The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-15
70 CROSS At VANCOUVER.
NORTHERN PACIFIC WILL CHANGE
ITS ROUTE TO PORTLAND.
Expensive Transfer Ferry at Ka.
lama II to He Aband0ned-Poxsi-
Die Shortening Of the Main Line
by Building q Cuton to Yakima.

The Post-Intelligencer yesterday con-
tanned dispatch from Portland to the ef-
rect mat the Northern Pacific Railway
company, In order TO avoid the necessity
OF maintaining the ferry between kalama
ana Gooie. would build up the north side
OF the river from kalama TO Vancouver,
cross the river at the latter point, and en-
ter Portland probably over the Oregon
railroad Navigation Company's tracks
down Suliivan's guich. The following in
tervlew with a railroad man, printed in
the Oregonian yesterday. evidently fur
nished the ground for the statement:
Il expect to see the Northern Pacific
complete and own raill DAD on the north
sioe OF the Columbia to Vancouver before
the end of next year. There are many
good reasons on which to base such ex-
pectations: The Northern Pacific does a
neaVy business with Portland, and compe-
tition is growing keener and keener Time
is an element that cannot be ignored in
the Transportation business. and the char
acteristic Western scorn of economy is
being outgrown. The rail- Dads. like other
business concerns. have go, to figure close
even In the West, and must take advan-
rage OF every opportunity to improve their
Now. at kalama, the Northern Pacific
maintains that great ferry. that must cost
nearly $500 day TO. operate. would say
year. Besides this. every passenger
train indelayed fully half an hour by the
necessity of ferrying across the river;
freight trains are delayed much longer.
The ferry has been managed very care
fully, and It has been a success, as such
things so. but II cannot be said that 1t has
road traffic across the Columbia. And af-
ter getting to the oregon shore. 1t is run
of forty miles to Portland, through coun-
try that does not yield much traffic.
present track from Portland to Goble
to the Goble-Astoria people for a sern
OF 80 years, thus practically getting that
property OF its hands, Now 10 build build
Kalama and cross the river on a bridge
at Vancouver will place the Northern in
much better shape tor handling its Port
competition II must meet. And 1t will
save enough in operating expenses 10 pay
the interest on the cost of the new track
the rails the entire distance. and l have
good reason TO believe that the Northern
and Union have already reached an un-
derstanding for the transfer TO the former
/ am satisfied that the Northern will run
trains over the new line before the end
OF 1895 The fact that the grade for the
Is miles between Kalama and vancouver
is uninjured. after seven years OF mat
tention. shows that that will be an easy
road to maintain.
There is another interesting phase OF
this new railroad project. BY making ar
rangements for a road from Vancouver 10
Yakima, the Northern Pacific would have
cutoff that would shorten Its run from
the East TO Portland more than 200 miles,
or about eight hours. That would be no
slight matter. Such a connection would
make 1t imperative that the Columbia be
bridsed at Vancouver, regardless of the
demands of the line up from kaianla.
THE sum of the whole matter Is that
tho Northern. by. the new move; VIII
vastly improve It's capacity TO handle
Portland business; Il Will get command
OF a country OF great richness. and 1t
will virtually throttle any project for get
ting a competing line between Portland
and the Sound. There is business sagacity
in IL. and IL will go. The plan Is recog-
milton OF the futility OF trying TO do a
transcontinental business with the North
west without making II a matter OF prime
importance to get into Portland on ant
advantageous footing"