The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1895-02-16
SATURDAY FEBRUARY le, 1895
AWAKE AT LAST.

POA ROSC OA COhSOAbAhS SAANs ~
senators and the delegation about two
bills authorizing the construction of
portage railway from The Dalles to Cello
and impress upon them the necessity of
such an improvement. The Portlanders
appeared in the hall of representatives
about IL o'clock and Hofer of Marion,
knowing their mission. moved that the
house accord them hearing on river
and harbor improvements. At 2 O'Clock
the motion was carried.
At II 80 o'clock the chamber of COM
merce delegation had conference in
committee-room of the state house with
Senators Simon, McGinn and Woodland,
and Representatives Beach, Burke, Card
well, Long, Myers, McCrackan, Paxton
and Thompson. The purpose of the
meeting was stated, and then Mr.. D. D.
Ollphant was called upon to speak. He
said that two bills providing for a port
age railway had been introduced in the
legislature, one in the senate by Smith
of Sherman, and one in the house by
Boothby of Morrow. The Portland
bureau of transportation had considered
OOJh anu 1ld0 dnOI11CL 1ACdoolO
which, in Mr.. Oliphant's judgment, en-
bodied the good points of the two. He
read the bill, which provided for the
creation of board of railway commits
sioners, consisting of the governor, Sec
retary of state and state treasurer, and
giving it full authority to either build
road from The Dalles to Cello, or to con-
AI.. n ID p NJ IL
of its track, between the points named,
on equitable terms. The bill also
authorized the board to construct the
necessary wharves and approaches and
appropriates the sum of 100000 there
for. He then spoke of the great benefit
of an open river to Portland and all
Eastern Oregon.
Messrs. Ellis 6. Hughes and J. Lang
followed Mr.. Olliphant. Among the
points emphasized by them was the fact
that the present railroad rates bring
Portland merchants into close competi-
tion with the cities on the Sound, the
rates being the same. Mr.. Lang said
the portage road would effect saving in
freIghts paid on merchandise shipped
from Portland to the Inland Empire of
from SO to rs per cent. 1t was also
stated that by the Cascades portage road
shippers of The ,Dalles alone saved $780,
600 year.
One of the Portlanders said that con-
ference had been held with Receiver
McNeill, of the o. R. & N Co., and Nc
Neill expressed his Willingness to con-
tract with the commissioners in case of
the passage of the bill, for the use of the
track of the o. R. & N. Co. between
Cello and The Dalles If such con-
tract be made, the expenses of building
a road will be avoided and the only cost
to the state will be for the construction
amount to 100000 or $150,0OO, and the
balance of the appropriation can be re-
turned to the treasury. On behalf OF
the Multnomah senators and delegation
Colonel McCraken and Mr.. Paxton ex-
planned their attitude and the procedure
necessary to secure a passage of the bill.
At 2 O'Clock the chamber of commerce
delegation entered the house and were
given reserved seats within the bar.
Hofer moved that Messrs. D. D. Oil
phant and Ellis G. Hughes be invited to
address the house. The motion was
carried and the gentlemen were invited
to take the platform. Mr.. Hughes was
the first to speak. After being intro
duced to the house by Speaker Moores,
he said the delegation from the chamber
of commerce visited Salem in the inter.
est of Boothby's bill authorizing the con-
struction of a portage railway between
The Dalles and Cello, and appropriating
100000 therefor. Mr.. Hughes spoke of
the necessity of having an open river.
1t was matter of the greatest impor-
taace, not only to Portland and Eastern
Oregon, but to all of Oregon. There
was only one railroad to Eastern Oregon
and that railroad would not accept freight
for 81 ton when 1t could get So. The
necessity of river competition was i'm
perative. The state should make nee
essary appropriation for the construction
of a portage road and operate it for sim.
ply the cost of operation. Millions Of
bushels of wheat were shipped to Port
land over this railroad every season, and
100000 or 5000, 900 came from Eastern
Oregon. Freight rates charged on these
ahinneuts vvor1id Ia considared oxfor