The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-02-21

IN the determination TO arbitrarily re-
duce all railroad freight rates IN this state
by horizontal reduction OF IS per cent.
arrived az by the lower house Of the state
legislature. 1t IL doubtful whether the per-
manent interests OF the people Of the whole
state are not being sacrificed Tor a tempo
rary advantage 20 those living IN commu-
mites where the railroad facilities now af-
forded are equal 20 al present and pros
pective requirements There are sttll large
areas OF the state with great potentialIties
Of development. and which can ultimately
afford homes for thousands OF Industrious
and thrifty people. which remain entirely
undsvelopod and with bat scattering pio-
ucer population. and which VIII continue
In that condition untn railroads are built
into the country.
In this state the building OF railroads has
as an almost uniform rule preceded ana
rendered possible the settlement ard eulu-
walton of the land. Millions Of dollars
have been spent Ia this manner. when the
trafsc In existence when the road vas built
would not pay a small fraction OF the IN
terest upon tie cost Of construction. The
settlement ard cultivation % lands follow
iag Immediately upon the building OK the
roads has. however. resulted n furnishing
trsf3c 20 the roads witaln a very brief
period after their construction. IS 20 the
railroads thus built la advance OF the ac-
tu4l needs Of the community that the
growth and development % the agricul-
tu-aI resources OF Eastern WASHINGTON
have beea almost entirety due, Had Il rot
been for railroads putt Through What was
largely Wild and unoccuplsa lard at the
time OF their construction. tire great rra-
3ority OF the farmers q Eastern Washing
ron now c,amosing Tor state law 20 re-
ducs railroad rates would never have se.-
tea upon or purchased the farms on which
thsy row reside.
Il can hardly. wi-A ary show O: reason.
~ oautsn3ss that TIE railroads have
reaps3 a. exorb}taat reward by reasoa ot
thtr fsr-ssAte3 poacy % thls respect =
Is -a7-c-tahls truth thaJ. wlta the excep-
uon OF ore roat-,he attest conner lnto TIE
as,a-eve-y sirE.s railroad which operates
suEe ef track within she Whole state %
Washington sss wltAia the past three
wears rone $3.50 Jse hands q receivers,
rsssea through Bankruptcy. as IS row g.
process OF reo-k a-5zat3on unacr the man
sxemsnt q tas soadAo.1ers wso advanced
TIRE money fes construction
THIS ,as; fac, a]oss woaa make ths task
- e-sscos csrsta3 Ter further railroad
nuitsics .r SASS state elgcult ore. y.
at1cs 90 rats. ths-e comes s .aw a-ei-
trarry reducing railroad rates ~ = Per
cratage vAieA Is eetus.y ,arEsr thar sAe
present szarssn over TIE csst ~ operation.
81 Is safe 90 SAY that taere -. not be 49,
o.Aer railroad Hns or e. extension o. a
rrese-s system suEt to- years 10 come
Se-,e thcagAt saoui3 - bad for the pres
ert caaa..gca o.: ghss STATE. as ga- as -
Cards l.s abroad facilities. Before taking
sc,Ioe vasrs gives IL oaf 10 ;hs wor.4 that
ne aosa ~aG~oats are reese3 here A stare
ike Illao.s c~ Isea or I1staaa. t-Sersec,sa
~ pe-sect network 81 railroads 50 thAs
80 favmlae ccmnu-lfy - distant no-e
than fse ures rsos1 3 raHroas ssAt.oa.
Is n FAR eesssg POsst.oa % 1letAse . re