Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1883-02-08
OREGON SHORT LINE.

There is good authority foi the state
ment that the engineers of the Oregon
Short Line have found the Powder riv
er a better line for railroad from
Snake river than the Burnt river route
now occupied by the forces of the o. r.
l. N.Co. The new route leaves Snake
river about twenty-five miles further
down that stream than the mouth 81
Burnt river, and leaves Baker city as
many miles to the west AS we under
stand the country, the Powder river
route, while furnishing better line FIR
railroad than Burnt river, does not
pass through as fine and productive a
section, and thus road down Powder
river would have less local traffic than
one down Burnt river. This loss
though, is balanced by less grades and
shorter route. In this connec ion, we
understand that the residents of Sum
merville are prepared to show railroad
engineers a shorter and better route
over the Blue Mountains than the one
now occupied 10y the OR. &c n Co. If
the statements made to us are verified
by the O.S.L. engineers, who are now
exploring the Powder river and Its
tributaries. and preparing to call On
the Summervil!e people for the prom.
Used guides over the Blue Mountains,
it will not be long before "lhe stick
stuck men" will be stalking out the
route of the Oregon Sh ri Line into
Wal.a Walla. 1t would probably be
we'll for Walla Walla to take some &c
ton in this matter. What, we are not
prepared this morning to suggest. "
W. Union, Feb. LIST.
The above programme marked out
by the Onion is much like that set
forth in the article in tho Oregoaian to
which we alluded last week, which
claimed that the @. S. L. was to make
its western terminus at St. johns, q
few miles below Portland. In both
cases the wish is the father Of the
thought. Neither Portland nor Walla
Walla seem to think that a continen
tai railroad can be much account unless
it takes in those towns. We see but
little difference in the disposition Of
those towns to boast Of their advantage.
and TO indulge in the belief that neces
sitv will compel each and every rail
road company to make these towns
Prominent points 10 their line, in order
to amount to much. Because few
thousand people have pitched their
tents there. To them it must Of neces
city appear that every railroad company
is blind to every other place as fitting
place where town can be built u,
with equal if not superior advantage
aad with equal population and in ia
less time than it has taken to uild vi
either Walla Walla or Portland. Tn
logic of these claims to supremacy i
easily seen through, and its full fore
felt by o.her localities Now as TO tn
purposes OF the Oregon Short Line, W
apprehend that that company care n
little about a route either through tn
Burnt river canyon or the Powde
river canyon and over the Blue moup
tains. as they do about one across tn
ocean to New Zealand, and although
they did 'emporarily agree to build t
Baker City and there pool freigh,s an
passage with the OR. Il Mo-, but i
was never to leeome permanent
agreement and when the 0. r. & N
Fought to take an advantage of the Q
81. by Jumping the pass east Of Bake
City SO as to shut out the O.SL. fror
fulfilling their temporary sgreemen,
they then we're not disappointed no
woe begone. They at once determine
to fellow Snake river to rear its mout
and thence push through to Seattl
with all the speed that money and ne
could effect, and they started thei
surveys down Snake river, locating
their road as hey went along, till owe
eighty miles had been located and sill
keep pushing forward tho work of ID
cation as fast as the condition of tn
weather will permit. To hasten fol
ward the work of location they sent
party Of surveyors to Lewiston in mi
winter to locate from Lewiston up Ill
the two parties met, when the Location
would be complete as far as Lewiston
But as guy one or two companies Q
surveyors have been kept running pre-
liminary lines south and north of Burn
river, to learn what approaches coul
be made to the Snake river main liu
in case they should hereaf err find tina
feeders frem that section would be {
any advantage to them. We don't pa
ticularly like to displease our goo
friends in Walla Walla or Portland b
xuuuestIpu hasa ,atant troti . aol m