The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-09-21
WE MUST HAVE 1T.

For ten years Eastern Oregon has
waited anxiously for the completion of
the Oregon Pacific; she is still waiting
and may be compelled to wait on and
on for ten years Or perhaps twenty years
longer. The road has been repeatedly
offered for sale since it went into the
hands of receiver three years ago and
the near future gives little promise of a
change whereby present conditions will
be improved. Citizens of the Inland
Empire have looked to the Oregon Pa
cifc for relief from long hauls and ex-
cessive freight rates until they are about
to despair of success. Numerous theories
have been advanced to speed the con-
summation of feasible plan that would
afford the relief so earnestly wished for
by residents of the entire state, but so
far they have proved futile. The GA
zErrE, however, has plan which can
be matured by early spring. 1t is the
best, most practical and cheapest
plan yet proposed. 1t will afford East
ern Oregon an outlet for her products be-
fore another twelve-month has rolled
around. if put into execution as soon as
work can be begun In the spring.
Here is the plan: The Oregon Pacific
track is laid to Boulder creek and the
grade is completed to a point eight
miles further east. From here a good
wagon road can be built over the noun
tains for $4,000. Perhaps the most
feasible route would be by the way of the
Mimic trail. The distance from the end
of track by this line to a wagon road on
the east side of the mountains would be
only fifteen miles, from which point
Prineville is 20 miles distant Be-
sides this, there are two other ways of
reaching the east side of the divide.
From Boulder creek to Big Meadows it
is 20 miles and wagon road could be
constructed over the distance with COM
parative ease, both in point of work and
grade. From this point to Fish Lake,
eight miles, a wagon road has been par
TALLY completed and could be finished
with small expense. The distance to
Prinevi1le this way would be in the
neighborhood of eighty miles. The
other route would be to follow the Ore
gon Pacific survey from Big Meadow
to the summit and from there across to
Lost Lake on the Santiam road, leading
to the Deschutes. By this line the dis
tance from Big Meadows to Lost Lake
is II miles, over eleven of which good
wagon road is already completed and
was in use several years ago by the rail
road company when they were grading
the line this side of the summit
Of the three routes mentioned, there
seems to be little choice in the way OF
practicability Or cost of construction, al
though it is generally supposed that less
snow will be encountered by way of the
Minto trail, as the distance in crossing
the mountains this way is considerably
shorter than by either of the other two
lines. By constant travel and the use OF
sleds during the winter months the road
could be kept open to traffic the entire
year. From Prineville the distance to
the end of track will be between 70 and
80 miles, or saving over the present cir
cuitous way of getting to market of at
least so Or 50 miles.
Before beginning work it will be nee
essary to have each of these routes sur
veyed, in order to determine upon the
cheapest and most practical line This
expense and cost of constructing a road
to the end of track will not exceed SIS
900, providing the eight miles of COM
pleted road Immediately east of Bou lder
creek can be used. In case it will be
impossible to secure the use of the rail-
road grade, a wagon read can be built
the entire distance for $4,000.
Lake, klamath, Harney, Malheur,
Grant and Crook counties on the east
and Linn, Lane, Marion, Benton and
Lincoln counties on the west, are all
interested in this matter and should
use every honorable means to secure the
completion of the road at an early date.
As it will be great benefit to the entire
state, the cost of building it should be
borne by the state. The Oregon Pacific
will probably be offered for sale again
about Dec. Ist. If it fails to sell and
there is no immediate prospect for an
extension of the road by the time the
next legislature convenes, members of
that body from the counties most in
terested should demand the appropria-
ton of sufficient funds to construct a
wagon road, as indicated above. The
saving to the people of Eastern Oregon,
and the immense advantage it will be to
all sections of the state, will make it an
excellent investment if only used one
year, but it would be travelled always
aud be of lasting benefit.
A more meritorious measure than this
was never brought up for consideration
and no member of the next legislature
can conscientiously oppose it; and even
if its passage meets with sturdy opposi-
ton, there ought to be no trouble in se-
curing the appropriation if members
from the counties most interested will
only stand firm and demand recognition
of their rights.
REPUBLICANS are perfectly willing