, 1889-02-14
NOT THE N. P.
Mr.. COrbin States His Position
to q Reporter.
The Soliciting Committee Hope
full but Anxious Yet.
Some Notes and Commsnts Pertinent to
the Occasion--Ths Coiviils Country
asd It's Resources.

A REVIEW reporter yesterday called
upon Mr.. d. q. Corbin at the Grand Hotel
and had pleasant chat with him on the
all.important subject OF the Spokane &
Northern railroad.
IL understand, said the reporter, that
objections are urged In certain quarters OF
this community TO subscribing To the road
on the ground that 1t is a Northern Paci.
&c scheme and 10 brought forward In op.
position to the Seattle Il Lake Shore
road"
II have heard something to that effect" Z"
replied Mr.. Corbin, land can most en-.
phatieally assure you that this proposed
road has no connection with the Northern
Pacific or any other corporation and will
be an absolutely independent line. II is
taken up by myself and friends Of mine in
the east, and we are thoroughly capable
of carrying it through without the pecun-
iary assistance of any other organization.
do not, however, propose to start an op-
position to any other road. We want to
be in position to exchange business with
all the roads now in Spokane Falls or that
may come into Spokane Falls upon equal
terms The success of our road depends
upon it's neutrality, and In that its chief
strength lies. Neither nor the gentle
men associated with me would under any
circumstances consider o proposition 70
build this road in the interest of the
Northern Pacihc, the Seattle &
Lake Shore, or any other road.
We are independent business men
and will operate the road, as We will
build it immediately. 1t will be built for
cash and We shall build as many miles as
possible this year, and IL IL 10 practicable,
the road will be complete to the Columbia
river within twelve months. It will cost
over $1,000 900, and you can see that BY
the time We reach Che waiah-that 10 by
the time Subscribers are called upon for
their first installment, shall have paid
out more than 81 100000 In cash. the
larger part Of which will be spent among
the Spokane merchants and business
men,"
you have examined the country pretty
thoroughly. Mr.. Corbin. what do you
think OF the outlook of the road?"
III did not think favorable of it," re-
piled MIR. Corbiu, IL should have nothing
TO do with the enterprise. IL is a vast, un.
developed country as yet, and its possi-
bilities lie with the future; not the least of
these possibilities being the connection
with the DaviRable waters Of the Columbia
Spokane Falls the entire Columbia river
district from Revelstoke on the Canadian
Pacific and from the Kootenai
lakes on the one side to the Okanogan river
on the other. IL will practically give this
city connection with the following mining
districts: The kootepai, the Salmon river,
the OkanoRan, the Oswyess and the Col.
vile. II taps your natural timber supply
north OF US. II will bring all the trade OF
the Colville valley and the splendid farm
ing country adjacent to that valley, to
commerce. of immense Importance to this
city. | have stated my proposition to the
citizens of Spokane Falls. II is plain,
simple business proposition. and il they
want the road will build it conditionally,
as have said, Of your people taking $l00,
900 worth Of stock. IL they do not nee
their way clear TO do that | suppose the
proposition will be deferred, and you will
wait year and possible several years un-
til the road 10 constructed by some other
company, which may not be in position
TO act Is Independently as mine can, and
which may not be as closely identified
With the interests Of Spokane Falls. II,
~ have said, my proposition is taken up,
and believe that the citizens Of Spokane
Fslls are alive to their own interests. /
shall commence work immediately, and
Spokane Falls will have communication
with the navigable waters of the Colum-
bia river just as fast as men and money
can push IL through"
lyon state emphatically, then, that in
making this proposition to build this
road. you are not moving In the interest Of
the Northern Pacific or any other corpora
tion."
III so state emphatically. IL there ia
any way | can express myself more em-
phaticaliy aud positively on this subject
than have, and IL you will suggest the
language, will use It. am here with
out any railroad alliances and no inter-
ested associates save my own friends in
New York. and none of them have any
interest in any other railroad that / have
any knowledge of. propose to let all my
contracts to Spokane Falls contractors. and
identify the road with Spokane Falls in
terests In every way, and venture to say
If the people shoHld choose to wait for
years, they will never have u chance to se-
cure the construction of this road ~ more
distinctively Spokane enterprise as pro-
pose to make it,"
FROM THE OKANAGAN.
Abundance OF Rich Minerals but NO