The Daily Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Or.) 1876-1883, 1883-09-22
THE ASTORIA RAILROAD.
Telegraphic Correspondence With
Henry Willard.
Eis Impossible Conditions.

Eis Impossible Conditions.
On the 18th inst, Henry Willard
sent from Portland to the Astoria
chamber of commerce d letter in
which he stated explicitly the esti-
mates furnished to him by the engi-
neers who had just completed the sur
vey on the line Of the proposed road
from Astoria TO Forest Grove were so
large that the Oregon and Transcontl-
mental company found it impossible to
undertake its construction; that ac-
cording to the engineers figures the
cost of the road would be Sj0, 900 per
mile in money, with an additional
estimate Of $500 for terminal ia
eilities at this place. The chamber at
It's irst meeting after the receipt Of
that letter was of the opinion that the
estimates were mmeasurably greater
than the character Of the work called
for, notably the estimate Of three
quarters OF a million for Astoria ter
minal facilities and at its second
meeting caused to Le sent To- Mr..
Willard
THE FOLLOWING TELEGRAM.
ASTORIA, Sept. 18th. 1888.
To HENRY WILLARD, 81. Paul,
MINN.
If a contract for building the AS
toria and Forest Grove railroad COM
plete could be let at thirty Thousand
dollars per mile, and the requisite
lands for terminus at Astoria donated,
viii you then commence the construc-
ton of the road!
(OfiiciaD +. {. HOLDEN,
Secretary Astoria Chamber of Com
merce.
This telegram was the result of
considerable discussion of the subject,
and the experience of several who
from intimate concern IN the matter
had a good idea of what the cost Of
such railroad construction as that be-
tween here and Forest Grove should
be.
Yesterday afternoon was received
the following
ANSWER FROM WILLARD:
RAvELLI, MONTANA, VIA MTssoULA,
Sept. 20, 1888.
Z. C. HOLDEN, SECRETARY ASTORIA
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE:
/ will be very glad 10 pay any one
who will build the road in accordance
with the engineers plans and specif-
cations, twenty thousand dollars per
mile in first mortgage bonds, and ten
thousand dollars per mile in second
mortgages bonds. this being all the
available means the company has;
provided proper terminal facilities in
Astoria are assured.
To correct any erroneous impression
/ will add that the estimate Of the cost
in nay letter includes the full equip
ment of buildings, discount on bonds,
interest during construction, general
expenses, and other items not included
in the estimates proper Of engineers.
II. WILLARD.
This answer is explicit and appears
TO convey his exact attitude and inten-
ton toward the enterprise. It is as
much as saying that he viii give any
responsible party the contract to
build the railroad from here to Forest
Grove for thirty thousand dollars per
mile payable in the bonds Of the Ore
gon and Transcontinental company,
the road to be built in accordance
with his plans and terminal require
ments here to be furnished. What
ever else may be said of the answer
which he makes 1t has the merit of
being straightforward. IL is plain,
business proposition.
There is a variety of questions
that it suggests: are the o. &
T. company's bonds worth! what are
the plans and specifications of the en-
gineers, in conformity with which the
road must be built!-which, with
other questions, is very easy of solu-
ton.