The Tyranny of the Rails

The Post-Intelligencer is disposed to treat fairly every enterprise, whether individual or corporate, for the good of all men is in nothing more than justice. Thus far we have refrained from participating in the warfare upon the Northern Pacific, appreciating that much of the hue and cry against said road was but the yammerings of demagogues. But whatever may be justly said of these political gamblers, we are convinced that Seattle dissatisfaction is not without cause. There is no explanation for the contemptible meanness of the Northern Pacific in its treatment of our merchants, who have given it more business than all other shipping points combined west of the mountains in Washington Territory. If this persecution is intended to be retaliatory for indignities perpetrated by politicians, then it is cruelly directed, since the burden of this persecution must fall upon a class of men who have done so much to maintain and defend their pursuer.

A car load of merchandise was billed all rail but was held at Tacoma until the delay caused great inconvenience. Instead of allowing the car to come direct on the Puget Sound Shore line and thus avoid delay and extra wharfage, it was given to the O.R. & N. and transferred to boat, and in the reloading, much damage was done to our goods. Had it been a small bill of way freight, some plausible excuse might have been attempted, but with a car load of heavy freight, it must be an adulterated conscience that sends it from Tacoma by water.

But a brighter day is dawning, when Seattle business men will be free from Northern Pacific thralldom. A month hence the Canadian Pacific will be in a position to give Seattle shippers better facilities than they can hope to get from the Northern. We believe that the time is not a long way off when the Northern Pacific will realize that it needs Seattle more than Seattle needs it.