The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1893-07-28
WEST SIDE NARROW GAUGE.

y
The Southern Pacific company is pashfn9
with great vigor the work of laying stand.
ard gulge track along the West Side narrow
guage road, which WAS commenced shorS
time ago. The standard guage track was
completed to Dundee last Wednesday, with
the exception of switches and side tracks,
which are being put in. There have been
"a tracklayers employed, and few days ago
5O more were sent to the front. Orders
have been given that the broad guaga track.
Is to be completed to Sheridan and Airlie by
September lst. The narrow gague track il
not being taken mp. as some suppose, but 10
being moved, SO that there will be both mar.
row guage and standard tracks, and trains
OF either guage, or both, can be run over the
road. Compound switches are being put in
to operate both tracks at the same time.
1t Is not intended that the narrow guage
track shall be removed till the rather exten.
slve narrow gauge equipment of the line is
worn out, but it has been found that the
narrow guage is not sufficient for the require.
ments of the traffic at all times, and with q
,
locomotives can be put on when necessary
and cars of freight run from other lines over
the road, which will be a gfeat convenience
at times. When this track is completed it
is probable that the road from Corvallis to-
junction will be taken in hand. This road
will run through one of the most beautiful
and fertile sections of the Willamette valley
and should have been completed long ago.
With this link completed the San Francisco
express could come in on either side Of the,
river which would be great convenience
in case of washouts, such as occurred during
the food of 1890. The laying of the stand~
ard guage track on the west 81 lie has caused
ripple of excitement up through the val.
ley, and some imagine THAT the Sheridan
branch will be extended to Nestucca, and
perhaps to Astoria, and that the road may.
be extended from Airlie to Yaquina by =
much more feasiable route than that fol-
lowed by the Oregon Pacific. Others i'm.
agine that the Oregon Pacific is to be &C.
quired by the Southern Pacific, but any
transfer of the road in its present conditions
practicable.
Our railroad-the one that has been dubbs
ed the ''bob. tailed concern" the marrow
escape" the 's1iEtle orphan" etc, is about
to rise up and be one among 'em. The South.
rem Pacific company have "said nothing but.
sawed wood until getting everything in
readiness for action, when their intention
was announced. Sunday next the track will
be widened along the line from Whiteson to-
Airlie and on Monday the first standard
guage train will run over the track to Port
Land. Thursday last a force of twenty-five
men arrived in Dallas and begun prepara-
tion for the widening Friday morning by
pulling every other outside spike and driv~
ing it for the outside spike when the track
is made standard width. All that will be-
pull the remaining spike, shove the rail over
and driva the inside spike, which will be-
done very quickly. The Oregonian was
slightly mistaken when it said Monday that
the road would have three rails That 10
only from Dundee to Portland, and the,
available narrow gague rolling stock is alt
being gathered up and taken below that
point. Considerable interest is being cen.
tered on this line at this time. Many con-.
lecture that the road will be continued to
Yaquina. This, however, is conjecturo
only, and is known only by this company,
that will hold the secret within their owns
breast until they get ready to act, as suY
been the case regarding the widening of the
track of our road. But one is forced to be-.
lieve that some such move is contemplated.
as it looks improbable that they would
widen the track and simply let it remain
where it is. Another thing that makes tho
extension look probable is that the s. P. is
after the scalp of the o. p, and if they
build to Yaquina they will come near get
ting it. Hurrah for the widening! Now let