Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-12-28
OREGON PACIFIC rRospEOrs.
Hon. ]. d. DAILY Interviewed on the
Sale.


Hon John ID. DAILY was In Salem
yesterday and talked with a JOURNAL
writer about the sale Of the Oregon Pa.
ciiic, the extension aud recon tructlon
Of which railroad he is probably rs
vitality interested In ~ any man In
Oregon.
He has no investments In the prop
erty, but as q resident Of what Is now
lincoln county since fourteen years
past has the welfare Of that region
deeply at heart. He was one OF the
engineers In charge Of the original
surveys Of the line and WAS connected
with the road un II 1884. He has since
followed its checkered career, It's ups
aud downs, TO the present critical
period, having also helped make all
Surveys Of proposed extensions. Last
year Mr. DAILY was ca psen to repre-
sent Lincoln and Benton counties In
he legislature, since which time he
has given almost his undivided attent.
ion to the revival aud rehabilitation
Of the once prosperous Oregon Pacific
railroad. In regard to tls recent sale
and confirmation th It Is TO take place
on January 3, before ia ige Fullerton,
at Corvallis, Mr. paly sal /:
Judge Fullerton will not confirm
the sale II there Is serious objection on
the part Of holdus Of labor claims
There Is no apl aren't possibility Of col.
lecting lsbor liens Unless the sale Is
conhl ned. There is no chance Of col.
Iectlng such claims when the costs Of
repeated adver isement and sales and
accommodating attorney fees are lncrcas.
ing more rapidly than the property
can ever meet. The property is de-
C easing in value. II will be worth
less next year than this year. In its
present condition IL Is depreci ating
very rapidly, because OF the inability
to maintain repairs that are necessary
out Of present earnings. The men liv.
ing along the road, If sale is confirmed,
Will be employed Immediately and me
holding claims Will be given preference
over others not holding claims or who
have not been swindled. If the old
laborers kick on this sale the buyers do
not want IL.
"The Salem writer who says there is
no assurance that the buyers will not
take up the iron aud remove IL to As.
toria, TO build their proposed line ther",
does not know what he is talking
about. The state would enjoin such
an attempt, and besides the irou will
not pay for removal If man got It for
nothing.
without big Investment the road
Is insolyent. II will take millions Of
dollars to put 1t on paying basis. II
the present sale Ia not confirmed the |
extension OF the road eastward will be
The road cannot be oper. !
ated at all much longer without capi
tai being put In.
$40 shut down the road means TO
close up Lincoln county aud YaquIna
Bay 10 the rest Of the world 10 the east
Of II, and TO deprive settlers on the SAM
llan Of all outlet or hopes Of u livelihood
for years 10 come.
81 have personal ASSURANCES Of the
most reliable character from Messrs.
Bonner aud Hammond that they will
immediately proceed 10 improve the
They say they viii not
spend dollar 10 settle tho labor and
meu's claims. They do not
want 10 got the road by trick or by
any sharp practice, but by process OF
loB. Neither DO they wish 10 get the
without tie goodwill aud
rom the full consent " all connected
Win H. am positive That these men
viii abd must spend million dollars
Within year 10 put lbs road on pay
ng basis. N lhe sale IN not confirmed
do not Ike ~ say what Will become
NJ ~ hE Day took ihe overland
Ifalp ~ have consultation Win tho
creditors ~ lbe road,