Spokane Falls Wins the Land Office—and Sprague Howls

THE REVIEW speaks of the removal of the U.S. Land Office to Spokane Falls as the result of the enterprise of the citizens of the Falls. The 'enterprise' of these land speculators would not have required so much effort and silent work behind the scenes, with such care not to let the people of the district know anything about the move, had the place been the choice of the people of the district and the most central for business. As the location of the Land Office is made to suit the majority of the people of the district and not to assist speculators in town sites and real estate, the authorities at Washington must make some change in their order when they have heard the wishes of the majority, and that Spokane Falls does not comprise the majority of the district for whose benefit the office is instituted.

The above delectable extract is from the Herald, a paper published at Sprague, in this county, and shows the drift of the feeling existing in certain localities against Spokane Falls. We have noticed in our brief existence that sometimes if there is one man in a community who has met with success, through a freak of fortune or his own exertions, then there is always a crowd of envious, jealous, vicious excrescences yelping at his heels, ready to say the meanest of mean things about him, and by innuendoes endeavor to work some injury to him. As it is with the individual, so, we regret to say, is it frequently the case with cities, towns and villages when situated near together. Let one of the places show evidence of growth and prosperity and the others band together, no matter how their interests may differ, to throw impediments in the way of its growth. Local papers, the mouthpieces and organs of their communities, take up the cudgel, as a rule, and neglect no opportunity to say malicious things about sister towns. Truth is banished, fairness forgotten, honor lost sight of. The object is to endeavor to make the outside world believe the very worst of a place, and if any harm can be accomplished thereby, if ever so small, the perpetrators glory in their nefarious work and redouble their exertions. It is evident that the upper country is banded together against Spokane Falls, and while the pack is in full voice after this little city, she moves majestically along, turning neither to the right or left. It is obvious that the prospects of the Falls is creating an illness in some quarters, and they think their puny efforts will stay that progress that is as unmanageable as the ocean's tide. Why do ye not rail at the Creator, who made the town site? An hundred years ago a man with a particle of perception about him would have, standing on the shores of the magnificent river, predicted just what is now taking place. It is a natural site for a city, and all the howl, and persevering lying will not detract from the place one iota. Kick, and snarl, and vituperate ye hirelings to your heart's content. It shows that the iron has entered your souls, and instead of giving even a modicum of credit to the city you attempt to make your readers believe that the growth at the Falls is abortive and short lived. The attacks have no other effect than to make our people increase their exertions, and thus spurred on will hasten that which ye so much dread.

As to the remarks of the Herald above we can only say it shows the cloven foot. We did state that the removal of the Land Office to this city was the result of the labors of our enterprising citizens to a certain extent, and when the Herald openly charges our citizens with being 'land speculators,' it perpetrates a libel both silly and foundationless. All the trash about the 'silent work behind the scenes' and the ignorance of the people as to the movement is mere twaddle, and so nonsensical that we are surprised that the Herald would belittle itself by resorting to such absurdities. It is a matter of general knowledge, and hardly necessary to repeat, that petitions were circulated a few months ago among the people of this and Stevens counties by persons representing different towns in this county soliciting the authorities for the Land Office.