New-York tribune., 1884-10-03
o RIILRO4D INTERESTS.
OREGON RAILWAY AND NAVIGATION.
HISTORY AND PURPOSE OF THE PROPOSED HAsE-
iBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBCsG.

fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
ST. PAUL, MIMI Oct. 2.-Rcgardng the
lease Of the oregon Railway and Navigation Company.
Vice President and General Manager oakes ,ot the
Northern Pacific said, in an interview to-day, that the
oonteome Of the pending negotiations could not inter-
rupt the operation the Northern Pacific The original
conception OF the oregon Railway and Navigation by Mr.
Willard contemplated building eaSterly TO connection
with the Northern Pacific at Waula Junction. with
branch diversing umatila and running In south
eatcry direction to Baker City. where the Union Pacific
would form junction. This in 1879 and l-s0, two
years before Mr. Willard actively connected with tie
Northcrn Pacific. Mr. Nilards idea to render the
Oregon Railway and navigation independent OF either OF
the great trunk lines by connection with beth The
building OF the Unlon Pacific went on so slowly that the
Oregon Railway and Navigation concluded to extend
from Baker city to the Snake River at Huntington, on
the Oregon state line The oregon .Raway and Naviga
ton has now only twenty-five N e OF road 10 build TO
reach that point The Uuon Iaciic Ii practically at
Snake River and will have completed its bridge
over that river. when this Is done tie Union Pacific
Will have performed its part Of this understanding.
When Nh Willard retired from all the companies with
which he had been associated, some negotiations were
sct on foot b. be Oregon Railway and Navlgation
the Northern Pacific and the Union Pacific looking to
lease OF the first named company To one or D0th o; the
some o. the oregon Railway and Navigation officials and
stockholders desire to operate the road lnde deenGehy
A triuartte agreement was entered into three years
ago. under which provision made for the mainten-
aIlce of rates ana division ot business that wonid be
equitable and Just to all parties concerned Tie import
of the lease of the Oregon Railway and Navigation To
either OF trunk lines greatly exaggerated 50 iaI
aS the Northern Pacit il concerned. liz contemplated
simply the Use Of II miles of track. which may
extent desirable at this time for the Northern Pacific
The operat0u branch lines would Ice solely 10 the
interest of the Oregon Railway and Nays itlOn as the
Northern Pacific vOuldinOt be benefited by this ralc
Should the Northern Pacific lease the railway ana NaN-
cation il would have to carry the trparte agree
mcnt far the Union Pacific i concerned On ne
other hand. should the mon Pacific secure the lease
would nave to likewise with regard 10 the Northern
Pacific Under the o. it, charter in order 10 keep
good faith the Government II Is the duty or te
Northern Pacific to complete its Cascade branch; ana
this will be performed whether the oregon Railway ana
Nav cation be leased The work upon this branch
will completed within two years. should II be heces
say however complete the branch earlier could De
finished within one year The meeting to-day deter
mined nothing as regards the lease. 1t was simply a
meeting fnr the election of officers rcndecd necessary m
consequence of failure to do so ut the recent anAilr
llnetlLs. No c.ange madc II tAe o.ncer.