The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-11-18
PLANS OFTHE 20 LINE
May Build Through Cowlitz
Pass to Meet Wright.
Probable Outcome Of Tacoma Eastern
Desl-Great Northern Going
Over BoCue's Line.

TACOMA, Nov. r.-ispecial. 1.-The item In to.
days FosrISTELLIGEScER indicative OF Chi
caso, Burlington d Quincy Railroads proposed
terminal here has brought out many statements
TO coEhErn the plan outlined. Bu. the question
Continually asked, is: "Why would Mr.. c. B.
Wight, Northern Pacific director. ani its ex-
president, De party TO turning rival road into
the Eastern Washington and Oregon wheat
country"
Answers vary. The strongest point in favor
OF the Burlington proposition in connection
with the Wright system aud the Tacoma &
Eastern road is Nj. Wrights favorable discus
sion OF the proposition, as uilincd in an inter
view with him published in the PosT-ISrRLLI-
GEScEs, when he was here some weeks ago.
linen railroad men of long standing say il is not
improbable that Mr.. Wriga. 10, in fact, "biuf-
ing for the purpose of compelling the Northern
fscihc TO buy his road. And by all who hold
to that idea it is assumed that when a road is
punt through the Cowlitz pass il will be Q
Northern Pacific enterprise.
Inc tangible end OF the Tacoma Eastern
ROAD is not Logging road BY any means. 1t is
OF standard gauge for six miles and well bal-
lasted ard graded for eleven miles into the
GUM y For distance OF twenty-eight miles
sop.heast from Tacoma the. right-of-way has
1een secured The route is mapped out TO the
summit OF the Cascades. The road will touch
at ohop, thence across the Niseualiy river and
up the south bank of the river to Bear
prairie. abou. fifty miles distant from
Tacoma Crossing the Bear prairie trail
Tor distance of twelve miles, the Cowitz
rlver is reached. The route is then up the Cow
Ltz, distance of about five miles, crossing But.
ter creek and tine Muddy fork OF the Cowi,z,
aud then the mountains must be boxed with q
tunnel
This tunnel would irtersect ten veins of coal,
ana Tor that reason ii is considered most re-
markable. The timber along the NisQuaily un-
til the Burnt Prairie is reached, is OF the finest.
There are no ''burns-" Bear prairie is burnt
spot IN the timb Der, and there every ves.ige Of 4
forest was reduced to ashes in 1S52
Even by the most sanguine il is not expected
that anything Will be done toward Carrying ont
tbs Burlington Pacific terminal proposition
until next spring. Should Nj Wright by that
time consent TO assist in the enterprise lie is ex-
pec;ed TO bond his road and build up TO the other
side OF the mountains 10 meet the road from the
Sound. In doing this Mr. Wright would, no
doubt, aad it desirable TO build his road through
the Yakima Indian reservation, which Ior long
distance along the route proposed is as 'ievel as
floor" being covered only with sage brush.
Another conditional proposition is the estab-
fishing here of q terminal company, provided
the suit brought by the Northern Pacific 20 pre-
vent the harbor line commission from appropri-
ating the property held to be part OF the rail-
AooN seneiat ia-iu grant Cn TIC tue HAS Is
successful In view OF the success lately of
similar cases, from the railroads standpoint,
before the United States supreme court, the
railroad people as we'll as the Valentine scrip
flers very confident that the harbor lire
commission will De routed and that the Federal
supreme court will hoii that the state does not
own the tide lands. The cases referred to were
bought originally in the state OF California.
and the Valentine scrip filers hold that these
cases are fresh enough in the mind of the
supreme court to greatly facilitate decision.