The Fight to Reclaim Railroad Lands
A lobbyist writes from Washington, D.C., on the progress of a bill to forfeit Northern Pacific land grants and restore them to the public domain.
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Washington, D.C., April 14, 1886. I reached the capital yesterday. This morning I had a short conference with the Hon. Mr. Cobb, chairman of the House Committee on Public Lands, who has charge of the bill forfeiting land grants, and was cordially received. I have also spoken with Judge Holman of Indiana, who promises his full assistance. The bill proposes to forfeit all land not earned by construction of the road prior to July 4, 1879. If this becomes law, all lands claimed by the company in our territory would be restored to the public domain. The company has a strong lobby here and is fighting hard for delay to hang up the bill in the Senate. I am assured the bill will pass the House in its present shape, but there will be a lively contest.
“The company has a strong lobby here, and they are fighting hard for delay.”
This reflects the 19th-century struggle against the immense influence of the Northern Pacific Railroad in Washington Territory. Just as land ownership remains a central, contested pillar of Seattle’s civic identity today, this report captures the raw frustration of settlers trying to reclaim land from corporate monopolies in the nation's capital.
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