The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-07-11
A LINE TO PORTLAND.
The Great Northern Secures 1t
Through the o. X. & n.
THE UNION PACIFIC SHUT OUT.
Traffic Contract Made for Connection at
Spokane and Through Trsins
to Portland.

1t is learned upon what appears to be
reliable authority that the Great Northern
and the Oregon Railway & Navigation
Company have effected traffic arrange
ment. covering both freight and passen-
gers destined TO Portland and Pacific coast
points. TO be effective upon the restoration
of that portion of the Oregon Railway Il
Navigation Company's road from East
Portland to Umatilla Junction which suf-
fereo SO severely from the disastrous Co
iumbia river freshet. The connection will
be made at Spokane, at which point both
roads have fine terminal facilities, both
using the Spokane union passenger depot.
1t is believed that this union has long
been in contemplation by President Hill,
OF the Great Northern, as it will give him
easy access to both Portland and San
Francisco, TO which latter point access is
obtainable only by the Pacific Coast
Steamship Company, via Seattle. This
route entails not only serious delays, but
also requires too many transfers, which
are detrimental to certain classes of
freight. Under the present arrangement
there is a large volume of perishable and
breakable freight which the Great North
ern cannot contract from the Eastern sea-
| board, Chicago, etc. 10 Pacific coast
points. With the new line in operation
the Great Northern will have as good
line TO San Francisco lin connection with
the Southern Pacific at Portand) as the
Northern Pacific and a better line than the
Canadian Pacific. where freight and pas
senger business for California points is
transferred to the Pacific Coast Steamship
Company at Vancouver, B. c., about once
week.
Another feature in conjunction with the
contract with the Oregon Railway & Navi-
CATION Company will be the opening of
quite a number of new points for the
Great Northern to compete for traffic. such
as Colfax, Walla Walla, Pendleton, UNA
tilla, Wallula. The Dalles. Hood river and
a number of minor points.
1t is understood that in very short
time Great Northern passenger cars will
be run direct from st. Paul and Minneap-
oils into the union depot at Portland and
freight cars to delivery with all roads en-
tering that city.
1t is believed the compact to which refer
ence is made will prevent for long time
to come the building of the Great Northern
from Seattle to Portland. There would
not appear to be any necessity for so great
an outlay of money for this purpose, as
TIC iOChL BUSINESS, IL tHe flAlnSL1T
of every railroad. would not warrant the
expenditure. Furthermore, the late
freshet on the Columbia and minor
streams between Tacoma and Portland has
ruined the work on the old right
of-way of the Portland d Puget
Sound road constructed by the Union
Pacific and Great Northern railways
in partnership about four years ago, the
fills and rip-rap works and trestles having
either been washed away or roughly
handled by the elements 1t is difficult to
ascertain the extent of the loss, but $780,
600 is close estimate.
If report be true, the arrangement be-
tween Mr.. Hill and Receiver Mcneil was
consummated in the East prior to the
latters departure for Portland to assume
the duties of his position. Mr.. Hills rela-
tions with the bondholders of the Oregon
Railway & Navigation are said to be very
close, and il is limited that some of them
are closely connected, in financial way,
with the Great Northern and Northern
Steamship Company. Mr.. Hill is Low on
his way TO the Coast, one of the principal
objects Of his coming here. it is presumed,
is TO make final arrangements as to the
handling of the traffic of the new route.
The effect of the new route upon Seattle
and other Puget sound points will be i'm
perceptible. Business, such as freight,
passenger, express and United States
mails will be diverted at Spokane to the
Oregon Railway Il Navigation Company,
instead of being transferred at Seattle.
The compact will simply expedite all the
Great Northern's Oregon and California
business, and its immediate result will be
TO improve Great Northern business for
these points. In other words it will make
the Great Northern a lively competitor at
the old points which it has been difficult
TO reach, through the manipulation of
traffic interests. To Seattle will come the
usual volume of freight and passenger
business for distribution here.
The new arrangement insures the Great
Northern connections which have hitherto
been exclusively enjoyed by the Union
Pacific and practically prevents that road
from entering into competition for the
rich grain products and wool and hop
interests of Idaho, Washington and a part
OF Oregon--in the latter state from Port
land to the Washington line on the Oregon
Railway & Navigation.
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DIR. Frank Brooks. speciality paralysis