Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-02-25
Railroad Changes.

the past week has been the reported
change in railroad management in
the East, whereby the control of the
Northern Pacific road passes to the
Oregon Railway and Navigation Co.
The effect of this consolidation has
beeu viewed from almost every point
of observation, and the general feel
ing is one of depression, not that
the latter company have not ample
means and an earnest determination
to complete the road at the earliest
possible day, but Lecause it is SO
thoroughly identified with the inter-
ests of Oregon, and its club
Portland-that it will defer the con-
struction of the route across the
mountains to Puget Sound, until
such time as it may suit the interests
of the capital concentrated in that
city to remove to the site where Ma
ture designed that the great me-
tropolis-only second in impor-
lance on the continent-should be
built.
A brief glance at the attitude hith-
erto assumed by Oregon and the
present situation shows that these
gloomy forbodings are not without
cause. The position of Oregon has
been one of constant hostility to the
progress and development of COM
merce on Puget Sound. 1t was only
by this means that she could make
any Roadway against the obstacles
to her growth, and the result so far
has shown how potent are the privil-
eyes which Statehood confers in
subverting. the DEGREES of natural
law. Few years ago, this persistent
demand compelled the Northern Pa
cifc Railroad Co., to change their
main route to the Columbia river,
and ever since it has kept it there
and restrained the managers of the
enterprise from building the branch
to Puget Sound. When Congress
was asked for supplemental lesisla-
ton to authorize this change of
route, Hon. j. S. Smith, who repre-
scented Oregon in the lower house,
in letter-announcing the probable
success of the measure, exultantly de-
clared that "most likely the branch
to Puget Sound will never be built"
This is the spirit which has actuated
the Congressman, the press and the
people of northern Oregon in deal
ing with the matter. Now, if re-
ports be true, the. cords are still
more tightly drawn. If the directors
of the Oregon Steam Navigation Co.
can he presumed to have sold to a
corporation inimical to interests they
had fostered a score of years, it is
altogether improbably that some of
its principal stock holders would have
invested the proceeds of the sale in
Portland property unless the views
and Intentions of Mr.. Willard were
known to be friendly to the city.
This view now finds support in the
Interpretation placed upon the late de-
velopments by the Portland press.
The Oregonian, after lauding Mr.. Viii
lard's reported achievement as "with-
out parallel in commercial and fin
ancial operations in America" says
chat
The part which Portla nd will play in
will be the main depot of the vast bust
ness of the Northwest. IT will be the
chief point of concentration for the prodi-
gious energies which the new era will
awaken and develop. Mr.; Wizards sue.
the Northern Pacific with Oregon and
with Portland as never before.
The Telegram catches the refrain
in still more bombastic style:
This gives to Portland, beyond the shad-
ow of q doubt, the promise and certainty
of ultimately becoming the "Queen City"
of the Pacific Slope, and within ten years
the proud city OF San Francisco will be
compelled to give way to Portland, which
il destined to the front rank of American
cities.
If any of our people can CLEAN COM
fort from all this for the near future,
it is more than we can do. But still
it is decreed that Puget Sound shall
be the main terminus of the Great
Northern route. Nature has settled
the question, but when it will DO
practically solved time alone can de-
termine. Any attempt 70 change
this result would be as futile as the
effort to change fixed laws which
govern the Universe. While this is
frue IL does not follow that these |