The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-28
WILSON TALKS RESERVES.
Attempts - ShOvv WDw Eastern
Scient1sts Have Acted
CRkuo~}uH1y

Seient1sts Have Acted
Unknowin9ly.
When the sundry civil dill frs. came up
In the senate and the amendment au-
thorixsng President Mckinley 10 revoke
Mr.. CisYeiand's order was under discus
sion. Senator Wilson in the course OF his
remsrks. said:
The order by the president was 3
drastic one. so far a. II affected nay pec-
kota (Mr. Pettigrewy speaks feeiingiy Of
the l.ooo.oOo acres withdrawn in his state.
an area OF over Soood 90 acres has been
withdrawn from settlement and develop
ment In the state of Washington-an area
larger than the state OF Massachusetts,.
and probably twice rs large as the state
Of Connecticut. In one county, while this
commission composed OF scientific gentle
ment were declaring thar there were no
entries Of any sort. an abstract Of title
was Qled with the secretary Of the inter-
Tor showing over 4.6o0 mineral locations.
upon which 5000 600 worth Of work has
already been perfor med. while one cor
poFation. the Monte Sristo syndicate, has
expended in the development OF its prop
erty and In the building of its railroad
over 100000 in one county. in which
there were no entries
II think this order extremely unfortun-
ate. It would seem that II was impossible
for the people west of the Missouri TO
develop their own domain and their own
country in their own way. We have
never had that opportunity. The people
who first settled New England came and
took thousands of acres of land and de-
yeloped them a. they saw hit. and the peo-
PIE who passed from New England across
the Allegheny mountains and settled in
the Mississippi Olley took up their lands
Mt 81. Is an acre Without those restrictions
required under the homestead act OF 1850.
Our people have had to go forward and
develop their country by law, and they
have observed the law In so far as II
has been possible for any citizen to do
SO. They do not complain OF this. It is
right and proper and just.
Surprising this order Is not modified
or revoked. what are you going to do
about It? We have valuable improve
ments there; the people have expended
large sums OF money; they have gone
they have built villages; they have built
railroads; they have done all Of these
things under the law: they are going TO
stay there: they are going to use that
timber: and what are you going TO do about
it? What can you do about it?
II recall that great many years ago
q very distinguished and very able gem
tleman from Massachusetts,. in a cele-
brated Grafton, delivered in the city Ut
Boston. spoke of that Western country.
and declared that:
''iBy a presumptuous assertion Of a
disputed claim to worthless territory be-
yond the Rocky mountains we have kim
died anew on the hearth Of our mother
country the smothered fires Of hostile
strife
.sWhat today is that worthless country
upon the other side OF the Rocky noun
,ains? It includes all the lands between
the Columbia river and "a degrees 10 min
utes north latitude. Had We maintained
our position then, the Fraser river would
have been an American river, the city
of Victoria would have been an American
city. and Great Britain would have been
impeded in her progress across the conti-
nent with her railway. So We do not al
ways learn the facts Of that Western coun-
try from these talented and learned sci
entific gentlemen.
MIR. President, / am Of the West. I
know something of its possibilities. Of its
products and OF its people. ] have seen
what was once considered an arid waste
pass from sea Of grasses to great cities.
with schools and colleges, civilization and
wealth. Suppose these forest reservations
had been made years ago. and that these
Withdrawals had been made in California,
would the 81 800 000. Geo OF gold have been
produced IN that state? And let 1t be
remembered that California is as large
as New York, Pennsylvania and all New
England.
IF such withdrawal had been made in
Idaho. would she have contributed her
$500, 600 OF gold and silver to our ma
tional wealth? And Idaho is nine times
GUS regions of Montana been withdrawn.
would she have given US her $S5. 600
yearly OF the precious metals? And
Montana Is as large as Greece, Italy and
Belgium combined.
"All this DEVELOPMENT throughout these
hills and mountains has been by the men
who struggle and push forward and To-
cate these mineral claims. All this prog
ress has been made in country which
country. and is today adding yearly $780,
oO0. 900 in cereals to tho markets 0. the
world. This country. beginning with
Dakota on the east. that In 1870 had only
500, Coz. ep0 of taxable properly, in 1880 mad
upon the tax lists of their states over
S, 500. 900. 900 of taxable property. This
country that in 1850 had no railroads,
in 1890 had more railroads than all the
country east of the Allegheny mountains
had in 1870
"A wonderful development has been
about 1t was not done by silver; I, was
not done by gold; it was not accomplished
by paper money: but II was accomplished
by the energy. the industry. the persever-
ance the trials the self-deniels Of the
hardy pioneers, who have blaze.t the path
way OF civilization into n magnificent high
way ard built upon the other side of the
Rocky mountains an empire for You and
for me. manifestations of applause in the
gallerfes)
1T is extremely unfortunate that the or
der OF February p, 1897 was made without
consultation with, and without the knowl-
edge Of the people most interested IN this
section. 1t does great injustice TO thou
sands OF people who have expended their
time. their energy. their means In develop
Ing the mineral resources of my state un-
der the laws OF this country. And now to
deprive them. by mere executive order. OF
their rights and property will work the
gravest hardship TO individuals and bank
ruptcy to whole communities. Al. we ask
is justice. VIII this senate deny It's that"
Us there anything in the constitution
Of your state compelling an attack on Mas
sachusetts every time question OF this
kind ar.ses?"
The query was from Senator Hoar, ard
addressed 10 Senator Wilson when the lat
ter had finished his speech. He replied:
NO. IL Is not In our constitution, but it
Is in the heart Of every man. woman and
child In the state
Mr.. Wilson explained that the feeling
grew out OF the fact that whenever any
thing occurred to bedevil and harass the
people Of the West. 1t was generally found
th3f some scientific or would-be phiian-
thropic man from Massachusetts was AZ
cha hntfa,ys ~