The Price of a 'Land Grant' Railway

To the Editor: I desire to call the attention of the public, and the Seattle Chamber of Commerce in particular, to the direct injury being inflicted upon the residents of the south end of King County by the Northern Pacific railroad, and to point out how the same has an injurious effect upon the trade and business of Seattle. About two weeks ago, a change took place, and now we have limited train service to Seattle. The result is that this change 'for the accommodation of business men' has nearly cut off all local traffic to Seattle. We cannot go back again until night and therefore, unless we are compelled to go, we stay at home. If the Great Northern or the Union, or the Motor, or any other road will come along and bind themselves to reasonable conditions and service, then the Northern Pacific will only need and require through trains. Their local receipts won't pay for oil and tallow. Last year, the company filled up all the trestles on the road from near Stuck to Thomas' crossing. When the river overflowed last fall, the Northern Pacific embankment impounded all the water, and instead of going west to the slough, its natural way, it was held up until it ran north, and then in a stream like a river it carried all before it, fences, logs, hop poles and rubbish, and submerged thousands of acres from two to four feet deep, washing out our county roads. The Northern Pacific, in my opinion, would buy up unprincipled men who, for a consideration, would sell the rights of the people of this state. By their fruits ye shall know them. We have seen them bud, blossom and in fruit, and in the nostrils of the residents of this end of King County the name of the Northern Pacific railroad stinks and is offensive.