The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1892-01-15
Hr Urges the Government to Build the
Portage Road.
coMMuNIcAT1os TO coNeREss.

CoMMUNIcATIoN TO CONGRESS.
The River and Harbor Committee is
shown the Necessities of the Case---
Special Features and Data are Given.
Governor Pennoyer is endeavoring to
persuade the river and harbor commit
tee TO make an appropriation for the
portage railway at The Dalles. He has
embodied his ideas on the subject in
letter to them, which carefully discusses
the situation. 1t is given herewith
s'Gentlemen 1 sincerely trust that
you can incorporate in the bill OF appro-
priations for rivers and harbors, which
iyou at this session of congress Will pre-
sent to the consideration of the house,
the sum of $431 800 for portage railroad
| from the foot of the dalles to above Ce-
| lilo falls on the Columbia river. This
appropriation has the unqualified recon-
mendation of board of engineers ap-
pointed to report upon the adyisability
of building boat railway to overcome
the distractions to navigation in the Co
lumbia river, between the two places
mentioned, of date December Is, 1888,
and the approval OF the chief of engi-
neers of the date january 1885. (Ex.
Doc. No. 13, 50th Congress, second ses-
sion.) The chief of engineers in his
letter to the secretary of war of above
date, concerning the deliberations of the
board, said: "The board, after discuss
ing the various projects presented, con-
cludes that single-track portage rail-
way. which is estimated to cost $431 800,
and could be constructed in one year
would undoubtedly be the cheapest and
quickest solution OF the existing difficult
ties. L agree with the board in these
views, and that such road would be a
valuable aid in the construction of an
other and more satisfactory solution of
the problem which the growth OF COM
merce may demand. As it will be seen
| by reference to the river and harbor act
OF August II, 1888, this board was in
structed to report as to the feasibility
and advisability of overcoming such OBJ
structions by means of boat railway,
and as their recommendation for port
age railroad undoubtedly was not salts
factory to the delegation from Oregon in
congress, which had, unfortunately for
the state, committed itself to the boat
railway scheme, it is to be presumed, at
the instance OF such delegation, the
board made another report upon the
boat railway scheme of date, November,
1889, which concludes as follows:
| 1t IS to be seen that the solutions
were presented by the board on a port
age railroad in Washington, described in
detail by the report of December IS,
1888, and the continuous boat railway
herein described. The first is cheap
and speedy solution. adequate in the
| opinion of the board to meet existing
requirements. The second is suited to a
considerable commerce and it is recon-
mended as most feasible and conven-
lent method OF passing large commerce
over these formidable obstructions with
out transshipment of cargo. The esti-
mated cost of the portage railroad ia
$431 800, and that of the continuous boat
railway, including lifts, is 1850, 1856 25
| (EX. Doc. No. 81. 51st congress, first ses-
sion). 1t may be added here that the
estimated annual cost of operating the
baat railway, equipped 10 pass sixteen
boats in twelve hours, ,.is estimated at
$50, GOO, pass sixteen boats each way
at $3.50 900, and to run at full capacity,
| passing forty boats each way in twenty
| fous hours, at $275, 900.
! For the reason, therefore, that the
portage railroad can be constructed and
operated at such a trifiing cost when
! compared with the construction and
| operation of a boat railway. that it could
be constructed in one year, that it really
has the approval OF the government en-
gineers in preference to a boat railway,
and that the people of Eastern Oregon:
who would be offered relief by such
portage railroad from the undue exac-
tion now demanded of them in the ship
ment of their farm products TO the sea-
board, I do appeal to you to incorporate
the sum of $4S1 800 for the building of
such portage railroad in the bill, which
will be presented by you to the house.
The question of the practicability of a
portage has entirely been removed from
the field of conjecture. Thc state of
Oregon at the last session of its legisla.
ture made an appropriation of $50, 900
for the building of a portage rail-
/. road at the cascades of the Columbia
when the government for the last sixteen
years has been at work endeavoring to
build canal. Worried with impatience
: and almost disheartened, the state made
: an appropriation to do that which was
plainly the duty of the Federal govern
jment, and the road was built and is now
ibeing operated by the state at an annual
! cost of only $4,000, the crews of the boats
, being compelled to load and unload the
cars, thus limiting the force employed by
9 the state to conductor engineer and
a brakeman. Not only has the portage
railroad project the recommendation Of
the United States engineers, but it has
the Endorsement and approval of the
whole people of Oregon. At the six
teenth session of the Oregon legislatur,
| the following concurrent resolution wa,
unanimously passed in both houses
February II, 1891
!" In view of the foregoing recommen
datiun of the United States engineers
the expressed will of the people of Ore
gon and the great advantages that woule
accrue to the state as the result of sucl
a needed expenditure. allow me to ex
press the hope that your committee will
recommend to the house the apprepria
ton above indicated.
s.'The resolution referred tta Is hnns