The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-18
Big Judgment Against 1t, and En-
ployes' Wages Not Paid.

Whatcom, March n.--Speeial.-Superin
tenden, Anderson. of the Beliingham Bay
Il Britiss Columbia road and Beliingnam
Bay Improvement Company, has gone to
San Francisco to confer with the presi-
dent and directors Of the two companies
there. 1t is presumed that the pressing Oh
legations Of the railroad company. espe-
ciaiiy TO employees, whose wages are in ar
rears from four to eleven months. may be
the special reason of his trip at this time,
taken in connection, perhaps, with the re-
cent decision of the supreme court in the
Strand case. under which Strand will get a
judgment amounting, with interest, to
about $4,000 About seven years ago
Strand acquired tax titles to two lots at
what is now known as Sehome Junction.
The lots were partly on a steep siden;il
and partly below tide line. The lower por-
ton the company filed in. built its railroad
track oyer 1t and made extensive wharf
and yard improvements there. The very
day Strand obtained his deed from the
sheriff he gave notice Of his intention to
sue the company. which was already at
work On the tide water part Of. the lots.
Early the next morning he took possession
Of an old shack on the sidehill, and an
nounced his Intention of holding the fort.
That night. however. he neglected TO stay
there. and about daylight the next morn
ing . force Of the company's men tore
down the old building, and the fight be-
gan In earnest. and 1t has dragged along
in the courts ever since. one side or the
other appealing from every verdict Sc
cured. At one time the case might have
been compromised for n,0oo. and Strand
says he once offered to take the same
amount of frontage on Elk street. but the
company seemed to prefer to fight, though
II has had the worst of 1t In every round.
and now is finally knocked out in the au-
preme court. though 1t is said that Presi-
dent Cornwall contrary to the advice OF
his attorneys here. thinks he can carry the
case into the Federal courts. possibly on
the ground of want Of jurisdiction in the
state courts. the railroad companysbeing a
foreign corporation, organized under the
laws OF California 1t Is commonly un 1er-
stood among railroad men that the COM
pany has been losing money for some lime,
and especially since the Canadian Pacific,
having failed TO make satisfactory rattle
agreement with the local officials. took
away all of its up-Sound freight business
from the read and directed Its agent at
Huntington 10 send II over the Lake Shore
& Eastern. The amount SO sent has av-
eraged about FIVE cars day. which would
have edded about s., 900 a month TO the
Bellingham Bay & British Columbia rev.
enues had IL held the business. Three
years ago the company might have sold
the road to the Canadian Pacific. together
with adequate terminal facilities. for 6 II
1t was then or is now worth. number CT
Canadian Pacific officials came here at
that time. and conferred with Mr.. Corn
wall among them President Van Horne,
his matter mechanic and the superintend-
ent of the lake line of steamers. They
were well pleased with the situation and
the condition of the road. II was the in
tention, had the deal been made. 10 run
enc or two fine freight and passenger
steamers between here and up-Sound
points. but Mr. Van Horne dropped all re-
gotiations like hot potato when Mr..
Cornwall asked s. 900. 900 for the property.
II is limited that the company would not
lose no time now Ia accepting an OFFER of
half that amount.
The stockholders of the rc;iroad-prirci-
pally Alvinza Haywood and ID. Q. Mills
are also the owners OF the stock Of the
Bsllingham Bay Improvement Company,
which. however. is local corporation. II
owns what is commonly known as the
Cornwall MILL" one OF the finest on the
Sound, and which has finally gone into the
big lumber trust. The conditions under
which 1; joined the trust are said TO tie
quite favorable. Its output IL not limited
nor is the company required to advance
the price of lumber gold in the local mar
ket II must. however. adhere TO the trust
price for foreign shipments ana at the re-
tail yard recently established by the COM
pany In San Francisco. There are two YES
sells now loading at the MILL the present
capacity OF which Is about l0o,o co feet a
day.