The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-07-29
THE DALLES PORTAGE.

The proposition OF the Columbia
Railroad and Navigation company to
build a portage road from Columbus to
Crate Point on the Washington side of
the river is one that ought not to be en-
tertained by the people of Portland till
they are satisfied that it is the best they
can do. We are perfectly satisfied, if
Portland will only take time 20 investi-
gate before deciding, that we can prove
to the people of that city that portage
road can be butt on the Oregon side at
half or less than half lhe expense, over a
shorter route, by easy grades, and away
from the sand drifts, that will ever make
an immense drain on the profits of the
enterprise in keeping the track clear.
Besides this the proposed road is on the
Washington side of the Columbia, and,
other things being nearly equal, Oregon
money ought to be spent on the Oregon
side. Besides, too, fully three-fourths,
and perhaps more, of the present
freights and of the freights for all time
to come, will be landed on the river
front from this side. Forty miles
of this front, on the Oregon side, in
Wasco and Sherman counties, is the
natural outlet, and will be for all, time for
territory as large as all New England.
So imperative is the demand for a port
age on this side of the river that if they
had a thousand portages, from Colum-
bus to Crates Point, the traffic demands
one here.
1t may not be generally known that
survey has just been completed by Lieu
tenant Norton which demonstrates the
truth of most of the statements already
made. By this line the entire distance
from The Dalles to the mouth of the
Deschutes is twenty-five miles, while an
incline to the Cello landing is feasible,
that would shorten the distance to
eighteen miles, and save the expense of
crossing the Deschutes. There is not a
thorough cut on the whole route, and no
rock work except a little, easily and in
expensively worked, in the neighborhood
of the two rivers. From here to the
Deschutes river there is not a grade
heavier than fifty feet to the mile. Lieut..
Norton made the survey for The Dalles,
Dufur and Silkstone Railroad and the
officers of that company assure the
writer that for half the sum demanded
by the Paul Mohr company, they will be
able to build and equip road on this
side of the river. We believe the time
has come for this city to take action.
The profile of the new survey has been
completed and can be seen at any time
at the office of the company. The board
of trade ought to call meeting for the
purpose of examining the profile and es-
Inmates of Lieut.. Norton and if they
meet the approval of the board, that
body ought to give them it's official ap-
proval and endorsement. There is GER
tainly no time to be lost. The building
of the road on the Oregon side means
great deal for The Dalles and Wasco
county. The Paul Mohr road means
the leaving of The Dalles, the most i'm
portant freight station in Eastern Ore
gon, completely out in the cold. Even
if a road on this side should cost as
much as on the other, we ought to have
it here; but when better road can be
built for less money, we have a double
claim on the capitalists of Portland, who
are willing to help us to open the Col
umbla river. Let US wake up before we
get side tracked.