The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1880-03-19
Tho Marrow ssause.

The Narrow Gauges
According to announcement the citizens Of
Albany met at the Court House last Monday
evening 10 hear report from the committee
appointed to correspond with Mr.. Reid. L.
Finn was made Chairman Of tho meeting and
4. p. Hackleman Secretary. Judge strnhan,
Chairman Of tho Committee, stated that they
had written a lottor 10 Mr.. Reid Ia which
they had expressed their views in regard TO
his proposition 10 extend the Dayton 4 sheri.
dan roilroad, and had received an answer
and the Secretary then proceeded by request
TO read both letters. For the benefit Of our
readers We will reproduce them:
ALBANY, March 10th, 1850.
WM. REID, ESQ.
Dear Sir.--0n the evening Of the sth inst f,
a large meeting of the eitizens OF Albany and
vicinity was held ia the Court House ia this
city, for the purpose OF considering the prop.
osition submitted by you through Measrs.
Mckenzie aud StearRs 10 tho people Of Al
bany, respecting railroad connection with the
west side At such meeting the undersigned
were appointed a committee 10 take the mat
ter into further consideration, and 10 commu.
nicate with you ia respect thereto and 10 re-
port AT an adjourned meeting OF the citizens
on next Monday evening The people Of this
city fully realize the Importance OF railroad
connection with tho west side counties, and
are prepared 10 favorably entertain any prop.
osition that they can fairly meet locking 70
that end; bnt It seems 10 rs that the one you
have submitted requires moro than wo would
be able to comply with. Your road ought 10
cross the river into our city by means of a
bridge II ID does not, would not the effect
be TO build up rival town on the opposite
side Of the river, with only doubtful and IN
eidental advantages to accrue Ia our city, II
you can submit proposition 10 bring your
cars into Albany by means Of q bridge, we
would bo pleased % have yon do so; or II you
are not prepared 10 do that. we most respect.
fully ask You to consider whether or not you
can not very materially modify the PROPOSE
ton already before Us, In respect 70 the
amount Of subsidy required. We also hope
you can name Portland or Astoria definitely
~ u terminal point.
Assuring you that our people feel lively
interest. not only Ia your railroad enterprises
but particularly those which Immediately
Affect the growth and prosperity Of our city,
We remain, respectfully and truly yours.
H. s. STRAHAN.
Chairman Citizens' Com.
Following Is Mr.. Reid'a reply 70 the above
OnEeoS RAILROAD Co, LIMITED.
PoRrLANp, Or, March IS. 1850.
| II. s. SrRAmAS. ESQ, Chairman Of the Rail
road Committee, Albany.
Sirs=Your letter Of the 10th inst, togeth
or with the propositions therein contained
from the people Of Albany, were by me tele
graphed % Scotland. but regret 20 say that
up to this morning have had no reply there
20.
| cannot account for an article which ap
peared in the Albany DEMocRAF. exhibiting
spirit OF opposition 70 my proposition, ane
commenting thercupon. Pardon me in say
ing, ia reply. thereto. that We did not seel
| from the city of Albany one single dollar. moi
did ws at any time exhibit desire 10 entei
your city. That proposition came from your
selves. and can not, therefore, permit ms
actions to be misconstrned by that newspa
per II Il represents the opinions Of the eitj
OF Albany, wish quietly % withdraw irotI
further negotiations with your people. 10t
asked me to name the terms on which ou
Company would enter your city. ! did 20
but have no recollection whatever ot eve
seeking one dollar from your city unsolicited
| for the simple reason that We never had an,
| intention OF entering Albany until your eiti
znns asked us 70 do 80. Nor did we stipuiat,
that sou should build bridge for our exclu
sive use. or any bridge; NC simply stated tha
bridge across the Willamette river at Al
bany was a serious obstacle 10 oar enterinl
that city. and hence we indicated desire q
/ terminate at point opposite your city, ans
60 there whenever you desired rs, and wer
/ IN a position TO enable Us to do 30.
| Be assured Of one thing. and Il i this VI
shall not seek the trade of your city unieA
you wish Us. and ii the Albany DENoC1,A
represents your views. permit us right her
10 close further negotiations with your city
for the simple reason that We do not desir
to enter Albany il the people don't want us
i You state that il Is the intention or deair
OF your peopla to have county bridge At a
events, whether our road goes there or not
| II it il 20, why not then make the bridge
little stronger and suitable for passengers o
fOJt, for wagons and railroad all combined
tlle extra cost OF doing which, our cnginee
tells Us. would not exceed s. 600 at the most
Il IL not the pslicy nor the wish Of this Con
pany to build up rival towns anywhere; henc'
II we terminated at point opposite Albany
il would be provided the people Of Alban
demanded it-not otherwise.
The Albany DMocRAT expresses the opif
lou that our Company has given no guarante
or assurance Of its intention TO build any raj
roads in Western Oregon. In reply 10 whlcl
let me say that last Friday contract was i
to build large portion OF our railway, to ]
completed before Lue lbbn ui OEtoutf mex
Why, you viii ask Simply because Il
J subscriptions and support obtained to our 81
terprlse from the people along the line Il
which this contract was let, were 50 liber
that VIC could not refuse to grant their r
quest. Yours faithfully,
WM. RID, President.
On motion. the committee was given furt
er time TO report. and were authorized
confer with Mr.. Reid and consider any 9th
r proposition which lie might desire to offer.
The question Of building bridge was tn
discussed at some length informally, and 4
committee were authorized to take that ms
ter into consideration also, and to ascerta
j the probable cost Of bridge across the riy
r at Albany, suitable for foot passengers, wa
( ons and railroad cars.
a On motion the following resolutions we
adopted
Resolred, That we favor the proposed w
4 side connection with the Dayton, Sheridan
: Grande Ronde Railroad, and will gladly q
= tertain any reasonable proposition that N
6 Reid may submit with that object in view.
v Resolved, That our thanks are hereby te
& dered to Mr.. William Reid for the inter,
! which he has manifested in securing to
: the proposed extension.
: On motion, the meeting then adjourned
= meet at the call of the Chair.
; Weather fn Eastern oregon.
| .