Oregon Republican. [volume] (Dallas, Or.) 1870-1872, 1870-07-09
Oregon Railroads.


the Oregoaiaa OF the 9th. IF the as
surances therein made shall be carried
out, it will be we'll:
OFFICE 0. 4 C. r. r. Co. !
Portland, Ogn., July S, 1870.
EDlroR OREGoNIAN
In your paper of yesterday ! noticed
an article of which the following is an
extract
Will Mr. Holladay, controlling both
the east and west sides, extend rail-
road farther than the head of the Will
annette valley? 1t looks rs if this
might be doubtful 1t is even whis>
pered here, and with some appearance
of plausibility, that, having secured
undisputed control of the railroad sys-
tenn of the most populous and import
ant part of. Oregon, he
will not build railroad further south
than Eugene City, or the head of the
valley.
The Oregon and California Railroad
Company will this year build and equip
their road for distance of one hun
dred miles south of Portland, aud will
thereafter complete it as rapidly as pos
sible to the head of the Willamette
valley. After reaching that point they
will continue to build south without in
terruption that is, in case the bill now
before Congress to grant aid for the
Humboldt branch road is passed in
such shape as to cause that road to
come into the valley of Rogue river.
But if the grant for that branch should
be SCI made as to avoid the southern
counties and bring the road into the
Willamette valley, "at or near Eugene
City" By the middle Fork of the Will
annette river, then we should build our
road no further south than the head of
this valley. where We would ultimately
| connect with the Humboldt road. In
case affairs should take this share it
uld not be practicable to build q
road further south than'ihe point indi-
Gated. For we should be cut off from
southern and eastern connections, inas-
much as the Central Pacific Company
would almost certainly cause their Cal-
| ifornia and Oregon road to divcrge
from the route originally laid down,
| and build it by the easier route by way
Of the valley of Pitt river, so as TO
make connection with the Humboldt-
Eugene branch. They would thus have
continuous line OF railroad running
into Oregon under their own control.
| Whether We build our road south OF
the head Of the Willamette valley or
not. depends therefore on the action to
be taken by Congress relative TO the
route OF the branch road from the
Humboldt.
It is the desire, as it has been the
intention, OF the Oregon and Califor.
MA Railroad Company to build their
road to the southern boundary Of the
State; and they will do SO without de.
lay, unless their purposes are checked
by such legislation in Congress as will
render it impraetible to carry them
out In other words, If the grant for
| the Humboldt branch shall be so made
as to connect with our road in Rogue
river valley, and thus secure also con.
ncction for us with The Oregon and Cal
ifornia road at the State line, VIC shall
continue our road south of the Will
annette valley. Otherwise we shall not
do so.
| In this connection it may be as vel
for me to state that shall 20 forward
and build the west side road, complet.
ing the first section within the time a.
lotted by the act of Congress, and ulti'
mately continuing it south to june
ton with the Oregon and California
road at some point near the head ol
the Willamette valley. Z
| BEN. HOLLADAY.