The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1895-08-22
IN RAILROADS CIRCLES.
Matters of Interest Pertaining
to improvements and Flu
ture O. c. & E. Plans.

81 AdS OICSoH SeiiGEetl q LaStetu pcOpIc
, contemplating immediate extensive improve
, jments. Orders are already in for 750,00'
feet of lumber, besides a great number .
ties. This will keep all the mills uu tile lint
busy for some time running at their fullest
capacity. Men are being employed rs fast
as additional help is required, and fr''al the
number of applicants on file the company
: will have plenty of material to choose from.
The engines and other rolling stock be
ing repaired and put in first class shape.
Mr.. Hammond is still busily engaged with
his Astoria road, but MIR. Stone keeps him
fully informed as to matters at this end of
the line. Mr.. Stone says that Saperintend-
ent Clark has just completed an estimate of
the cost of putting the road and equipment
in first-class condition. He thinks that it
might be completed in ten months or less.
When GAZETTE representative called at
the Office the other day, looking for an item,
Manager Stone had just finished writing
Mr.. Ham mond detailed statement of the
conditions and prospects. He enthusi
astically favors the beginning of work at
once on the extension to Independence prai
rie, which would add greatly to ths business
of the road. MIR. Stone is confident that the
people of Crook county would build wa.
gon road to the end of track Immediately,
and has so written Mr.. Hammond. The
Importance of beginning the work at an
early date is pointed out in order that the
road may be in position to handle nsxt
eeason's wool crop. The hauling distance
from Prneville to railroad at Independence
prairie would be reduced fully go miles,
which Mr.. Stone feels certain would cause
the bulk of the wool crop, amounting to
about 10000 600 pounds annually, to find a
market via the O. c. & E.
Mr.. Stone calls attention in his letter to
the discriminating tariff of the Southern Pa
cific, claiming that it is proving q dlsadvan-
tage to shippers well as to the O. G. & i.
Before the confirmation of the sale by the
supreme court to Messrs Bonner & Ham
mend. Mr.. Stone called upon Manager Koh-
Ter, OF the S. P, with view to securing
more favorable tariff arrangements, but the
latter gentleman wished to defer the matter
until the then pending litigation was set
tied He indicated, so Mr.. Stone says, that
a more satisfactory arrangement might then
be had. Since the confirmation, however,
he has absolutely refused to make any re
ductions on 0. G. & E. freight. A further
annoyance and expense is caused the D. G.
" Il hxf IF fba 70 oI
vance charges of the former on freight con
signed to points on the S. P, causing the
o. g. & E. to appoint agents in the several
towns to collect from it's patrons the charges
from San Francisco to Albany Corvallis,
where the freight has been reb;lled.
In view of these disadvantages Mr.. Stone
urges the building to Eugene and Salem of
branch lines at an early date. He writes
Mr.. Hammond that San Francisco is a bet |
ter market than Portland for valley towas,
mess if put in a position to do SO. To this
end he recommends that the company's |
river boats be repaired and put into use as
soon the river is at boating stage. Al |
ready bids have been received for the re.
pairing of the boats and it is likely that
work on them will begin soon.
Mr.. J. c. Stratton, who is interested with |
Mr. Hammond in the Astoria enterprise, |
passed over the road last week in company
with Manager Stone and visited Eugene.
He seemed very much pleased with the out
look. It was their intention te drive over
the line between this city and Eugene, but
owing to the dense smoke this trip was de-
ferred to more oupertune time.
The proposed Eugene extension was taken
up by MIR. Stone at considerable length.
He advises its immediate construction.
The people of Eugene, Junction and Monroe
are anxious for the road and show DISPOSE
tion to aid the enterprise in substantial
way, providing beginning of the work is
not long deferred. It is probable that Mr..
Hammond will visit Eugene in the near fu
ture and lay before her citizens PROPOSE
tion for their considerations. Should it be
accepted the people living along the propos-
ed line and in this city should cooperate
with the citizens of Eugene In securing the
right of way and in any other manner posi-
BILE aid in getting the deal eoEsummated.
The building of this branch would materi.
ally increase the traffic of the road, and,
together with the other improvements con-
Mr. Stone thinks it would en-
able the company to operate two ships the
size of the Farallon, and furnish them all
the tonnage they could handle. For years
the people of this section have earnestly
andeavored to induce the Southern Pacific
TO complete its proposed line to Eugene but
their efforts have signally failed. There is
a large fertile country between the rievr and
the foothills, lying along the proposed line
be Eugene, that will furnish volume of
trade sufficient to justify the building of the
road, and its construction will prove boon
to the section through which it would ira
verse. Owing to the determinations made
against the people of Eugene by the South
ern Pacific and that comnauv's refusal te