The Inside Story of Seattle's Rail Woes
John Leary reveals why plans for a railroad to the Cedar River coal fields have stalled, exposing the delicate dance between local boosters and coal barons.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Some time ago, certain influential citizens were talking strongly of organizing a company to build a railroad from this city into the Cedar River coal fields and through the Snoqualmie pass to the Columbia river. For some reason the matter has lagged, and a reporter called on John Leary to get the inside facts. Leary stated that he met with James M. Colman, John Collins, Henry L. Yesler, and George Kinnear. He understood Mr. Colman would subscribe $50,000 to the line. Leary and Kinnear were authorized to seek contracts with the coal companies for transportation. However, within the last few days, Mr. Colman informed him that he would have all he could do to develop the Cedar Mountain mine and did not intend to subscribe. Leary noted that without these companies taking a large interest, the current owners of the Cedar River extension would secure the transportation of the coal. It rests with the owners of these coal mines to say whether the road shall be built or not. If these men refuse, I shall be led to believe their talk was made to get better terms from the existing railroad owners.
“Individuals, like corporations, generally throw their business where they can get it done the cheapest.”
This piece perfectly encapsulates the 'growth machine' era of Seattle, where rail access and coal money dictated the city's geography. The tension between private investment, public good, and corporate leverage is as pertinent to Seattle's modern infrastructure and zoning battles as it was in 1884.
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