Omaha daily bee., 1883-04-06
A Race B tween Railroad Builders

A Race b tween Railroad Builders.
ian Francisco Chronicle.
The development Of this northwest
region has been progressing steadily
from the frat settlement Of the coun-
try. The vast agricultural and min.
eral u of this territory have
attracted the railroad interests, and
now as lines arc reaching in from east
and west to contend for the trade of
this inter .mountain country, things
are really boomtu. Miners In great
numbers are developing new mineIal
districts and capitalists In anticipa.
ton of railroad facilities, are buying
literally of the half developed pros.
poets, while the farmer Is crowding
Into the great and uucultivated tracts
of arabic lands, and the ste ckmsn,
with his herds ofScattle and horses,
moves q little farther back. When
Gould and Dillon cast an anxious look
for an outlet to the Pacific, 30 as to
avoid the grasp of the relentless Cen.
trail Pacific, the only available route
seemed to be down the valley of Snake
river and across the country to Seat.
tie, on the sound. Surveys were made
and the Oregon Short line was the
result. The construction Of this road
would very naturally draw all the
Boise City and Snake river basin trade
20 the east and Portland and San
Francisco would be the loser. Port
land, ever on the alert, was equal to
the emergency and Immediately began
. branch railroad from the Columbia
1t Umatilla, through Grand Ronde,
Powder river and Burnt river valleys
to Boise City, thus aiming to hold the
Grand Ronde and Powder river trade
and capture tho Boise City and
| Owyhee trade from San Francisco.
The strife was very lively and as
each party approached the canyon of
Burnt river and q Q short canyon on
Snake river, above the mouthof Burnt
river, war seemed imminent. Engi
nsers from both lines were striving
fof tho possession of the pass. Both
psrties sent graders v o 200 miles In
advance of their other work to take
possession Of this pass, blindiy seem.
Ing TO think that this wal the only
hope.
The Oregon Southern hos got fairly
ID possession OF the Snake River cam
!on, and the Oregon Railway and
Navigation Company hiss an equal I'D.
vantage in the B 1rnt River canyon.
10 what 10 to be done2 We zee that
he managers of the conflicting inter.
sts have met In New York and com.
lfomised, at least for the present.
and that c~ompromise, or the part Of It
afsoting this country, is that the two
r%s:mS ssh % q burnt River and e exchange
trfic, etc. Thus We see the Willard
Nrthern Pacific and Oregon Railway
aid Navigation Company have secured
tie eastern country's trade for Fort.
Ind and deprived Puget Sound OF q
drecs eastern outlet by rail, while
Gould & Co., have captured Boise
City and all of Central and Southern
Haho.
These are the general moves on the
board. Now let IN give some items
d interest,". more especially to this
PARTICULAR locality, Huntington, or
THAT was formerly known as May.
e. Station, Is amost Immediately at
the mouth Of BFnt River, and is,tAe
not where the railroads must NEST.
Iestling down . beautiful valley,
ts surrounding Hills covered with ex
cellent grass I'D every mountain
yeined with siIer and gold. bearing
quartz, some Of which has already
passed from thl prospsctors to the
capitalists, who % rapidly construct.
! Ing mills and f,naoes, this l~ocalssy
has the most delhtful climate Of any
part of the intern country, 1t being
so sheltered frousind and free from
frost. Grapes I'D other fruits grow
IN abundance in , vicinity. In the
b ,rnt River camp or valley Is the
choice fruit reRi1 Of Oregon, equal
to the famous Whmette for apples,
and for peaches, apes and pears 1t
Ia far superior.