The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-11-18
COUNTY AND CITY OFFICIAL PRESS
Monday, November l6, 1878.
RAILROAD CONNECTIONS.

The Idaho Aralanche Of late date
says:
1.-THE rapid progress being made on
the extension Of the Utah and Northern
Railroad, combined with the interest
that is being displayed in certain quar-
tiers pertaining to railroad comasuhica-
ton through Idaho furnishes good
grounds for hope fba: much will be ac-
corDplished in that direction during the
coming two years Knowing ones ex-
press Ire belief that the whistle ct the
locomotive will be heard In the Boise
valley before the end Of the year 1880.
Jay Gould and other capitalists are 81
lebtly at work. and many gentlemen
outside arc probably better posted on
the subject than old residents Of the
Territory. From information which
we have recently received from reli-
able sources, it il safe to predict that q
strong effort will be made the coming
winter to have the Utah and Northern
road pushed forward to and beyond
Snake river"
The Portland Standard copies the
foregoing and comments as follows:
Whenever this road reaches Boise
valley. it will not stop until it comes
west to the Columbia river, but the
trade of this Northwest along the line
will 60 east instead OF coming here.
We need road from the Columbia east
and then the trade will come this way.
and Portland will be the beneficiary OF
the enterprise. which will enhance her
wealth greatly. We should encourage
aud aid ail railroad projects which will
draw trade to this place aud make
Portland the western terminus But
il the road is first constructed from
Utah. and no connection from the west,
it will go the other way, and it will be
long time before the trade can be
drawn here after the road is completed
TO the Columbia river. One thing is
certain. that no road will stop short of
the Columbia river when it once reaches
Boise valley.
We fully agree with the conclusion
Of the Standard that no road will stop
short Of the Columbia river when 1t
once reaches Boise valley. And then.
where will it naturally tcndg The dis
lance from its junction with the Colum-
bia river is as greatto Portland as to Sc
attic. The cost Of construction from that
point would be quite Is much to the
former as to the latter, and for CON-
mercial advantages would be incompar
ably in favor Of Seattle, as is manifest
to any intelligent man who will make
the comparison. The advantage Of an
unexcelled ocean port and harbor, ac-
cessible at all times IND seasons, against
q river town 100 miles from the ocean,
with dangerous entrance. where ves-
sells have been detained ninety days at
time and icebouud for portion Of
every winter. A line Of railroad fur
nishiny return freights of lumber and
coal to meet the demands Of an extern
sivc prairie country against a line which
has Iothing in the way of return
freight but imported articles of mer-
chandize which can ba delivered at less
cost at Seattle than at Portland. We
are quite as anxi Us for the extension
of the Utah aud Northern road To the
Columbia river as Portland con be. It il
narrow gauge road and will just fit on
to the Seattle and Walla Walla railroad
Nothing is more certain than that Ut
road will stop short of Puget Sound
when it once reaches the Columbis
river let it come; we are not afraid.