The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-04
4 anv1nw OF THE \. r. ARGUMENT

seattle, ian. :, s xssert-
enced railroad man and the agent OF the
Northern Pacific through whom the prop-
erty was purchased on which II - now
proposed to construct freight depots. rfe-
eumably his letter liz an authorised stase
ment OF the case Of the Northern facinS.
Ills first position ID that the people OF
Seattle want railroad terminals, arc 49,
them greatly. In that form this STATE
ment Is not strue. Seattle has now AZ
tained such position OF prominence tnat
railroads are anxious to come mere LOT
traffic on fair terms. 1t IL the business
OF these roads to furnish all the facinties
proper and necessary to carry on tnsiS
trade with US. at their expense, ana IN the
proper place. and they will do 90 II We re-
Quire II. -
II is true that for some years the rail-
roads have occupied our streets, especially
Railroad avenue, for freight depot ana
yard purposes. but that II no reason Why
they should be allowed to continue 70 uo
80. much less that we should vacate those
streets for their sole and exclusive use.
II the Northern Pacific will not CONSTRUCT
proper depots in proper places, perhaps
other railroads Will, and the people cah
exercise their choice AZ to patronnine
roads without accommodations ana tnose
+. with. At any rate, we should say 70 Al
Of them. get out o. the streets "''n so1'
-
As to the objection that these terminals
"will cut off the water front and create
a wall against commerce., the argument
is: .Such an injury will not be created.
because 1T already exists and mas existeo
ever since Railroad avenue was LAID out
and railroad franchises granted tneleon,
Five additional tracks to the eight now
there, 1t il said, will somewhat abate the
nuisance by scattering It over more sur
face II that Is railroad logic, considering
the constantly and rapidly increasing
traffic, the less we have Of 1t the better.
In other words, the argument IL that be-
cause the city has permitted eisns nu'-
sances It should permit Ave more.
Next, 1t IL said that the mosquito meet
will not be driven away. This mosquito
fleet was built up and its business handled
across eight existing tracks" On the con-
trary, 1t was built up at a time when we
had no railroads: At a time when we were
pleading with the Northern Pacinc % come
here, and offered the equivalent OF mil
lion and a half dollars as subsidy 10 IN
Z duce them to come. 1t was built up IN
self-defense and with the scant means
OF our people. That mosquito feet Is dear
to the hearts OF the people of Seattle, ana
they will see well to 1t that It Is neither
driven away nor laid under tribute
Then it is said that 1.-THE purchase OF
these same terminal grounds was UNDER
taken by the Great Northern Railway
Company, but was given up etc. II tho
Great Northern ever had notion OF con-
structing terminals in this locality. It was
sensible to give 1t up long ago, and should
and would no more have been permitted
to construct them then than the Northern
Pacific should or will be permitted to do
SO now. 1t Is said that there are coal
bunkers on these grounds now. but It is
proposed to remove them. 1T would hard
ly be prudent for the company's plans IN
this connection to be exhibited.
There Is complaint that the people OF
Seattle distrust the Northern Pacific be
cause some one connected with the COM
pany fifteen years ago sighted Seattle"
Yes, we do distrust the Northern Pacific,
and we have good grounds so to do. and
those grounds must be removed before
confidence can be gained. Any arraign-
ment Of the motives of the people Of Seat
tie who oppose this scheme Of the North
ern Pacific, which includes an overwhe'm-
ing majority OF the whole people. Is not
only far-fetched. but improper.
d. c. BRAWLEY.