, 1881-05-28
the TIE AND TRACK.
A Brief Resume Of the
Fairly Railroad History
Of the Columbia
Basin.
TIE STANDARD GUiGE ERA.
We Bid Adieu 10 The Narrow and
Welcome the Standard
Gauge Road.

On Wednesday erening a. 6.l5 the stand
ard gauge locomotive rolled into the Walla
Walla depot As simple fact many people
would overlook this item as matter OF
minor importance, blt nevertheless it is of
'-~"e-yast Importance to this section.
iHP'f s"- hat viii bring
II is the dawn OF 4 new er. .-
this country before the world at large {, .ts
true light. Prior 20 1874 passage and freight
ware transported to Wallula, then our eritre-
pot by stages and freight wagons. Under
this .eglnie such a thing as transporting the
products Of our land was out Of the question.
In 1873 Or. Baker, with great foresight,
undertook the building OF e railroad from
Wallula TO this city. Tie undertaking was
started
AGAINST The Pf.EHCTIONS
OF some OF our Shire adest business men.
Capitalists locked upon the enterprise as a
sure financial ruin. But nevertheless the
man was determined 10 build the road and
with what SUCCESS We VI N know-but under
what difficulties It wIl! probably never be
known. Ia the first place labor was scarce
and wages high. The ties had to be trans
ported from the head Of the Yakima river
a distance OF two hundred miles. The
first rails laid consisted OF wool strapped
with iron bands, imported from Wales at a
heavy cast. The rolling stock comprised
two donkey engines manufactured By Porter
Bel ( Co, OF New York 1t toik three
years 10 const-uc: the road, aad shortly
alter 1t. construction it was found that
strap rails were All
ENTIRE FAILURE.
The weight Of the cars wrenched the straps
from their wooden fasteninga, and doubled
them up as if they were made Of whoop iron
The passage from Wallula TO this city often
took one half day. During the strap rail
period many comical stores were told abou:
the road, how the passengers when in
hurry jumped off Of the train and walked TO
cars. The second season the doctor ruiz the
road he substituted light iron rails in place
Of the straps" somewhat Known by rall-
readers as the raw Liie era" From this
tine the read became better investment,
although the travelling accommodations were
no better The oaly passenger coach coa-
8 a m va
dows. These were only substituted for tetier
EOLLISG STOCK
During 10 II. In 1873 DR.. Baker sold all
interest in the read to the o. :. y. Co,
and subsequently, he parted with his remain
ing stock, selling i: to Henry Willard and
associates. From this dat the line assumed
more importance Plans were Immediately
matured to extend the liue to the Dall-s and
to make it standard gauge road This
work was completed as last as men and
money could do it. For the past few days
large forces Of men were busy around the
depot making connections. From the amount
of work to be accomplished many predictions
that through CONNECTIONS COuii HoL De Hiaue
on Wednesday evening, but thanks TO the
able management of Superintendent Buck
lev It was done without a hitch. His
smiling conntcnance as the train entered the
depot plainly told OF his satisfaction n. the
SUCCESSFUL COMPLEXION
OF the Job. Il is now the intention OF Sup
erintendent Buckley II pash the Grange
City and Dayton extension through with as
much if not moCc vigor thIn he did on the
Dales road. Many have the idea that this
branch will bs a narrow gauge which Is 4
mistake. 1t VIII be standard gauge road
and will hc run On standard gauge principles
From the time the last spike VAS driven
dates WaIla Walla's lie as a metropolis. To
the new enterprise Wa say S"crfSs.'
FISu.-Every morning now there are three
fish markets in full blast They supply sill
yer salmon, Chinook salmon and sturgeon,
The silver salmon are bow generality ad-
mi.,ed to be the red fish Of which so much
has been heard For lcng time they were
thought 20 be Indigenous to the fountain
lakes Of Eastern Oregon and ldaho, notably
the Wallow, Paye.te and Salmon lakes in
Al.ura, county, but the researches Of Captain
Heudire and others have demonstrated other