, 1881-04-16

In letter written by ex-senator Cor
bett, of Portland, to the Ereni'ty Post Of
New York, and republished III the col-
umns of the 0reyoaian the following ap-
pears
have the highest es-
teen for Mr. Billings, president Of the North
ern Pacific, but think he makes great mistake
in pressing the building Of road over the
mountains at cost Of many millions when he
can run his cars on the most favorable terms
over grade Inobably not sixteen feet % the
mile, against probably one hundred and sixteen
feet tc the mile over the mountains. BIZ de-
cfiniRg Mr. Tiliarf's orerfurrs he could fectiae
% mac he Icg thai uf,loots the 'chole country
(The italics are ours. Ex-senator
Corbett, and the 0negoAiaa by republish-
ing the article, il seems 10 Us is presum-
ing a great deal Portland is no more the
key Of this upper country than the sum-
NIT Of Mt. Hood or Baker With the
deep water facilities We have at the Sound
il would not be natural for US 10 travel
one hundred and fifty miles out Of orr
way to find the ''key" in the shape OF
Portland Though probably it might be
70 find the "bar" at the mouth Of the CO.
lumbia, and as Presiden. Billings says:
Now, as 20 the branch
line oyer the cascade range. The surveys are
not yet completed, aad have no expectations
that they will be done before June. The work
40 far doue indicates that the route viii be
much norr practicable than has been antici-
pated. With the exception ii not long tunnel
nj the summit, doubt it the work will be "a
expensive a. tha. af your rad on the Columbia
liver from the palles down.
And a1ain:
And in s..lvins tlis question il shn.lt D.
mentioned that this branch line would 10
aboI. 10 miles shorter 10 the Sound than by
the Columbia river. and that on it, line are the
coal and timber which will lie required all
through Eastern OREGON and Washington
Territory. The haul Of coal wonii be more
than double the distance by the Columbia
river route than on that by the Cascade Range
rout. Now from all this you
80. how the thins lies in my mind. You have
\ road down the river. If the Northern Paci
fc does no, build there, and there Is practic.
able route over the Cascade range, it should
certainly construct that branch not for the
the purpose uf hurting you- but becInse the
Northern Pacific, chartered to % % the Sound
by two routes. should have through line By
at ieas. nne. and because the Cascade Range
route is the shortest one -ill lie necessity,
for half it length or more, for local purposes,
and lies through coal. iron and tin ber fields =
furnishing, always freight back to the INTERIOR
And while we are handling the subject
We would inquire by what right and au-
thority Mr.. Corbett speaks for this
country. Where does his interests lie!
II strikes ms as piece Of uncalled-for pre-
sumptiousness and impudence, for HIM
self, or any other person, TO force himself
and his mudfat, malarious city into NO
tice at our expense. The chances are,
that even now, if patronizing Portland
were called upon TO make one step tend
ing towards the help of this uppercountry |
unles. especially beneiitting Portland,
they would see us i'll warmer climate
first. Mr. Corbett knows little or moth
ing about this upper country. \ visit
of q day twice in his life to Walla Walla.
and to no point beyond, is the extent OF
Mr.. Corbetts' travels east OF the Cascades.
Like the old Eastern farmer, he could
make more shining mark by writing
treatise on "What | don't know abont
the wants and resources of that country
lying east Of the Cascades.