New-York tribune., 1889-12-24
RAILROAD INTERESTS.
THE UNION PACIFIC BRANCHES.
PRESIDENT ADAMS sANGUINE AS TO THE
FUTURE OF THE OREGON SHORT LINE.

PRESIDENT ADAMS SANGU1NE AS ~ LII"
FUTURE OF THE OREGON SHORT LINE.
Boston, Dec. 23.-Presidcnt Adams, of the Union
Pacific to-day said "Thc oregon Short Line Con-
soldated Company has clear field, with no
floating debt and It's account with the Union Pachc
discharged through the recent settlement under which
the Union Pacific took bonds for advances made the
Oregon Navigation and the Oregon Short Line busi-
ness has been adversely affected by the dry winters
OF 1888 and $780, No snow on the mountains in
Oregon means light crop Of wheat in the valleys the
following season. The oregon Navigaton's earnings
are st suffering from this cause. which is not likely
TO occur again. The Oregon Short Line will suffer
q loss Of $50o,00o this year through the Oregon
Northern, but will nevertheless surplus over
all interest charges This deficit next year shall be
much smaller, II not wholly wiped out.
GThe Oregon Short Line will also have next year
earnings from the Spokane Falls Line and from tho
Coeur dAlene extension both Of which will yield large
busliess. The building of the 145 miles into the
Phoebe country and the widening Of the gauge from
ogden north will furnish large additional business
next year in the territory Of the Oregon Short Line
system. The Oregon Short Line has got through its
trials. Comparatively speaking, 1t is not heavily
capitalized, and enters field Of great prom
sc The country through which IL runs Is growing
rapidly. The troubles with the Oregon Railroad and
Navigation Company have been adjusted. The
suit OF the recent consolidation leave a large
amount Of bonds I'm the company's treasury, and
do not but that the future Of the oregon Short
Line and Utah Northern is very bright.
"Senator Frye, OF the Senate Committee invcsti-
eating the Pacific roads, recently asked for sta
tistIcs as TO the benefit to the Union Pacific Of
branch line system. We took the figures Of the
largest branch system and astonished to find
that the net amount earned by the Union Pacific on
traffic interchanged with the oregon Short Line and
Utah Northern Line s., 500 ,0O0 In other words,
the Union Pacific would not to-day be earning any
surplus It's interest charges but for the business
done with the Oregon Short Line system. The Ore
con Short Line will not move rapidly In the way OF
new construction. The Union Pacific does not pro-
pose at present 10 try to cover the earth. The
entire Union Pacific system will only build 200 miles
Of additional road next year. 45 miles in the Oregon
short Line system to Phoebe, where the line will rest
for the present thirty-fve miles to connect the
Cheyenne and Northern with the Elkhorn division OF
the Chicago and Northwestern system, and twenty
miles to make some connections in Kansas. All the
stories current in newspapers TO plans and cX
TENSIONS and purchases OF the Union Pacific on the
Pacific SLOPE are pure inventions, absolutely without
basis
Mr.. Adams said that he could not talk about dlv
dends for the Union Pacific stock, and to the
chances of the Union Pacific Refunding bill In Con-
gress he knew nothing. He had been waiting nine
years for Congressional action upon the Union Pacific
debt and had got used to waiting. His maternal
family connections had waited ninety years for Con
gresslonal action upon the French spOations claim,
and the virtue Of patience, when dealing with Prov
dence the United states Government, had been fully
impressed upon him.