The Shadow Over the Puyallup Valley

A Washington special committee is now considering the subject of land grants to the Northern Pacific Railway Company, and having given the citizens of Seattle a hearing in the legislature, will probably hear from the same subject this week. There is some comment upon the appointment of a commission to examine the Puyallup branch of the Pacific Railway Company's land grants in Pierce County, Washington. It is claimed that this branch was not included in the original granting act of 1864, nor specified in 1877. It is alleged that the railway company sought to secure thousands of acres along the Puyallup Valley—acres that include some of the best timber land in the country—under a claim not covered by their charter. A statement is made that the commission appointed to examine these titles has already been appointed by the Northern Pacific company agent stationed at Tacoma. The officials of the company are said to be behind this statement, and the belief exists that they are attempting to claim thousands of acres of valuable timber land—free of charge—to the detriment of the public.