, 1862-06-07
Railroad to wallula.

remarks in reference to railroad between this
place and Wallula, and now we purpose to say
something further concerning the route, its cost
and practicability.
The distance as measured by the recent survey
of the wagon road to be travelled as the best dur
ing high water, is thirty.one and half miles, but
by railroad route would not exceed thirty miles
The country for the most of the way is generally
level, and the estimated grade would not exceed
twenty feet to the mile. For the first eighteen
miles the ground is exceedingly favorable, being
level and dry, and requiring only light work tc
prepare good road way. This would be easil,
and cheaply worked, and give direct line as far
as the Touchet and probably for two miles be-
ycnd thence the rolling hills intervening to the
Walla Walla river would require such cutting
and filling as would give easy grades and render
the line direct to the first crossing of the Walla
Walla. This portion of the road would lie about
mile to the south of the county road, and will
not require any rock excavation, the ground be-
ing principally light earth and easily worked
The Walla Walla would be crossed by bridge
of sixty feet span, which would bring the road to
the left bark Of the Walla Walla, which can be
followed to within mile of Wallula. This sec
hut will materially shorten the line and will be
found to be the most direct. The bridge near
the mouth of the Walla Walla will be about a
thousand feet in length of trestle-work, with a
span across the running water of forty or sixty
feet which will give very good approach to the
banks of the Columbia, and make good termi-
nus for the west end of the line.
The cost of building the road thus proposed
would not be great as compared with other works
of the same kind on this coast, provided it were
managed with economy. The iron will cost two
hundred thousand dollars delivered at Wallula
the ties would cost some twenty-five thousand
dollars the road bed could be prepared for fifty
thousand dollars; and the other expenses Of
bridging, transportation teams, engines, cars,
spikes, chairs. etc., would be covered by three
hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars more
making the cost of the road complete in running
order about six hundred thousand dollars.
10 some this may seem to be an immense
amount, and one so large that it we're hopeless
to attempt the enterprise when, however, we
consider what has been done in railroad building
IN the east, why should we be discouraged p
Capital cannot be had in this community to begin
the work for the reason that we are all apt TO be
too much engrossed in the pursuit of the dollar
to pay out money for prospective returns. There
are, however, but few of the farmers of this valley
who are not able to subscribe for at least one
share of one hundred dollars towards building the
road. The people of this county should take
htty or hundred thousand dollars of stock as
their share, and sufficient capital from abroad will
be invested to secure the completion of the road.
That It is needed there is no doubt, for who is
there, seeing the trains of OK and mule teams
strung along the road and loaded with freight,
but is convinced that railroad would have suffi-
cient work to keep it busy' Besides, railroads
make transportation, and thousands of tons are
carried which would never be shipped if the mule
and OK still continue to hold the palm as perform
ers of the carrying trade. If the people of this
valley will consider these things, and take advan-
tage of the charter granted them by the last leg
islature in to secure the advantages offered
then will they keep the control and reap the ben
eft of the position we occupy.
In a future iss9e we shall present the features
of the charter referred to, and make some re-
marks in reference to the probability of the road
paying good interest on capital invested.