The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1889-03-28
HEADED FOR YAKIMA.
4 Railroad From Umatilla to Tap This
Prolific Country.


O'pENNNN-NSs
II is generally understood that Yakima
commands the key, geographically, to
the railroad situation in the southwest,
and that railroads from the east and
southeast seeking an outlet on Puget
Sound can End an advantageous route
and an economic grade through Yakima.
So fully are the settlers Of the great Yak
ina country conversant with these facts
that the knowledge that John T. Flynn,
Of Portland was here as the representa-
tive Of q company proposing to build a
railroad from Umatilla to North Yakima
created no surprise. Mr.. Flynn came
here quietly, and, after interviewing city
officials and well-posted citizens, said that
he was the representive Of Portland and
Omaha capital, and that the road would
be built providing bonus Of 10000 in
land was given by North Yakima.
In an interview with an 0regonian re-
porter, Mr.. Flynn said:
81 mean business, and nothing but
business. The parties represent propose
to give eastern Washington another new
railroad-one that will make q rich and
productive country tributary to Portland.
The plan is to build road from Umatilla,
the junction Of the Oregon Short Line and
o. R. & N. systems, thence through the
Horse Heaven country, and enter the
Yakima valley at 9 point near Prosser.
An application for authority to build q
bridge across the Columbia river at Una
tilla has already been forwarded to WASH
ington. The distance from UmatilIa to
the lower end Of the Yakima valley IL
about fifty miles, and from this point to
North Yakima about the same distance.
II is the intention to build into the valley,
but whether the line will be extended to
the city depends entirely on whether the
bonus is raised. It has not yet been de-
cided whether to cross the Yakima river
river near the entrance 10 the valley and
build to what Is known as the Sunnyside
country, or to parallel the Northern Pa
cific through the Yakima Indian reserva-
ton to North Yakima. The intention is
to occupy the Natchez pass and develop
the vast coal fields at the base Of the
Cascades In that vicinity. The distance
from North Yakima to the coal fields,
which are simply q continuation Of the
Roslyn mines, isabout 10 miles, making
the distance traversed from Umatilla less
than $50 miles. The tillable land made
tributary TO the road will exceed 1000, 900
acres, to say nothing Of the timber, coal
and other mineral resources Of the Cas-
cade rangs. The completion Of this road
will give Portland access to the richest
piece Of territory on the line Of the North
ern Pacific road. Close connection viii
be made at Umatilla with the o. R. & N.
Co. until such time rs the Columbia river
Is open to that point, and then the trans
fer from car to boat will be made. With
an open river to this point 1t will be pos
sible to take grain from the Yakima val
ley to Astoria for less than one-half Of the
present charges, and the result will show
that the Columbia river is the place for
foreign shipments. Instead Of laboring
under q disadvantage Of tl.5O . ton, as ct
present, we will have an advantageto that
extent over Puget sound competitors"