The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-06-29
Prominent Albany Man Talks Of
Possible Combine.
NEW TRANscoNTINENTAL ROUTE
Connection Will Be Made with
Chicago & Northwestern via
Albany and Boise.

Mr.. u. B. Monteith. prominent busi-
ness man of Albany, Oregon, paid AS
toria a visit yesterday. In conversation
with an Astorian representative Mr. Mon
tetth stated that the prospects were very
bright for a good crop OF grain and
fruit in the Willamette valley.
What do you think of Mr.. Hammond
and his enterprises, In your viclnity?"
he was asked.
"The decision from the supreme court
In the Oregon Pacific railroad case will
be handed down about the middle Of July
Should the decision be In favor of Mr.
Hammond, who recently purchased this
property, the people at large in our sec
tion of country have strong hopes tina
Mr.. Hammond will not only put the ole
o. p. In first class repair, but that h,
win extend the line both east and north
Such an extension north through Cor
wallis and the Nehalem to a connection
with the new Astoria-Goble railroad
which Is now an assured success, woulc
be OF the widest benefit to the Willamette
valley. That territory has long beer
under the domination of the Southern Pa
cltic, with little opportunity given for the
extension Of its business or the widening
out of the lines of commerce. The
building of the little o. p. road to va
quina bay saved the business men Of the
valley many thousands of dollars. Rates,
previous to that time. to and from San
Francisco were very high and the farm
ers were saved so per cent by shipping via
Yaquina and patronlze that route when
ever possible. teaning at times for miles
In order to avoid shipping over the South
ern Pacific"
Have you had any intimation OF Mr..
Hammonds policy in your territory?"
II have had conversations with his
manager, Mr.. Stone, at various times.
That gentleman said to me that If they
secured q. favorable decision 1t was in
tended to extend the line to Eugene and
across the mountains to the east, put the
line in first class condition and properly
equip 1t for business A large paper mill
will be established between Miles City
and Niagara, costing $4,000. and large
tannery at Albany. Mr.. Stone was re-
ticent in regard 10 any plans concerning
the Astoria road, but had every con-
fidence in his chief and the accomplish
ment on his part of any contracts en-
tered into. He further stated that the
shops of the o. p. would be located at
Albany"
What would be the effect of the con-
nection with the Astoria road which the
Willamette valley people so much de-
sire?"
1T would give us a second route to
San Francisco via the best port on the
coast, access to the Nehalem valley tim
ber, connection with the steamers for the
Sound and British Columbia as well as
the Orient at a minimum of cost, also
connection via the Columbia river or the
Goble railroad with Eastern Oregon and
Washington. 1t would, In other words,
emancipate the people OF the VILLAIN
cite valley from the rule of the one power
railroad"
What would be the advantage to be
gained from the extension of the line
east Of the mountains"
1--WE have the greatest confidence in
the shrewdness and sagacity Of Mr.. Ham
mond.' A glance at the map reveals the
fact that with the o. p. extended to AS
foria on the north and crossing the noun
tains of the east from Albany, passing
somewhere In the vicinity of Boise, II
would meet the contemplated extension
Of the Chicago & Northwestern
railway now reaching out through
the Black Hills In Dakota A new
transcontinental route would thus be
opened to tide water and Albany would
be placed at great advantage over its
present situation, while Astoria would be
made the terminus OF another great rail-
road system and would be placed in a
most independent position. both as re-
CARDS rail and water transportation. A
great future would thus be opened to
Astoria and she would have direct rail-
road connection via Goble and the North
ern Pacific or Great Northern with all
the trans-Mlssourl lines terminating at
st. Paul; and via Goble and Portland
through the present o. r. g. N. and Union
Pacific with all the trans-Missouri Ines
terminating at Omaha and Denver. The
proposed connection with the Chicago &
Northwestern via Albany and Boise
would make a through short line to Chi
cago and all eastern points under prac-
tically one management"
The above outline Of the possible railroad
combination on the future map is not
only possible, but a very probable one.
Astoria has certainly a very great future
to look forward to, and the growth and
extension of her lines of commerce are
almost without limit.