The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-17

goodwill so important to It. and without
which 1t must always suffer at the hands
of your citizens. But the reception its
proposals met with was not of a character
to encourage anything further at present,
and IL seems TO us sufficient time must
elapse that you may realize our proposals
were made in good faith, and were op-
posed and defeated by representations inn
possible OF accomplishment and made Tor
no other purpose than to deceive you and
discomfit us.
VIII Wait Several Months.
we are the onlS party that has the de-
sirable location that without conference
with any other interest than that of your
citizens can furnish the facilities so much
needed to make your city what II aspires
TO be on Puget sound; to enable you to
handle your business to better advantage
than your competitors. and while our in
terest, we admit, Is not entirely an unself-
ish one. nor do we claim our plans were
produced solely TO please your citizens,
but rather to promote the interests of this
company as well, still they were conceived
with earnest desire to beautify your
city; to facilitate the transaction of its
business: to facilitate the transaction of
our own; not to interfere with anybody,
but to promote the interest of the great
majority. and, in fact were intended az
may so state) as peace offering to con-
done, in measure, for neglect in the past.
for which no one now connected with the
present company was responsible.
But, as above stated we are In doubt
whether the immediate present is the OPP
perfume time to further agitate this mat
ter. After several months more have
elapsed, ard the promises made you still
remain unfuflled: when your people real
lie they have rejected plans that would
have made your city superior in its rail-
way facilities to any other west of St
Louis when you realize you have rejected
the substance for the shadow; and fur
Their, when upon Investigation you find
that to carry out even that shadow that
has been suggested the property of this
company has been appropriated without
its consent either asked or implied: when
you understand. in fact you have been
most completely used and at the same
time abused then. 1t seems to me, will be
the opportune time for this company to
come before you without prejudice. with
out feeling, and again offer to you all It
did before, and as much more as can be
suggested by you In the way of improve
ment.
1T may be am wrong In my estimate
of the state OF feeling or disposition of
your people to hear further from the
Northern Pacific at this time: If So trust
you will correct me and I shall be guided
by your advice Yours, very truly.
&C. s. MELLEN. President
judge McGiIvra Makes . speech.
j. j. McGilvra. who was one OF the
earliest and most active opponents OF the
Northern Pacific's plans when they werc
pending before the council. started the
ball rolling by moving that Mr.. Mellen's
letter be tabled. He said that IL some
one would second his motion he would be
glad to explain the grounds for his ac-
ton.
No second was heard, whereupon J. A.
Moore stepped into the arena and moved
that the letter be given due consideration
az a communication to the chamber The
motion was seconded and carried without
dissent.
Mr.. McGilvra was the first speaker on
49,.
that he was satisfied with the course the
chamber had taken with regard to the
communication. He did not intend to be
discourteous toward Mr.. Mellens letter
In moving to table II, and did not thereby
intend to finally dispose of it. 1t was an
extraordinary communication. ne contln-
ued, inasmuch as II was invited by a pri-
vato individual at least he did not recall
that the chamber had ever requested Sec
rotary Prosch to extend to Mr.. Mellen an
invitation to address its members on The
railroad situation.
Ho doubted the wisdom OF the secretary
in bringing the controversy up again in
that manner The whole tone of Mr. Mel
lens letter. he said. indicated that The
latter thought that the opposition TO the
plans OF his road In Seattle was raised
and fomented by a business rival solely to
further its own selfish ends. In that re-
under a clear misapprehension-
Represents No Corporation.
''I need not state" continued Mr. Nc
Gilvra. that represent no corporation
and am not working IN the interests Of
any corporation. l am not n rabid op-
porent OF corporations bat am not pa--
tial to them Az any rate I don't want to
turn tho c,ty's interests over to any cor
pora ton. or corporations, railroad or 9TH
erwise
Il will state that had the honor or it
anyone likes. the odium II starring tho
bah rolling against the Northern Paciha's
water front project No person tonpectei
Vita the Great Northern. nor any other
person was communicated with or con
suited by me in regard thereto Seattle
twenty years ago set apart the tide lands
south % the city FOR depois. and should
not now permit any railway or combina-
ton OF railways. TO establish them in ihe
heart Of the water front ana throttle the
commerce OF tho city"
Continuing Mr. McGuvra discussed At
considerable lensth the merits OF the case.
crtticisng the tone 90 Mr. Mellen's letter
and DENYING a number 81 the statements
IL contained II was not true he said
In closing that the city hai given up the
substance In graspnE fov the shadow. The
communication called Tor To action. con-
tanned no gtNr OF atI4tlAE LAAbltlFt atI
should 10 on the table.
Moore Takes Hand
Nh Moore took up the cudsel IN behalf
~ NJ Mellen Il have every respect
said he. IN substance "for Mr. McGuvra
believe he is considerations and he is not
lu The employ u any railroad corporation
don't blame Mr.. McGilvra tcr hating the
Northern paclhc--"
NO. Mr. Moore I want It understood Z
have no hate for the Northern Pacific
interrupted Mv McGNvra-
u have MOI been "a citizen O., Seattle FOR
so many years as be has" continued Nj
Moore. with q bow Ia Nj McGlvra's tI-
recucn. hat l shared the same feeling
toward the Northern Pacific Ga common
with most people ~ Seattle Il Is true that
We got aid from the Great Northern when
We most needed u. Nut thls IS Dot a one
railroad city. and I donJ taink any e. US
want & TO be
The corporation o. which Mt Melle7 IS
the president. and which asked for these
water front privileges, moreover. Is not
the same corporation which was tho old