Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1883-08-09
OBJECT TO DIVERT ATTENTION
AND DELAY.

HUI tcuoit 1Aut, "ould Iidhc tiS ubiis
believe that the Union Pacific manager,
will yet select the route via. Malhaur
river, the Willamc;t Pass of the Cascades
and run down the Willamette valley to
Portland. As reasons shown for having
the public believe his productions, h.
cites the facts that last summer he was
invited to conference in New York with
Sidney Dillon and s. II. II. Clark, and
that at that meeting sit was endeavored
to be shown to Messrs. Dillon aud Clark
that feasible route for railway could
BE- found by following up the Malheur
river and traversing Southeastern Oregon
north Of Lake Harvey, cross the Cascade
mountains through either the Willamette
River Pass or the Mckenzie Pass into
the Willamette valley and thence north
to Portland" and as j. r. W. says, maps
and partial surveys were exhibited to
Dillon and Clark and other representations
made to induce the o. S. l.. in that d.
rection, and that all had been said that
could be said. MIR. Dillon requested the
papers be left, remarking that be would
take the matter under advisement" L.
this taking the matter under advisement
. reason for believing that the company
will adopt that route? Again he says
"Inasmuch as stragetical move on the
part Of the O. X. & N. Co. it is alleged,
compclls a junction at Huntington instead
Of Baker City, may 1t not be that SIM
liar reasons have induced the Short Line
70 cross to the Oregon side 80 as to CON-
mand the Malheur river canyon, and find
ing the Snake river line via. Lewiston
impracticable, rs is believed, will constr ct
its road on the route, substantially herein
indicated" The above quotation is a
very suggestive one of the real character
and objects sought by the writer. In the
6rst place he dignifies the act Of the O.
h. h N. Co. in seizing upon the Burnt
River canyon after the o. S. l.. had made
its survey through it, under special
agreement with the O. r. & N. Co. tc
meet at Baker City, as a stragetical move
instead Of a wanton violation of con
tract, and fragrant exhibition Of bad faith
This Of itself shows that the writer, j
X. W., is in the interest, in some form
Of the 0. II. Il N. Co. and not u true
friend Of the O. $. l.. otherwise he wout
call things Of such moment, by theil
right names. In the second place hi
misrepresents the facts when he says that
the o. s. l.. crosses the Malheur river
and commands the canyon Of that stream
The Q. 8. l.. opposite the Malheur, pas
ses down on the Idaho side, and ha,
nothing to do with the Malheur river Oh
it, canyon, and for aught any objection,
Of the o. S. L. the 0. II. l. N. Co. o.
any other company who desires, can built
aroad up the Malheur and over the rout,
Indicated by J. r. W. Again at thi
late day more than a month after III,
locating engineer Of the O. s. L. has OK
amined BY a line Of survey over til,
whole route, and found it highly practi
cable and has given out the facts to tn,
public and they have been extensivel,
published, it is a singular species of ig
norance or design to misrepresent, tha
he should on the 2sth day Of July, thai
the finding the Snake river line via
Lewiston impracticable, as is believed
the company viii construct its road OF
the route j. r. w. had indicated Tn,
appearance Of this peculiar letter in ths
Oregoniaa just at this period is indica
tive that it is written for to bluff some
body, and then again calliag upon thu
Board Of Trade Of Portland 10 step in
and induce the O. s. L. to adopt his route
and bring the line to Portland, just as
though the Board Of Trade Of Portland
knew better what was for the interests OF
the 0. s. L. than the managers Of the
.. s. L. themselves and their surveyors
who are constantly reporting results te
them, just as though said Board Of Trade
who are and have been thoroughly COM
United in interest with the Northern Pr.
ci6c and o. r. & N. Co. would, if they
could, aid the 0. S. L. if it was to con.
fict in any manner with the interest OF
either Of the other lines. We think Mr..
Dillon perhaps would use courtesy sufic-
lent to tell j. II. w. that he would take
his suggestions sunder advisement. But
We do not believe that advisement was
lengthy after j. Il. w. left his Office, for
this simple reason, that more than tire,
years ago, the 0. s. L. engineers exam
ined and ran line over most of that
route from the mouth Of the Malheur and