Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-04-09
DAILY PoST.INTEluGENCER.
,r smouLD vY OPERATED

,r saorLD re OPERATED.
There is a standard gage railroad
track which extends from the PaSaiiup
branch of the Northern PACING hall
road north to this city. Ii has been
practically completed for some time
past-that is to say, all but a very Few
hundred feet of track has been iaid,
ond the line has been ballasted nearly
all the way. II is between ~ ana ~
miles in length, runs through me
c.nntrv. and could bring TO the mar
kets of this city large quantity oi p.'-
arca It has been extended along the
o;,x front for distance Of nearly TWO
miles, interfering, to some extent, WIN
wharves and shipping. lhis faiifoaa
was coustru ted and paid for by the
Oregon Il Transcontinental and the VI
soon Railway d Navigation Companies
tho latter, as We are informed, furnish
inc the major portion Of the funds ex-
panded in its construction. 1t has been
an;ts an expensive road to build, cost
ine in all probability not less than fi'-
O6O.OOO. 1t forms the only standard gage
rail connection which Seattle has with
the ontside world. For the presumed
hanef;ts TO be derived by the city from
thu operatiou of this railroad 1t was
granted privileges upon the water 'front.'
.,.b az M private citizen could have
obtained, and which are prospectiVe'y
worth millions Of dollars.
This railroad should be operated.
The original plan was that it should be
leased BY and managed AZ part OF the
Northern Pacific system. With the
change of management in that company
that program appears to have been laid
aside. It occurs to Us that AS matters
now stand the Oregon Railway d Navl-
cation Company might profitably op-
crate this section OF railroad In connec-
ton with its steamship lines on Puget
Sound that it could shorten its water
route some 80 miles by 80 doing, and
haul both freight and passengers at a re-
duoed expense. and with greater public
convenience than under present ar
rauoemepts. The cost Of operating
this section Of railroad would DO COM
paratively light. II runs through a
good region, and the grades are easy.
It could certainly be made to pay FAIR
interest Oh its cost, with the certainty
Of a steady increase in earnings. No
other company could 80 well take hold
Of and operate this railroad A the one
mentioned. 1t 10 in a position to die
tate terms to the Northern Pacific Com
pany, and controlling, AZ it does, TIE
carrying trade Of Puget Sound. could
adjust rates and connections to accom-
MEDIATE both its own convenience and
that OF the public.
The interests OF the Oregon Railway
and Navigation Company on Puget
Sound mainly center at Seattle. Its
steamers bring to this city more freight
and passengers than to all other ports
on Puget Sound. Moreover, from Seat
tie there are distributed to various
places upon this inland sea, fully nine
tenths of the fret hit which comes to the
Northwest. This 10 the natural head
quarters Of the business of that com
paAy. We're tho line from Puyallup
put in operation steamers would have
from five to seven hours more time
daily in which to receive and discharge
freight, the distance 10 he travelled
being shortened fifty miles on each
round trip. 1t certainly cannot be the
intention to allow this forty mile sec
ton Of standard gauge railroad to re-
main AZ now an unprodactive piece Of
property. II suoh is to be the case 1t
would be far better for this city had il
never been built. 1t has skirted our
water front, occupied tho best route in
and out of the CITY, and unless operated
gives us no corresponding benefit. All
our merchants and business men would
very gladly welcome the opening Of this
road to business under the manage
msnt Of the o. X. and N. Co. When
the new ferry boat is put on at Kalama,
enabling the transfer of loaded cars
across the Columbia, there will bc a
large freight traffic between Seattle and
the East. II will come through in car
load lots. and bulk need not be broken
until it reaches the depot in this city,
thus saving the expense Of twice hand
ling such freight, saving sufficient Of
itself to pay the cost Of hauling from
the junction with the Northera Pacific.