Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-10
SALE OF OREGON SHORT LINE
Proceedings Conducted by the Court at Salt
Lake City.
PROPERTY PURCHASED FOR IS, SAL 500
Representatives OF the Rcorgnnizn-
tion Committee Bid In the Rond
Utah Southern Extension
is Also Sold.

SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 9.-The sale of
the Oregon Short Line a Utah Northern
railway under the consolidated mortgage of
August /, 1889, was made today under the
direction Of John g. Clelan, court commits
sioner, appointed to direct the sale. Zera
Snow was present, representing the Ameri-
can Loan and Trust company of New York.
Samuel Carr, Walter G. Oakman and Henry
G.. Nichols, representing the reorganization
committee, purchased the property for
So, ,547 500. The Utah Southern road was bid
in by the same parties for S763,000. They
also purchased the Utah Southern extension
for 1875, 900.
A large number of noted railroad people,
including the representatives of the bond
interests of the Oregon Short Line & Utah
Northern railroad were present at the sale.
Tho sale includes 1.456 miles of track,
with all the franchise and other
property belonging to the Oregon
Short Line & Utah Northern road. 1t seems
to be foregone conclusion that the re-
organization committee, of which Samuel
Carr of Boston is the chairman, will be the
purchaser of the property. w. III. Bancroft
Will be the manager of the segregated
system.
a distinguished party of Union Pacific rail-
road officials, including the receivers of the
system, has arrived here on the special
train, having made the run from Omaha,
1O1 miles, in twenty-nine and one-half
hours.
FORMING A NEW SYSTEM.
The sale of these properties aggregating
1,5OO miles of track paves the way to the
erection of a great intermontane system,
scheme, known for several years to have
hopn cherished nv pnrtain hol1sre nf
Short Line bonds, who have a voice in the
control of the reorganized Oregon Railway
Navigation company. Local capitalists,
including prominent church officials will
also play an important part in this project,
should 1t be consummated. 1t Is a matter
of common knowledge that an agreement
has for some time existed between the
Oregon Short Line reorganization committee
and the promoters of the Salt Lake q Pacific
road, a company organized here last year
for the purpose of building a road from
Milford Utah, to Los Angeles. Milford is
the southern terminus of the Short Line
system, and the grading for an extension
from this point to Phoebe, Nevada, was COM
pleted by the Short Line several years ago.
This grade is in good condition and very
little work would put II in shape for the
ties and rails. The agreement mentioned
above was one that could not be undertaken
by the receivership. 1t involves trackage
privileges between this city and Milford
and the use of the old grade from the latter
point to Phoebe, thus materially aiding the
Salt Lake and Pacific in building a connec-
tion between the Short Line and Los
Angeles. The directors of the Salt
Lake & Pacific include George Q. Cannon
and other prominent church officials, and
construction work will be commenced as
| soon the reorganized Short Line company
is in position to execute a contract in
accordance with the above agreement. The
new road will be in close afIiliation with the
Short Line system and be operated a
part of that system.
COVERS A WIDE TERRITORY.
But the aims of those who dream of
stretching the Short Line system over the
entire Pacific slope do not stop here. The
controlling interest in the Oregon Railway
and Navigation company has representatives
upon the Oregon Short Line reorg anization
committee. Although 1t cannot be stated
that these interests will be potent to shape
the destinies of the Short Line, it is their
desire to reunite the two roads, which were
operated under one management prior 10 the
disintegration few years ago.
The strength of such combination as is
here outlined has long been recognized and
frequently discussed by western railway men.
1t would form system extending from the
British possessions on the north almost to
the Mexican border; extending to the two
ports of Los Angeles and Portland, cover
ing the sound country and the nor rthwest
and southern California and the southwest;
it would be the shortest and quickest route
between the California fruit belt and the
eastern market and the line to Portland via
the Union Pacific would be the shortest
route from Chicago to the Pacific coast; 1t
would intersect five transcontinenJal roads
with a north and south line and have ex-
elusive possession of a vast productive terri
tory; 1t would be the key to the Pacific slope
situation
This is not the irldescent vision of
dreamer but 1t Is the carefully masured plan
of shrewd men Of affairs backed by powerful
interests. The first step will he the con-
struction of the Salt Lake &c Pacific
The property embraced the Oregon Short
Line from Granger, Wyo., to Huntington
Ore, the Utah Northern from Ogden, Utah
to Silver Bow, Mont, the Idaho Central the
Utah Central from Ogden to Salt Lake, the
Ogden Syracuse, the Utah g. Nevada from
Salt Lake to Toole. Utah, the Salt Lake &
Western from Lehi Junction to Tintic, Utah,
the Utah Southern and the Utah Southern
extension. On these roads there was a con-
solldated mortgage embracing all of the prop
erty. The first sale covered the property
north OF Salt Lake. The next two sales took
place at the Union Pacific depot and covered
the property south of this city.
There was no competition in the bidding.
Henry G. Nichols, who acted for the purchas-
ing committee, put up his check for $3.50 900,
as provided in the order Of SALE