In 1876 the Northern Pacific Railroad abandoned its northern line, the Skagit Branch through Skagit Pass (now known as Cascade Pass), and located its road south of Mount Rainier, through what was known as Packwood or Cowlitz Pass. Their checkerboarded railroad grants extended throughout almost the entire Territory allowing them to block other rail routes, including the abandoned Skagit Pass route. In Seattle, this became the subject of public agitation. Funds were raised and Judge McGilvra was sent to Washington, where he passed two winters in an effort to procure a restoration of those lands to the public domain in the interests of settlers.