Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-10-12

The East Orsgonian Of latest receipt
gives rs the account following OF rail-
road operations in Western Idaho:
Having Just returned from trip over
the mountains, through Burnt rlvef can
Won. the scene Of the railroad war and
as far az Boise City. We feel ii to be OF
interest 70 our readers 20 chronicle what
Ne saw and gathered on the trp. The
Bloc Mcontains nave been the scene OF
war between nature and heavy forces OF
men in the employ of the y. X. q \. 10.
and the Oregon Construction Go. Up TO
few weeks ago. II was general I'M
PRESTON tia. Baker City would be the
t-rminOus Of the y. X. il n. Go. And the
Oregon Short Line, but lately new do
veIopments have been made by both
lines. Men have been employed 10 sur
yey Oh this side OF Baker City for she
Oregon Short Line aud others have been
placed in the Burnt river canyon on the
other side .! Baker City BY the .. X. Il
y. Go. Surveyors ere at work for the la'-
ter company, surveying ~ fast rs posi-
bic to Boise City. 4 large number OF
men are also at work III the c nyon
grading and making ready for the iron
horse. Six miles have been graded al
ready and the graders are about twelve
miles from Snake river where the Ore
gon Short Line men are building
bridge. one half mine below where the
ferry crosses tie river At At present
These men came from American Falls
where they have just completed bridge
for the same company. We had ride
With them over q hundred miles and
they claimed that they did not know the
q. Il. d n. Co. had graders Ia Burnt
river canyon. In few months the won
derfol workings of these two vast COZ
porations will be known. bat at present
all il conjecture. Jay Gould is prepar-
ing to take voyage which will last two
years. This shows he il not bOthefing
his level. large head, about tho right OF
way through Burnt river canyon. Ii Is
reported that there is only room for one
road through this natural barrier be-
tween Oregon and Idaho" But We be-
lievs that if Jay Gould 80 Wills 1t, Henry
Willard will allow the Oregon Short Line
right OF way through this gigantic ditch
that nature long ago dug. 1t is really
thrilling to ride on the stage only, just
now over the little narrow road that
runs through this canyon. People along
the line are excited over the dOlnga and
mysterious work Of both corporations.
When We went up the Oregon Short
Line men were on this side of Burnt
river canyon. When We returned they
were Just entering the canyon, prepare
tory to surveying route through this
great and only passage way. Large
numbers OF men are now on this side OF
Boise City on their way to the Burnt
river district, who are in the employ of
the Oregon Short Line Co. while from
this end Of the q. Il. & N. Cos road.
men are being forwarded to the same
scene. The railroad boys Of both COM
paniea are on agreeable terms and enjoy
the rivalry to its fullest extent. The
Oregon Short Line, it ia supposed, is
striking for Puget Sound, while at pres
ent. the .. Il. 4 n. Co. seem to have
Boise City in view as terminus. The
OREGON Short Line have three thousand
men at work on the road between Belle
vue and Snake river, and the q. Il. d N.
Co. have about the same number BE-
tween PendletOn and the Snake. Money
il NO object, but it is the shortest and
quickest route that these rival roads are
after. The u. Il. d N. Co. are making
all possible speed with their line across
the Blue Mountains; the summit has al
ready been reached. and the Grand
konde Valley ia found to be much easier
work. From PendletOu to Meachem. a
distance in direct line Of only twenty
eight miles takes tifty-two miles of track.
The is on account OF curves and follow
ing tine Umatilla river and Meachem
creek, to rid themselves of the tOilsome
work Of building tunnels and cutting
down embankments of which they have
enough to do az il is,'