THE
appropriation shall be expended until the
entire right-of-way and a release from all
Iaht -, Cd L
been secured to the United States, free of
cost, and to the satisfaction Of the secre-
tary of war;"
This indicates plainly the disposition on
the part of King county to surrender such
rlght-of-way and property, tree of charge.
as the United States may deem necessary.
No such good will Is manifested in the
case of the boat railway. To be sure, if
the fan mers of Eastern Washington had
perienced in procuring the rigsat of way;
but Mr.. Cameron and Mr.. Mohr, and
those interested with them, have all to saw
about the matter and from what is shown
of these gentlemen and their operations.
no one will suspect that they ere wasting
either their time or resources in sympa-
thetic endeavors for the excl,fsive benefit
of the harrassed wheat raiser Mark the
difference, then, in the provisional clauses
The clause respecting the beat railway
says: The secretary OF war nay. and Is
hereby authorized to, expend go much of
the amount hereby appropriated as may
be necessary in acquiring the right-of-way
and right to the use Of lands required for
terminal facilities for said boat railway. in
the manner and according to the condi-
tons now prescribed by law, and that no
work of construction be entered upon, or
OBLIGATIONS enfAraH lntn the ,xft he,
United States for the construction of such