Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-06-24
RAILROAD Nro GRKRS RIvEB
VALLEY.

John L. Howard. assistant manager
Of the Oregon Improvement Company,
met q number Of our leading citizens
in the Chamber of Commerce room last
evening. among them being Bailey Cat
zsrt, 4. Scott, J. J. McGilvra, ]. j. Post,
Andrew ChiIberg, T. T. Minor, E. NJ.
smithers, o. Jacobs. James Mcknight,
Alfred ssyder, d. Kellogg. s. Frausn-
thai. John Lsary, G. NJ. Halter, George
Adair, Mr.. Miner and others
Mr.. Howard talked At some length,
during which he placed the local rail-
road situation succinetly before his
auditors. He said the cost of COM
plsting the road. of narrow gage. TO
the end contemplated would be about
$4,000. The companies represented
BY him were able TO pat up about $780,
600. and il the people OF Sc
attic would renew their last
years subsidy of $4,000, the
work of construction would be con-
menced at once and pushed rapidly on
to completion. He had talked With
lew gentlemen Ouk3Aut Ou tuC SdOlELks
and had been encouraged 70 believe the
subsidy would be renewed upon proper
guarantees being given the people. Such
guarantees would be given. They we're
prepared to complete the road to a
point of junction with the Northern
Pacific upon the building of the latter's
Cascade branch, and we're willing it
should be placed in the new contract
that on noncompliance with this condi-
ton the money subscribed could be
recovered. Making the track Of
narrow gage would be only a
temporary expedient. Ii could be
widened to standard measure any time
after ct an expense CT $50 per mile.
The company has now the narrow roll
iHg stock, and 10 prepared with it to ep-
crate the new road Immediately, which
they could not do until some months
later If the purchase of other stock was
made necessary. He supposed the OBJ
iect of she people here was to get the
road into operation at the earliest posi-
bic day, to secure the opening of the
Colman, Cornwall, Syndicate and Mo
Kay mines, and the shipment of their
products from the wharves in this city.
| IL the people were sufficiently anxious
for these things. they would be gratified
on a renewal of the old subsidy or the
making of a new and equally satisfac-
tory arrangement. He had lately been
| to New York, and for a week had been
closely associated with Elijah Smith,
the President of the Oregon Improve
ment Company. Mr.. Smith he pro-
nounced thorough business man-one
of the most thorough, in fact, Mr.. How
ard had yet met. ar. Smith has done
aud ia doing all he can for the COM
pany's interests here, which he ia grad
ually drawing oat of the ENHANCEMENT
in which they had so lately been in
volved. The people here are safe in re-
lying upon President Smiths good Of
foes in their behalf on every occasion
possible. Mr.. Howard then called upon
the gentlemen present for an expression
of their sentiments.
Messrs. Jacobs, Minor, Leary. Scott,
McGilvra, Miner, Gatzert, Halter and
McNaught each and all had something
to say. The idea seemed to prevail that
the full amount of the original SUBJ
scription could not he raised, but that
part could-perhaps one half. 1t was
also the impression that it would be
good business policy on the part of the
people here to give it. They wanted the
road operated and the mines opened,
and the coal shipped from this port, and
it was worth money to them to get il
done as speedily as possible, especially
in view of the Northern Pacific build
ing int the same country, tapping the
same veins of coal, and transporting
their product to rival iowa for ship
ment. The legal status of the situation
was also considered. 1t was finally re-
solved to appoint committee of
nine persons to look alter the
matter, three of WHOM will fix
mp good strong contract, and
the other six will look after the sub
scriptions. These nine gentlemen are
Messrs. o. Jacobs, Thomas Burke, G.
M. Halter, L. L. Minor, A. A. Denny,
II. l.. Yesler, John Lsary, George Kin
near and ID. T. Denny D. Jacobs being
chairman. and having. with Messrs.
Burke and Halter. particular charge of
the formation of the new contract, and
I. I. Minor being placed at the head of
the subscription branch Of the commit
tee. The Committee of Nine were in
structed to report to an adjourned meet
ing in the office of John Leary at 8
nfaINoE EhnraIou ouay,sn~