The daily mountaineer. (Dalles, Or.) 1861-1866, 1865-12-20
THE COLUMBIA RIVER ROAD.

" THE COL UMBIA RIVER AOAD.
The present isolated condition of this city,
suggests to the minds of the people the neces-
sity for the improvement of the road down
the Columbia River. 1t is an enterprise which
will be mainly profitable during the pleasant
season of the year, but its usefulness to the
public will be most felt when the navigation
of the river is stopped.
If a road should be constructed, and main
tanned 10 passable condition throughout the
entire year, it would certainly prove highly
remuuerative investment to the builders.
From this time forward the increase of live
stock in the Willamette Valley will find its
way into the Columbia River Basin, and the
movement of population, seeking new settle
ments, together, with tourists travelling either
on horseback OF with vehicles, would form
current, which at derate tolls, would justify
the investment of a considerable sum of
money. AS time progressed, it would pay
better and better to the end of time. If the
river road were properly improved, it would
attract all the k-trHrel as there is no other
route by which it can be moved across the
Cascades Range, at that season of the year in
which it is of the greatest importance that it
should be transferred to this side of the noun.
tains.
The General Incorporation Law is particu-
larly favorable to the projection and prosecu-
ton of enterprises of this nature, and such a
work, energetically, carried forward, will not
be likely to have any competition for many
years. In case it is ever Instituted, the ad-
vantages belonging to the older enterprise
would render it futile.
The difficulties in the construction of the
road are considerable, but by no means insu-
perable, and above all the prospects of imme-
diate remuneration are so great that limited
amonut Of capital would be required to render
it passable bridle-treil, and adapt it to the
passage of loose stock. There are already
two incorporated companies having vested
rights on the line road, as follows:
Columbia River Company, capital stock
$780, 900; incorporated October IA, 1862 in'
corporators, Joseph Watt, o. Humason aud
| Asahel Bush.
Columbia River Railroad Company, capital
stock, 81 800, 900; incorporated November 10
1852; incorporators, Joel Palmer, JOSEPH
Watt and John F. Miller.
There is besides an incorporation covering
apart of the ground on which the road will run
viz: The Cascades Railroad Company, capita
stock, 100000; incorporated October 20
1892 incorporators, Joseph S. Rucke, Har
rison Olmstead and Daniel II Olmstead., ,
The Columbia River Road Company ha
done many thousands of dollars worth @
work on the line Of the road OF the exac
amount we are not informed. As it now ex
lists, the road is nearly valueless, and il woul
seem the part of wisdom if fresh elements G
enterprise and an accession of capital wer
: infused into it. The completion of wagon
road is but the certain fore-ruuner of a rail
road, and the companies formed for separat
purposes have still common interest. Th
line is the one certain to be adopted for III
Great Northern Pacific Railroad " hch is SUI
TO be built in the next ten years. In anticip,
tion of this enterprise, the wagon-road grade
ought to be run with view to take on tn
rails of the fast-line when it comes tn
far west it, indeed, it is not commenced
the west within FIVE years from date.
l|X
" CHRISTMAS ThEE.-Next Monday cvenin
there will he a Oh ristmae trae aractad q, ~