Year: 1878

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our people. The first inquiry was this:
"Where would the most practicable line
of railroad from Tacoma over the Cas-.
cade mountains. via the Snoqualmie
Pass. intersect the line Of the Seattle
and Walla Walla Railroad?" The an
swer was: "At the mouth of Cedar
river. unless the former company
should see fit 10 incur great expense
and adopt heavy grades for the purpose
of avoiding connection so near Seattle.
The second inquiry was: "What would
Seattle do to secure connection at Cedar
river?" The reply was that in the
opinion of your correspondent, Seattle
and the Seattle ard Walla Walla Rail-
road Company, and the people general>
ly. would consent to any fair arrange
ment by which the road eastward from
the junction at Cedar river should be
common road for the use Of both COM
panies. attach no Importance What's
ever to these inquiries, and give them
as received them. for what they are
worth. have no idea that the compa-
ny has the most remote intention of
constructing road over the Cascade
mountains at the present time or in the
near future by the way of the Snoqual>
mie or any other pass. If an extension
of time is granted they will commence
the construction of their mnin line at
the head of navigation on the Columbia
river and work Eastward, and no por-
ton of the road west of that oint either
on the main line or any branch line.
will be constructed until tie main line
is completed across the continent.


Owing to the great distance of course
it is long time before We get informa-
ton here of what you are doing at
home We have however now, through
the newspapers, got general idea OF
what the Legislature has done.


The act providing fol Convention
and the formation of State Constitu-
tion preparatory to admission into the
Union as state, should of course have
been passed, but it seems to me, under
all the circumstances, there is too much
haste, both as to the time of electing
delegates and holding the convention.
and, further, that the number of dele
gates is much too small. 1t seems to
me also that the three northern count;ss
of Idaho. with population of over ten
thousand people, as I am informed by
the Delegate from that Territory, Judge
Fem. should have been allowed fair
representation, with full membership in
the convention. However the act as it
is must be accepted and the most that
can be made out of it. Delegates will
of course be elected the Convention
must form q Constitution and it will be
adopted by the people. But then comes
the rub, and that is the consent of Cons
gress to admission. Fortune may favor
us or il may frown upon us In this re-
gard. If the dominant party in Con-
gress think they want new state Of
the political complexion that Washing>
tor is likely to be, then we will go in
early and easy. if not. it will be harder
work and longer waiting. SPEED that
day however, whether it be near or
distant. when We shall emerge from the
dependent condition of Territory and
become sovereign State. Every effort
will be made by your Delegate and
others here to aid the movement in
Congress. As you are already advised,
an enabling act has been introduced in
the House.


The movement in favor of the Seat
lie and Walla Waila railroad is q grand
one also. The company I see is NOV.
ing also, and preparing to issue more
bonds, and push the constitution of the
road. That is the best news of all. and
it is most sincerely hoped that the
various counties, and especially those
on the line of the road, will cheerfully
come to the rescue, and become stock
holders as provided in the act. 1t is to
be hoped no legal quibole will be raised
as to the constitutionality of this act;
I was aboat to speak on what grounds,
but under the circumstances will for
bear. The. construction of this road
being an absolute necessity 10 self-de.
fense, rs against the assaults Of both
the North Pacific Railroad Co. and the
State of Oregon, and also to connect the
more eastern sections and develop the
resources of our territory. any at
tempt to defeat it should be regarded as
an act of treason. and punished accord
ingly. This may be strong language.
but it is warranted by the occasion.


The Act is by no means perfect. but
this is no time to criticise it. The
manner of raising means for the con-
struction of this road provided for in
the Act in question. may be subject tu
objection in some respects, under ordi-
nary circumstances. but in this case the
| end inst;fies tha maana aud tho nr0-
ject should be fostered and promoted