The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1880-03-05
THE NARROW oAUeE RArLnoAD.
4 statement by ssr. wfIiam Reid il 20
the Intention OF the Company he
Represents.

from w IN. 4eelu, IN feSatu 70 Aae Eio-
posed narrow gauge railroad;
Permit me space to correct an I'M
founded rumor circulated this morning
to the effect that this company had sold
out to the o. & G. Il. II. Such an as
sertion is false for the simple reason
that neither myself nor my Portland
associates have power 10 sell this COM
pany. because the enterprise does not
belong to us, but is owned by foreign
capitalists, who only undertook tho
same unsolicited on their part), ut the
special desire aud request Of tks people
living on both sides of the Willamette
valley through which our proposed rail
ways viii run, and who desired from
these capitalists an Independent and
cheaper system-than at present in
force-of transporting their produce by
narrow gauge railways TO ship nayiga-
ton, and who stated that the people 10.
Gated therein would give their unani-
nous support and assistance to such in
dependent system of railways in the
Willamette valley il constructed by the
capitalists referred to. This offer was
accepted, and these gentlemen pledged
themselves by written agreement not to
sell, or offer for sale, their enterprise TO
the o. It c. II. II. Co., but to keep up
and maintain an independent system OF
narrow gauge roads in western Oregon.
Pursuant to this agreement, which is
practically a cooperative one, the or
ganization was completed both here
and elsewhere, the moneys subscribed,
the iron contracted for, the locomotives
bought, and the Dayton, Sheridan l.
Grande Ronde railroad $50 miles mar
row gauge) was purchased by this COM
pany to form link or portion of this
independent railway system, TO be con
tinued on either to Portland or Astoria,
or perhaps both.
The arrangements were negotiated
four months ago with represer tatives
of the peSple on the east and west sides,
whereby it was agreed that whatever
district or section of country that de
sired to be connected with the proposed
independent narrow gauge system
should have its railway or branch on
certain conditions. Recognizing the
value of this privilege, the peo-
pie OF Shverton Immediately requested
to be connected with the river, and
spontaneously offered $4,000 Of sub.
scriptions in return for guarantee on
our part to reach the Willamette river
this summer, and some point mt ship
navigation year or SO thereafter. IL
Is therefore matter Of perfect indiAer-
ence to us whether or not the o. ( G.
X. r. now or hereafter extends ,tl,ranch
to SilYerton. We shall faithfully i'm
plement our contract with the people
of that town and go there at once, aud
continue our line southwark, the evi-
dence of our intentions 10 do all which
rs contained in the following copy of a
telegram received from San Francisco
SAN FRANcIsco, Feb. q, 1850.
To Vim. Reid, President Oregon EaGl-
way Company, limited: VIII deliver five
hundred tons before the 18th Of A pril, and
/ i've hundred tons additional before the
end Of May, or first five hundred ton.
sooner il you require il.
PACIFIC ROLLING MILL. CO.
These 1000 tons, the 200 tons on
hand at Portland, and the two locomo-
tives and cars now in transit for the
Silverton division have secured Silver.
toms future prosperity. At the same
time we are delighted to know that two
small companies with capital Of $500
600, called the "Salem and Silverton
r. r. Co.," / miles in length, and the
ALBANY and Lebanon II. Z. Co." l.
miles in length, were to-day organized
ut Portland to run in connection with
the o. & G. r. r. Co. on the broad
gauge principle. The farmers of Sill.
verton and Lebanon will thus have not
only competition but a practical oppor-
tunity of seeing and testing the great
advantages which the narrow gauge
system in western Oregon possesses
over the broad gauge. Especially will
this be shown in the cheaper freights
at which our narrow gauge railway viii
be able to carry wheat and produce
from Silverton and Lebanon, respect
lively, to market In conclusion per
NIT me to add that the farmers of the
Willamette valley with whom during
the last six years / have had more bus
mess intercourse than with other elasses)
know that l have never promised them
anything which l have not been able,
financially, to carry out; and il, as /
have every confidence and believe, they
will continue to give their promised as
sistance and support to our Independent
system of railways, both you and I,
DIR. Editor, will, in that agent (if we
live till next year,, Gnd that the prom
ises made by this company, to con
struct the narrow gauge roads to ship
navigation, viii be faithfully carried
ont. Respectfully,
VIZ RFIn prna