The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1891-08-15
A PRACTICAL ROUTE SHOWN
Prominent Portlanders Critically Ex-
anime the Norton Portage Sur
yey and are Surprised at
Its Feasibility.

| Tue part Vi TIE OTtlauu CuSIuUeT Vi COll'
merce. The construction of the narrow
gauge portage road at the Cascades by
the state and the establishment of line
of independent steamers TO connect there
with has served to greatly stimulate this
| interest, and it is extremely probable
that the good work will not be allowed TO
lag until rail portage is alse assured
from The Dalles to Deschutes, which,
when consummated, gives TO the great
Inland Empire increased transportation
facilities and competition IN rates that
will inure to the benefit of the produc-
ers.
Some time ago the directors of the Co
lumbla River Railway and Navigation
Com pany, state of Washington orgaui-
z4tion, with strong Northern Pacific pre-
dilectlons, submitted proposition TO the
Portland chamber of commerce to make
their line on the Iorth side of the river,
extending from Columbus to or near the
mouth OF the Klickitat liver, a portage
road to be operated in connection with
the independent service, in return for
which they ask bonus of $500,000. This
proposition is now under consideration
by the special committee appointed by
President Osborne, of the Portland cham
Der of commerce, and through the efforts
of Mr.. R. II. Norton, the leading pro-
moter of The Dalles, Dufur and Silkstone
railway, T. Fl. Johnston, of Dutur, and
Geo. A. Liebe, of this city, the committee
had its attention called to the oppor-
tunities offered by the construction of
the portage road within the limits of our
state, and while far better road could
be thus secured, one half of the amount
demanded by the Washington organiza-
tion was only asked.
That the representations made by the
gentlemen interested in the road on the
Oregon side had their effect is seen by the
action of the committee IN making per-
sonal investigation of the matter. Mayor
Mason, of Portland, one of the commit
tee, was unable to accompany the party,
but the others, T. F. Osborne, president
of the chamber of commerce, and ID. D.
Oliphant, prominent metropolitan mer-
chant, accompanied by R. E. Habersham,
a well-known railroad engineer, and
Douglass Taylor, ex-surveyor general of
the state, arrive in the city Saturday
night. Early the next morning the
visitors, accompanied by Mayor Mays,
Messrs. Liebe, Norton and Seufert, of The
Dalles, T. H. Johnston, of Dufur, and V.
G. Brock, of Sherman county, left the
city and passed the entire day In gong
directly over the located route of the pro-
posed road from this city to the Des-
chutes river. During the trip the party
was Joined by w. Fl. Biggs and COL Full
ton, and at Deschutes bridge Sherman
county delegation consisting of Clar
Dunlap, G. j. Bright, F. s. Rankin, W.
NJ. Barnett, E. M. Leslie, ]. Dingle, H.
Krause. Levi Armsworthy and W. NJ.
Reynolds was met.
During the entire trip the members of
the Portland committee were keenly OBJ
servant of what had been done, making
frequent and pertinent inquiries as to the
capabilities of the surrounding country,
the extent of territory that would be
benefited by construction of the road
and the prospects of development by its
extension. At several points halt was
made and critical examination followed
of The proposed route. As to the opinion
formed by the members of the chamber
of commerce committee nothing definite
can be now surmised. President Os-
borne when approached upon the subject
said:
1t would be hardly fair for me to express
an opinion now, thus in a measure, perhaps,
forcstalling the report OF the committee.
There Is no doubt that the route we have
examined Is perfectly feasible, but that Is
only one of many things to be considered.
The effect upon the future must also be
taken into account, and it is not only the
relief that is to be afforded to those of
this immediate vicinity but also the entire
dependent country to the head of naviga-
tion of both rivers. There is no question
but what the road on this side can be con-
structed at a less cost than upon the other,
and it is also evident that the Washington
line will not develop any section of coun-
try that is not now developed by the Co
lumbla river, while on the Oregon side the
introduction of transportation facilities will
certainly lead to the rapid development OF
a large scope of country, now practically
shut out by the extreme cost Of hauling to
the river.
R. E. Habersham, one of the engineers
accompanying the party, expressed him
self as greatly surprised as to the line of
grade secured by Mr.. Norton. one i'm
portant feature being the avoidance of
cutting and filling. The road itself can
be not only substantially but cheaply
constructed along the entire route. He
had in former years traversed the country
through which the Norton survey passes
and had then been impressed with the
fact that line of railroad could be sue
cessfully built there, but the results of
the present work not only confirmed this
view but showed that the work could be
done far better and at less expense than
he had imagined.
Douglass Taylor, the present superin-
tendent of streets at Portland and an en-
giueer of recognized ability, also ex-
pressed himself as surprised. He had
not expected to see line run with such
comparative ease, practically free from
cuts and fills, with little or no
clearing to be done and the material to
build the road right at hand. Mr.. Tay-