Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1891-11-12
THE GREAT NORTHERN.
What Is Now Claimed to Be Its
Route.

The Tacoma news clalms W have III
side and accurate information regarding
the route of Jim Hills Great Northern
railroad. That paper says it is "in pos
session Of information obtained from an
inside and strictly reliable source which
enables it to present the route selected by
President Jim Hill for the Great North
ern.
"Within few weeks an entire change
has taken place in regard to a large
portion of the pushing Great Northern's
plans. This has been due to several
causes, of which the principal one is the
English and French capitalists who con-
troll jim Hills line financially, want more
track built and that as soon as possible.
AS is well known, the Great Northern is
Dthe only transcontinental line that has
plenty of money. This has been fur
nished by these capitalists. Now they
are urging President Hill to expend it as
quickly as possible in extending his line,
SO that the money will begin earning
something as soon as possible.
"a year ago the Great Northern
bought half interest in the Union Pa
ci6c's partly constructed line fiom
Tacoma to Portland. Now the Great
Northern wants to finish this line during
the same time that it is extending its
main line from the Rocky mountains to
the sound. 1t cannot do so while its
contract with the Union Pacific remains
in force because the latter road has no
money and is not in condition to meet its
share of the expense. !.
President Hill went east three weeks
ago for the Purpose Of seeing Jay Gould,
Manager Clark and the Union Pacific
directorate and to purchase, if possible,
all of the Union Paciic's interests in the
Tacoma-P Portland line. If he succeeds in
doing this he will begin immediate con-
struction on the line from Tacoma north
ward.
The route is as follows: From Port
land the road will 60 to Vancouver,
where the Columbia river will be crossed.
As it will take nearly two years to COM
plete the big bridge at Vancouver, it is
probable that the construction trains will
cross the Columbia on either temper
airy wooden bridge or ferry.
From Vancouver the road will Cross
Clark, Cowlitz and Lewis counties to
Winlock twelve miles south Of Chehalis,
where the Union Pacific has also done
some work. Winlock will be junction.
From there a branch will run across
Lewis and Pacific counties to Grays har-
Dor, through the CheLalis valley on the
south side of the Chehalis. river. The
other line will either run north from
Winlock direct to Tacoma, on the east
side of the Northern Pacific, or else, as
is more likely it will run northeast to-
ward Cowlitz pass.
From Cowlitz pass branch would run
to Portland via Winlock and Vancouver,
and sub-branch would extend from
Winlock to Grays harbor.
These surveys are all made and the
selection Of the Cowlitz pass depends
principally now on Jim Hills ability to
secure absolute control Of the Portland
Tacoma line.
A few weeks ago Mr.. Hill was Joined
by two English and French engineer,
who looked over part Of the ronte and
all of the maps in the interests Of Eng
fish and French bondholders. They
were satisfied with the route thus out
lined, and urged Mr.. Hill to go east inn
mediately and buy the Portland Tacoma
line from the Union Pacific. Lord STAN
hope was in his party and was satisfied
NTH tho cbopuoo vv,oda