Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1883-11-01
"IMPORrANT RUMoR.'

has heretofore been prolific in its advo-
cacy Of the interests of the Northern Pa
cific railroad and its management, says:
IA 1umor, important, if true, has been
circulating in Portland for several days
past to the effect that consolidation is
pending between the Union Pacific and
Oregon Railway and Navigation Com
panie's lines, whereby the former will
build road from Walla Walla to Puget
Sound" Now admitting that such a
rumor has been in circulation, don't the
public well know that all kinds of rumors
have been circulated only for the purpose
of hedging in the minds of the said public
from the contemplating Of other enter
prises that are far more deserving and
likely to be carried out by sensible rail
road men, who are contending for advan-
tages over other competing lines, or they
may originate in the brain of some per-
son who does not comprehend the situa-
ton, merely as imaginary projects, or
such as will lend some aid to their own
personal ACKNOWLEDGMENT. The rumor
spoken of docs not carry with it any sem
blance or prestige of the truth, and for
the following reasons: 1st-The prime
purpose Of the Union Pacific is to have a
through line to the Pacific waters, indie
pendent Of all other lines, and does not
desire to be in any manner trammellcd
by an intervening line of some 200 miles,
like that Of the o. r. & N. Co.'S Baker
City line when it is completed. End
Il wants line of as low grade as posi-.
be, 80 that it can be operated with the
least possible expense. 3rd-It wants a
line extending through as good produc-
ing country as practical, that is not al
ready traversed by other lines. 4th-
The o. r. 4 N. Cos complications and
arrangements with the Northern Pacific
are such that they could not encourage
the Union Pacific to build a rival line
70 ths Northern Pacific branch line across
the Cascade mountains, without breaking
their faith with the Northern Pacific
much less could they contribute theil
support 10 the way of traffic to such &
line when both the U. p. and n T. had
built across the Cascades, or even before
tho N. p. was built, could they contribut.
their traffic that comes over the Bake
City road for Puget Sound to the U. P
road over the mountains, rather than t
move it over their own road of upward
Of 200 miles to Portland and thence t,
Puget Sound by the Northern Pacific
6th-The U. p. or Oregon Short Lin
has not much faith in the efficiency 0
the Oregon Railway 4 Navigation Com
pany's Baker City Blue mountain route
a. contributor of traffic to their road a
Walla Walla. Its productive countr,
i too limited east of the Walla Wall,
valley and they know that they can, j
found prospectively valuable, easily tai
Walla valley and bring all that is valua
Bile in that section by feeder to thei
main line at some point on the Snak
river. 6th-Thc contemplated O. S. l.
line down Snake river brings that lin
within reach Of a producing country o
much larger extent, than would tn
Baker City line including the Wall
Walla section, and will furnish traffi
support that they will not be compelle,
to divide with the o. r. & N. Co. or an
other company, and this is all outside o
that which the Palouse branch will &C
quire Is profits to the Northern Pacific
7th--Ths 0. s. L. have already mad
their double surveys down Snake river t
Lewiston, with full knowledge Of al
the advantages Of the Baker City rout
that could be conferred upon the 0. s
L. by any compromise they might make
The facts are the Baker City route, if Civ
en- to them, with the condition that the
should be at the expense Of keeping it i
operation during all seasons Of the yea
would be valueless, if the 0. s, L. ha
their road constructed down Snake river
8th-It is now settled that the Q. S. l
win commence grading down Snake rive
next spring, if we are to credit the Ian
guage Of those who are entrusted wit
the work Of the necessary surveys yet
be made. Hence we put no faith wha
ever in the Portland rumor as published
Walla Walla is a pretty valley and tn
city Of Walla Walla is an enterprisin
place built up at great expense. But tn
site Of the city was not selected with tn
view of its becoming a station along tn
main trunk of a transcontinental road
audit must be content with reaching thes
main trunks by branches or feeders.
n MT tho fanlf ne RAILROAD u,,.,oata, IT,