The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-06-13

1exs.
Thee amendments manifest the fact
that thcse pioneers realized the import
ancs OF having their names and the
names Of their friends associated with
the very beginning % such q great
undertaking. An examination 81 the final
Est Of names. as given ln section one Of
the cid charter shows the positions IN
the territory occupied by some Of the
r1sn 10 Be as follows.
THE rrxt one is Isaac T. Stevens gov
srnor OF the territory. William Fl. Wal
lace was 2 member 81 the council from
Pierce county ard was elected president
OF that body after spirited contest ard
vAs only chosen ny 4 plurality. William
Cock was a member Of the council from
Thurston county. and {. G. Pagett from
Lewis and Chehaiis counties. Alexander
s. Abernsthy from Pacific, Wahkiakum
and CowIitz counties. and Arthur A. Dem
ny from King county. were also mem
hers of the council. Mr.. Denny had
served the first three sessions in the
house. The following were members OF
the house Of representatives. Villa II
Kelley from Clarke county. William
Strong from Cowlitz and WahkakGn
counties and David Phillips of King
county Edward Lander was chief Jus
tIce % the territory Charles Fl. Mason
was territorial secretary James Tsiton
chief clerk OF the council. Pope and Tai
bot soon became well known as develop
ers OF ihe lumber and coal resources Of
the Puget sound district. So far as
know there are but four Of these men
alive today. They are: Judge Elwood
Lander. Of Washington City. Hon. Arthur
\. Denny. OF Seattle. Or. y ostra nder
Of olympia. and Hon. Elwood Evans, of
Tacoma The author Of the ball. known
q : l. all Of 10
county was listed as one Of the incor-
porarors. He had served Ira the Indian
war of the swo previous years as captain
Of the Clarke County Rangers. Second
Regiment Washington Territory Tolun-
teers. Before the legislature adjourned
that body elected William Cock territor-
iaI treasurer. and William w. Miller
auastermaSter general.
l have not yet learned whether any
active steps were taken under this old
charter but ii is certainly we'll known
that the road was not completed within
ten years from the passage OF the act.
as was required by the proviso in sec
ton thirteen. II Is quite likely that the
pioneers were speedily convinced of the
magnitude OF the undertaking. for at the
very next session of the legislature they
are found endeayoring 10 persuade the
national government To build the road.
This effort is recorded in joint resolu-
ton which is so full If a buoyaat spirit
and of a realization of the future wealth
OF this section that II IS given here in
fun:
JOINT RESOLUTION
RELATIVE TO THE CONSTRUCTION
or A NATIONAL RAILROAD
ACROSS THE CONTINENT FROM
THE ATLANTIC STATES TO THE
PACIFIC OCEAN.
Resolved. That in the opinion of the
legislative assembly of the territory
of Washington. the time has ar
rived for the construction of q great
national railway across our continent.
connecting the populous states of the At
iantic with the Pacific shores of the
Union. already colonized with our young
and vigorous men. that so great an OBJ
lect never yet has been presented to the
acceptance OF a nation: that the great
importance of this line of communication
is inculcabie:
Resolved AS the opinion of the legis-
lature assembly, that there are many
and very important reasons requiring the
construction OF this great work IL viii
bind together this vast republic and be
a chain of union between the Atlantic
and Pacific states. 1t will insure the de-
Tense OF the country. Armies. seamen,
military and naval stores may ne trans
ported from ocean 10 ocean in less time
and with less expense than were required
between New York and the lakes during
the war of 1872. II will give a direct.
quick transit to mails. Military reasons
cali for it's construction. Political rea-
sons require that IL should he made; and
more than all. commercial reasons de-
rnand it The trade of the Pacific ocean
and Eastern Asia viii take It's track The
trade of India. whose channels have been
shifting for 40 years. is destined to shift
once more. and that is across our CON
tnent. The American road 10 India will
become the European track 10 that re
gion. and the rich commerce Of Asia viii
flow through our center.
Resolved, AS the opinion of the legis-
lative assembly. that the cheapest and
shortest route from the great commercial
emporiums Of the Atlantic 20 the Pacific
is the route explored and surveyed by
Gov. Stevens near the forty-ninth paral-
lei of north latitude. connecting Puget
sound the largest and most cOmmodi-
Gus harbor in the world with IT'S mex
haustihle beds Of coal with the head u
Lake Superior and the three great lakes
which connect directly with the Atlantic
thus reducing the cost Of transit on
heavy merchandise. II touches too
long lines II steamboat navigation on
-
Resolved. That the northern line is the
most accessible by navigation. passes
through the lumber regions NJ Mime
sofa and Washington. and has easy &C
cess 90 ;ne vast pine forests Of the Red
river and passing through the rich and
boundlesS prairies of the Northwest,
Resolved. That the construction OF this
+ great northern national railway Garnet
Only he the work OF the present century
1 but il can bc made tho great work az the
present administration giving II undying
f fame. binding together this vast empire
+ of the gospel NJ science ard ciyiliza ton
! across the continent and making IL the
+ great highway between Europe and Asia
Resolved. That she secretary ~ THE tor
/ rltnry be requested II forward copies Of
these resolutions 10 the president ~ tie
. United States the president ~ the sem
ATE the speaker ~ the house ~ repre-
ssutatives AMI our delegate in congress
/ Passed February tS5S
A thcoris' might obtain wonderful re-
T suits by specializing an what the re-
quits would have been II the nation had
followed those suggestions 81 the Waeh-
tugfou territorial legislature wit
wnuiS nrw Be- lac method - couaut ug
. railroads in this country II tie frst
! great tranS-Coutinental line had been built
ana nperated Av The Eovc~0 rnentg what
ereCf would 10 have had on the question
. 81 slavery and aH II Involved y the
. nations afto0ticn AMI resources had haen
+ given tn RAILROAD hli'fiuE Two ysarS b.
fore fhe civil war; Wouia the ratta,
. pave Imported Chinese coolies a. do rna
work AS ~ the ease nf the favtve4 u. .