The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-04-04
THE EX-VILLhRDS.
How the Different Companies Have Fallen
Apart aud What They Are Doing.
PhilndelL,hin Time.

How the Different Companies Have FaIie,
Apart aud What They Are Doing.
Phaadeiphia Thae..
Henry Wizards fine scheme of a gigantic
transportation monopoly, controlling tn
whole Pacific coast north of California an,
reaching across the continent 10 Lake Supe
rior has already fallen TO pieces. The nu
mefous companies over which he presided
and which he tied together for the supposed
common benefit Of all, have separated, each
going its own way and pursuing its OWL
ends. The Oregon Railway and Navigation
Company vas the first TO drop out of thu
partnership, taking itself off 10 Boston and
assuming an attitude toward It's late senior
partner, the Northern Pacific, not altogether
cordial. This Oregon concern Is In reality 1
Boston corporation. the form Of All otiicia
On organization being kept up in Oregon only
10 comply with the laws Of the State. The
Board of Directors meets out al Portland
but all the power is in the hands Of the ex-
ecutive committee in Boston, the Board do
ing whatever the committee telegraphs 1t tC
do. The company appears 10 be in q tolera'
bly, independent fix financially, although lis
stock has been ratified down from $50 TO les:
than par during the past six months. 1t Is
extending It's main line across the pafched
plain Of southeastern Oregon TO make O
junction with the Oregon Short Line, which
the Union Pacific IS building. When the
junction Is effected next summer the Oregon
Railway and Navigation will have two east
ern outlets aud will then be in a position TO
make its own terms fOI traffic cOnnecti ON,
playing the Union Pacific against tho North
ern Pacific. 1t will no longer be merely the
western link Of the Northern Pacific. This
will be bad for the Northern Pacific, which
will then get only half Of the cake Of the
Oregon business.
THE NORTHERN PACIFIC's NEW LINE.
Under these circumstances, the Northern
Pacific is bound by the instinct Of self-pres-
ervation TO build Its own line from the Up
per Columbia TO the tide-waters Of the Pa
c'fic Ocean. 1t has the choice Of two routes
both covered by its charter-that down tn e
Mountains TO Puget Sound. If It were to
build on the former il would have to para-
lei 2l5 miles Of Oregon Railway and Naviga-
ton Company's Columbia river division,
the way 10 Portland, in sight Of the road on
the south bank, and through a narrow gorge,
most Of the way, where the local business
would not pay for fuel for the locomotives
cult route across the Cascade Mountains,
originally intended TO be the main line of the
road. The Northern Pacific directors see
that they must construct this line without
delay. 1t will not do for them TO stop In the
desert at Wallula Junction aud be dependent
for access TO the Pacific upon another COM
pany having other eastern connection. The
Northern Pacific now owns the road from
Portland to Puget Sound, but from Wallula
to Portland its cars must pass over the track
Of the Oregon Company, which has now no
special reason for showing it favors.
The Cascade Branch, as the direct line
from the upper Columbia TO the Sound is
called, will be an exceedingly expensive
road TO build, owing TO the difficulties of get.
ting over the mountains and the two-miles
long tunnel required at the top Of the pass.
Last year twenty-five miles Of 1t were built
across the sandy Yakima plains, just TO show
that the company meant TO 60 aheai and
earn It's land grant Oh that division. Thirty
miles on the western end and from Tacoma
up to the Wilkeson coal fields were built as
long ago as 1877, when Charles u. Wright
was president of the company. There re-
main lG5 miles 10 construct. II is poor
time TO raise money to build railroads In the
far west, but the Northern Pacific dare not
risk delay In this vital matter. L. must get
line Of II own through TO a place where 1t
can meet the ships on the Pacific. When IL
completes its cascade division 1t will CON-
having It's interests centered at Portland,
will be anxious and oblging, fearing that the
commercial entrepot Of the Pacific North.
west will ultimately be Tacoma, unless IL
makes concessions to keep the Northern Pa.
cltic friendly TO the route down the Column
blas
THE WONDERFUL TRANscOgTINENTAL.
Meantime, what has become Of the won-
derful Transcontlnental Company, with It's
"llquid capital" which was TO tie the North
ern Pacific and the Oregon Company together
In such bonds Of brotherly union that there
could be no clashing between them? A
large part Of the liquid capital ran out at
both .spigot and bung in Wall street opera
tions. few days ago the company made q
hasty retreat from It's handsome offices IN the
Mills building TO the comparative seclusion
and safety Of State street, Boston. Its eff
forts will be absorbed henceforth In tying mp
the wreck OF Its broken fortunes, and as q
lgature between the other two companies
IL will amount TO nothing. IL Is case OF
sduUe qut peut, or rathe save what you can,
with Mr.. Endicott and the TIanscontinental.
The Oregon improvement Comp any, an
other of the ex-Villards, still remains In its
old quarters near the Northern Pacific, blu.
has few If any interests In common with the
latter company. In fact, Its interests are
mainly quite diverse, for the center of It's
operations is at Seattle, a rival town to The
Northern Pacific Terminal town of Tacoma
and Its coal development is carried on some
what at the expense Of the Northern Pa
clfc interests. The Oregon and California
Company is now established In the Post
building, on Exchange place, where Is also
the Office OF Henry Willard. He is still
president or this company, but as all Its lines
are leased to the Oregon and Transconti-
mental he has few official duties. If the
lease should be thrown up, as is predicted on
the street, lie would be again just where he
was In 1S7S-at the head Of a single local
road in Oregon. He is going to Europe early
in April, to recruit bis health he tells people
to put on foot some magnificent financial
scheme, people believe. He looks well