Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1882-01-26
THE UNION PACIFIC SEEKING
TIDE WATER.


pany, was in Seattle recently, he I'M
parted 20 Chronicle reporter the de-
signs of the managers of the corpora
ton. AS these statements arc important
to the people Of Washington Territory,
We copy portion of them below. In
reply to the question if it is the inten.
ton of the Union Pacific to build two
lines of road, one to Oregon and one
to Puget Sound, Mr.. Williams said:
1t is impossible for me to tell you
the lines to be travelled by our different
contemplated railroads. We are now
building from Granger. in Wyoming.
Our roads will enter Oregon by way
of the Goose Lake country, while the
other limo will run from Boise City,
Idaho, through Pendleton, to a point
OH the Columbia river at or near Una
tilla.
Reporter noticed that the Ore
gonian makes you say your line will
be built down the north bank Of the
Columbia river from Umatilla and ter
inmate at Portland. Is this truei
Mr.. W. No, sir; tho Oregonian rep
resentative is mistaken. ] did not in
innate that our road in Washington
Territory would terminate at Portland.
l did say that our road might traverse
the country north of tho Columbia
river, however, without the least en-
barrassment from the Northern Pacific.
Reporter-You have doubtless read
Mr.. Wizards recent statement concern
ing the building of the line over the
mountains, beginning work during the
present year. You are aware this is
in direct opposition to his utterances
while here. 1 have thought he was
fearful for the land grant or-what is
more likely--afraid that Jay Gould
would build to the Sound ahead of him.
Mr.. W.-The last supposition is no
doubt the cause of his change of base
concerning the road over the Cascade
mountains.
Reporter-Then I am to understand
that the U. p. will build to the Sound9
Mr.. W.-When l came up the coast
and reached Astoria, l saw outside the
bar six or eight vessels standing off
and on. Some of them had been there
from one to two weeks-perhaps long
or. AS we camo in a tug attempted
to get out, but failing was compelled to
return to Astoria. When we arrived
at Astoria, there was the Columbia
then two days overdue at San Francis
CO. | took pains to get statistical in
formation concerning tho Columbia
bar, and found that shipping sometimes
remained off the bar from three to six
weeks before being able to get in. l
always had an opinion that the bar
was q very serious obstacle to naviga-
tion, and thus had it demonstrated very
forcibly.
The necessity of reaching more
safe and commodious outlet is an abso-
Lutte, imperative necessity. 1t will be
impossible to make Portland in this
respect great place, for l am Of opin-
ion the bar can never be cut away so
far as to make ingress and egress of
deep water shipping free of danger.
Reporter-Will the close of the pres
ent year determine whether Mr.. Gould's
road will be built over the mountains
Mr.. W.-Yes sir. And probably
much less time. The close of next
summer will no doubt fully develop the
policy of the Union Pacific in this Ter
ritory. I am very much pleased with
the Sound and have not the slightest
doubt your unequalled shipping facili-
ties will be utilized fully within the
next two or three years.
Reporter. Willard and Gould
have nothing in commonl There is no
secret understanding between them in
their railroad movements
Mr.. W.-No. sir. Had Gould re-
manned in the full management Of the
Utah Northern it was his intention to
quietly continue that road to the Co.
lumbia and then line over the noun.
tains, reaching the Sound ahead Of all
other lines. would have been pleased
to see that programme carried out.
Now, however, the Utah Northen will
not come to the Columbia. A great
future awaits this country. 1t is my
FIRST visit here and am likely to re.
turn next spring.
In answer to the question. Does
Gould understand the cost of an outlet
on the Sound-tho engineering diff
culties to be overcome. Mr.. Williams
stated that he was thoroughly acquaint
ed with these questions-probably
knew more about them than any other
; man in the country.-Tdcona Ledger