Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1881-04-14

hailtH w ht' L pu. "''y 'ti'i ''iif''is
and from there it might be best, on
account of the expensiveness of the
road, for the Northern Pacific to run
over your road to Portland as is pro
vided in the traffic contract
Now, as to the blanch line over the
Cascade range. The surveys are not
yet completed, and | have no expecta
ton that they viii be before June
The work so far done indicates that
the route will be much more practical
than has been anticipated. With the
exception of a not long tunnel at the
summit, doubt if the work will be
as expensive as that of your road on
the Columbia river from The Dalles
down. However, when tho surveys
are finished, we shall have the exact
facts and if there is no practicable rou'e
that ends the matter. If there is, |
am so certain that road will be built
there by some company, | think it
would be almost crime if the North
ern Pacific should lose its right to
build there, and its land grant And
it certainly will, if it should not 60 to
work and keep at work on The line.
Washington Territory would ask CON
gress to take from The Nor hern Pa
cifc its charter aud land grant for the
branch, if the company did not show
signs of using 50 much of its charter
and acquiring that part of its grant !;
and the territory would be right in
so doing. The lands are all Withdrawn
on the line. No title can be perfected
for the railroad lands because the com
pany does not construct its road and
the price of the alternate freight of
the government is doubled because
within he limits of the grant The
people would say justly, it the North
ern Pacific Company is not going to
do anything it must be put oat of the
way. And congress would certainly
put it out of the way and give the
the chance to some other company,
and the Northern Pacific could have
nothing to say against such action.
And when | think that when this
Cascade or branch line, about 225
miles long, the road already built
to the coal fields at Wilkeson, 81
miles from Tacoma, is completed, and
that for coal and iron purposes should
be extended some distance from Will
keson right i'll the line of going over
the Cascade range, and that on the
east side of the range road should
anyway be built up the Yakima valley
for local purposes for rs to 100 miles
right in tho line of going over the
range, the question comes down to
this; Should the Northern Pacific
give up the purpose of building the
100 miles between the point to be
built to, for local business of the Yaki-
ma valley on the east side of the
mountains, and the point on the west
side of the mountains to be built tc
for local purposes, provided a practi
Gle route is found And in solving
this question il should be mentioned
that this branch line should be about
$50 miles shorter to the Sound than
by the Columbia river, and that on its
line are the coal and timber which
will be required all through Eastern
Oregon and Washington Territory
The haul of coal would be more thar
double the distance 10y the Columbit
river route than on that by the Cascade
range route.
Another matter. The Norther,
Pacific is chartered to 90 to Puge
Sound both by the Columbia river ant
the Cascade range. Certainly by a
least one route or the other it shoult
so there. 1t will not he complete
transcontinen.al line from the grea
lakes to the Pacific ocean, unless i
does so. On the Sound | believe com
merce in time will do its chief work
instead of on the Columbia rive,
The dangers and difficulties of the Ell
terine of the river and its navigation
will tell against it as soon as tn
Sound is easily accessible from the il
terror.
Now, from all this you see how tn
thing lies in my mind. You have
road down the river. If the Norther
Pacific does not build there, and Their
is practicable route over the Casvad
range, it should certainly construt
that branch. Not for the purpose c
hurting you, but because the Norther
Pacific, chartered to go to the Scum
, by two routes, should have throu4
line by at least one-and because IL
Cascade range route is the shorter on
5 will be necessity for half its Icing,
l CT more, for local purposes, and Ii
| through coal, iron and timber field
| furnishing always freight back to Il
e interior.
: Interested rs largely as you are
: the development Of Eastern Greg
k aud Washington Territory, and as "
n are now in the Northern Pacific Coz
a pany, | think you on hit to take t
IS view that the company shall do not
n ing that will put its route over t
re Cascade range in danger of being ia
| ow,u Il n,au hn boct IN b,r