, 1890-03-13
MIR. CORBIN TALKS.
He Says the Canadian Opposition
Was q Great Surprise
to Him.
He Will Build to the Little
Dalles, Fifteen Miles From
the Border.

Mr.. n. G. Corbin, of the Spokane
Falls & Northern railway, arrived In the
city Friday morning. and was inter
viewed by REVIEW reportcr.in regard
to the refusal OF the Dominion parlia-
ment OF Canada to grant his road right
Of way through its territory. lie said;
~ was IN Ottawa short time ago and
was satisfied then that VIC could not get
what we want. When | conceived the
idea of going up into the kootenai
lake country and to the sea
coast, | did not expect to receive
the opposition the project has
brought forth. thought that they
would be glad to get the country de-
velopod. 1t is very rough and inaccesi-
ble. 1t was always my intention to
build west. and had planned to get as
far as Osooyos lake next year, which
would bo about one-third Of the dis
tanCe to tho coast but | wanted to get
into the kootenai lake country this year,
because | could not build fwest until I
got an act of congress passn that would
give me the right of way through the
tOlyillc reservation. i proposed to
build q continuous line from the koote-
mai lake through to the coast.
"The greatest objections of the Cana
dians was tharIny road would open up
the mines and the kootenay lake
country for the benefit of the United
States. II was proposed to me that If |
would build the kootenai lake branch
and the line TO the coast simultaneously
that they would then grant me the char
ter but the kootenai lake prosiect Is u
matter of only one season, while Coad
to tho coast at the very least calculation
would take about three years to CON.
struct, consequently could not consider
that proposition"
'Where did your greatest opposition
come from, Mr.. Corbin 2 asked the re-
porter.
"Tho Canadian Pacific railway and
also from majority OF the
British Columbia men bofs OF
the dominion parliament; and con-
tess IL was much of u surprise. think
the people of British Columbia are very
favorable to the road. II the line was
entirely within the boundaries of the
province we might get what we want,
but the dominion parliament alone has
the right TO grant charters crossing the
boundaries from oneproYinCo to another,
or the International boundary
what do you propose to doP
well, / do not intend to give up the
idea OF getting into British Columbia,
but there rs no hope of doing so at this
session OF parliament. We will build
will bring us within fifteen miles OF the
boundary. | have rails and material,
much more than will be necessary iot
this extension, all Of which will be
shipped about April l. ! have pur-
chased new cars and new locomotives to
meet the passenger travel, as well a. in
creased freight traffic, between Spokane
Falls and Colyille this summer, and
propose to establish n more satisfactory
passenger system very soon.n
DO you think the Canadian Pacific
will build down toward Colvllle this
sprlng, and have you made any arrange
ments to handle its businessP'
II do not think 50, II they should
build to the line, | should be very glad, ,
As ! would with any other company, to
exchange business.
II have always been, and am still, per.
iectly free to make a traffic arrangement
with the Cnndian Pacific, or any other
road, but | have never been approach he'd
by any Canadian Pacific official IN re.
gard to the matter"
"Is the Spokane 4. Northern under tn
control ofthe Manitoba or Great North
ern railrOad?'
N'AlI AhAlEuNu NAIs ibIblllf lllhA II
the first time / have heard that PROPOSE
I tion No. sir 1t is not controlled by tho
Great Northern, Northern Pacific, or
any other road"
What route will the Great Northern
take to get into the country2'
81 can not say, for although have
talked with some OF the Great Northern
people, | never asked airy questions. |
imagine the rOad will, from Great
/ Falls, Mont, go up Sun river across the
mountains and 20 up north of Flathead
lake, but from there on to the coast
have no idea of the plans. OF course
the Great Northern, or in fact any other
roam, can not afford to pass Spokane
Falls without coming in, but Just which
way Mr.. Hills road viii come do not
Know.'
''ls there any truth in the statement
that you will put on line of boats on
the Columbia river this summer
! II have not decided rs to that, and
will not, perhaps, for the next sixty
| days"
/ "Will you build any more road than
that to the Little Dales this yearr'
Probably yes"
Are you prepared TO say where2"
81 will be very glad To tell you more
definitely in thirty days from this time