The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-06-15
THE OREGON PACIFIC.

CHIC properties tndn tHS plesclt.
was never known. The road has
been in litigation for years. Its
line extends from tidewater to a
point only few miles distant from
the summit of the Cascade noun
tains. Over It's whole length the
road is in fair condition. The
alignment, particularly that part
of it east from Corvallis, is excel
lent. The summit through which
the pr ,posed road will pass, is a
low one and the necessity for a
long and expensive tunnel, as is
usual in crossing high divide, has
been entirely obviated. From
Portland and other points through
out the Willamette valley this
route is by far the shortest one to
the east. The cost of maintain
ance on this line would be less than
on other trans continental lines,
because the grades are lighter and
shorter, and there will be no trou-
BILE from sand storms, such as have
been a continual source of annoy
ance and expense on the .. Il d
N.
A potent reason for the early
purchase of the Oregon Pacific,
and completion of its line to an
eastern connection is the fact that
the O. r, & n. which has been
operated by the Union Pacific, has
sustained damages by reason of
the recent food to such an extent
that it is probable the line will be
abandoned. 1t is claimed that be
. tween Portland and Umatilla the
road bed has been nearly ruined
and that the bridges will all need
rebuilding. This work will require
an outlay Of two or three millions
of dollars. A receiver will be ap-
pointed for the company in few
days, and it is hardly fair to pre-
s,.me that the court will authorize
the issuance of receivers certifi
Gates sufficient to pay for a recon-
struction of the road between the
points mentioned. If this con-
~clusion be correct one, the road
will be abandoned temporarily, at
least, and for the reason that the
road has been such an expensive
one to maintain and operate, a
permanent abandonment of 1T
. along the Columbia river is not
'sxlz avs@eIn sps1 SIT This
money could be empToyed-to far
better advantage in the construc-
ton of new road that would not
: be subject to overflow, landslides
and sandstorms. The Northern
Pacific has also suffered severe
loss and its business is now done
by river steamers between Port
land and Kelso, Wash. This has
been a great inconvenience to the
the travelling public and has
caused the mails to be delayed.
The loss to the Canadian Pacific
has ais, been such as to delay traf-
ffc and will necessitate the expen-
diture of a vast sum of money
before the road can again be put
INTO operation.
The Oregon Pacific could at this
time be purchased at a song.
Times are hard. and for that rea-
son labor, supplies and other com
nodities could be purchased at
prices much lower than when
these roads were originally con-
structed. Work on an eastern
extension might be begun at De-
troit, so far as labor and supplies
are concerned, at once, and by
forcing matters, the road could
easily be completed to an eastern
connection within twelve months. |
A railroad would then be in op-
Grafton that would not be both
cred by occasional overf1ows,
sandstorms, etc., and one that |
could be depended upon at all |
times for traffic communication
with tho east. Besides being op-
Grated at less cost than any other
road terminating in Oregon. it
would probably cause saving in
time of twelve hours between
Portland and Chicago. This route
would soon develop into a paying
property. With the probable aban-
donment of the Oregon Railway
and Navigation Company's line
and the long circuitous routes of
the Northern and Canadian Pa
eific taken into consideration, the
advantages to be derived through
the early completion of the Ore
gon Pacific, would seem, at this
particular time, so apparent to
eastern capitalists, that they
would be eager to secure control
Of the road and complete it with
out delay. !
We suggest that the reDublicaas