Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1886-01-01
RAILROADS.

hAkkAnOApb-
The construction Of railroads. has
steadily progressed.
THE oREo N RAILWAY AND NAVIGATION
COMPANY
Operates 2595 miles of railroad within
the Territory, So follows: Main line.
standard gage, 2277 miles; sidines, IA
| miles: narrow gage line, Z miles; narrov
gage sidisss, "a miles. Ii is extending
| Its branches into the vhsat regions of
the eastern part Of the Territory, has
/ completed its branch from Colfax 10
Moscow, and Is now building from Star.
buck to Pomeroy (Patahs brasch).
Mr.. G. II. Prescett, manager Of the
Oregon Railway and Navigation Com
PAW. IN answer to inquiry informs me
that his company expect TO bring oui
| from the southeastern portion of Wash
inRton Territory IlOss, BY their lines OF
transportation the present year, PC. Oh
tons of wheat, -four and barley.
This road, by its connections East
through the Oregon Short Line and
| Union Pacific Railroads, IL dong much
for the development of the Territory.
THE SoRTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD COM
Nov operates 1853 miles Of railroad
within the Territory. During the wear
II completed e. miles from a point q
miles west of Pasco junction on iss
main line to North Yakima, which were
accepted By the President of the United
States.
Grading and bridging Of the 81 add
tionsl miles between North Yakima and
Ellensburg, in kittitas County, 10 I'm
ished, and il is expected that this part
OF the line will be resdy for operation
IN the latter part of January. 1856. On
the west aide of the Cascade Mountains
the company put under construction %
miles Of very difh,ul road. from South
Prairie to a point on Green River,
which we're completed and ready for
inspection by the Government BY No
vember /. 1885. BY the beginning Of
the next calendar year, then, there will
remain unfinished of the Cascade
Branch of the Northern Pacific Rail
read only Is miles Of road. And the
people OF the Territory begin to see
near at hand the realization Of their
long cherished hope Of direct railroad
connection between the western aud
eastern parts OF the Territory. The in
huence Of the opening Of the Northern
Pacific Railroad in the extension OF the
commerce of the Terri, DRY Is making
itself felt to constantly growing sx
tent. Many Of the products of the Ter
ritory for which there was no outlet be
fore the completion of the road, find =
ready market in the Atlantic States and
the Western States and Territories
There were shipped from the Territory
over that road TO eastern points, accord
ing to the reports OF its officers, q. GAO
head OF cattle, y. 900 head of sheep and
5000 head OF horses. The prices obtain
ed for this stock have been satisfactory,
and serve as a stimulus to increased
production, and the roduotion Of bet
ter grades Of animals. The very low
railing price for wheat, one Of the staple
products Of the Territory, has borne
hard upon the agricultural glasses. In
the regions remote fron railroad cssn-
munication, and even In some where
such comnunication 10 at hand, the
cost of production exceeded the prisc
realized. Bot even there the people
have not become discouraged, and the
present harvest. which promises 10 be
better beyond preoedent In any coun-
try. well justifies their faith. The
Northern Pacific has, established q
wheat rate of 40 cents per hundred
from all points along its line In wash
ineton Territory to Duluth on LAKE
Superior, which rate enabled snoh of
our people az could reach that line to
dispose Of their wheat at a profit.
There we're shipped from the Territory
to Duluth and other eastern points 4i6l
tons of wheat and 1000 tons Of other
grain. The promise Of the company to
keep In force this low rate has largely
stimulated production, and the ship
ment Of grain overland TO the Easi IL
expected to assume very large proper
tons after the present crop shall hsve
been harvested. OF other products
there were shipped TO eastern points
1888 tons Of neur, 100 tons Of hops, 81
tons Of green fruit, l0,0i9 tons Of iuD-
Der and 500 tons Of wool. The ship
ment OF csal from the coal fields drain
ed by the Northern Pacific Railroad TO
tide water, for home consumption and
for shipment to IAN Francisco and
other Pacific Coast points, amounted %
nearly 10000 tons during the past
year.
Immigration. while perhaps not ex-
ceeding that Of the preceding year, has
continued IN a steady stream. The
Government entries within the limits
OF the grant OF the Northern Pacific
Railroad Company number 24ol. The
Northern Pacific RAILROAD Company,
according TO published official reports.
sold IN Washington Territory 1854 30
acres b 756 purchasers These salrs
we're made. With hardly any exos ption.
| to actual settlers, who generally buy the
company's land on long terms OF pay
ment.
THE COLUMBIA AND PUGET SOUND BAIL
ROAD COMPANY.
Marrow gage. a corporation auxiliary
TO the Oregon improvement Company.
nov has in spef alton 46 miles OF main
line laid With steel rails roadbed and
superstructure constructed for standard
gage. The line from Seattle 10 Frank
lin. g 6 miles, vas completed January.
1895. The brar Oh from Renton to New
castle mines, 8 miles, has been operated
fos several years This road hanied
over 10000 tons % freight daring last
year, and nov opens she most valuable
coal field yet discovered IN the Terri
tory.
TEE PUGET SOUND sHoRE nAIIhokD COM
Operates a standard gsee road from Sc
atfIe TO Stuck function, Z3-b miles. 10
connection With the Northern Pacikc
Railroad from stuck Junesion to Tseo-
ma. This read opened for business on
Ocseber ., 1885. and affords . direct
railway connection from Portland 70
Seattle through Tacoma
THE OLYMPIA AND cEKHALis VALLEY
RArLEoAD,
Marrow gage. about Is miles in length.
connects Olymoia on Pugst Sound With
the Northern Pacific Railroad at Te
nino.
Counting the newly constructed road
and that nearly completed, there arr
neg in all s66 miles Of railroad IN
the Territory, of which so3 miles ara ~
operated.
COMMERCE
Ne adequate showing can be made OF
the entire commerce Of the Territory,
fer the reason that the snrplus grain,
WOOL and salmon of the eastern and
southern PARTON Of the Territory have
hitherto been principally shipped BY
IN