Oregon union. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1897-1899, 1897-12-17
ACROSS EASTERN OREGON.
Yaqaina Bay Road to BE Extended
to Snake River.

~ CMksAC ASAsCAs
There is a strong probability that the
coming year will see a new railroad
stretching across Oregon from the Snake
river to the coast. A branch of the new
road will traverse the country between
Prineville and Pendleton. Those com.
mercial arteries, serving virgin em-
pire, will command two seaports, Port
i land and Newport, and bring new and
mighty factor to bear on the develop
ment of the state of Oregon.
When the Oregon Pacific railroad was
built the project included an extension
across the state to Ontario, on Snake
river, near the mouth of the Malheur.
The line was surveyed and definitely To-
Gated all the way, and the engineers
found the road would be easy to con-
struct east of the Cascade range. Cross
ing the mountains little to the north
ward of Mount Jefferson the route sags
to the southwark, touching Prineville,
skirting the northerly shore of Malheur
lake, thence bending northeasterly and
decending the Malheur valley. Con-
struction was begun on both ends of the
line. The Yaquina end was completed
across the Willamette valley and trains
were put in operation on it. Nearly
$50, 900 was spent on the Ontario end,
II miles of the road being graded and.
the rails being laid considerable part
of the distance. Then the big scheme
languished, and its promoters finally had
to abandon it. Seven or eight years ago
construction was resumed on the coast
station and the road was pushed east
ward to the summit of the Cascades
where it now rests. The crest of the
mountains is reached on grade that is
less than 2 per cent, being by far the
easiest mountain crossing in the Pacific
states. Beyond the operating terminus
of the road the grade is completed for
distance of IL miles, on 4 miles of
which the rails are laid.
Rather more than its share of vicissi-
tudes came to the Oregon Pacific ven
ture, and it appeared to be an aimless
concern, dangling irresolutely in the air,
when it was sold to A. B. Hammond, at
Corvallis, some two years ago. Though
Mr.. Hammond got for 100000 a prop
erty on which more than s16 ,OOO, 600 had
been spent, his investment could not
be reconciled with an intention to hold
the road as it was, mere isolated frag-
ment of transportation system. But
he kept his own counsel well, making
neither boasts nor threats. He next ap-
peared in the project to construct the
much-promised railroad to Astoria,
which is now approaching completion.
The returning general prosperity, and
especially the improving business condi-
tions in the Northwest, together with
the developments that come with the
progress of affairs, now bring into view
the general plan to complete the trans
portation system contemplated when the
Oregon Pacific was started. It will be
more comprehensive, however, than the
Oregon Pacific promoters had in mind.
Mr.. Hammond was seen in his room at
the Portland yesterday, and, though he
spoke guardedly of the probable railroad
construction east of the Cascades, he
admitted that the coming year might see
a great transform alton there.
''The Oregon Central & Eastern pierces
a body of timber equal to that of the
whole Puget sound district" said he,
"and then look at the vast grain-growing
and cattle-raising and wool-producing
country, not to speak of timber and min
erals, untouched by any modernmeans of
transportation. There is a stretch of
nearly 900 miles between the Oregon
Railroad & Navigation on the north and
the Central Pacific on the south, every
mile of which is rich in natui al resources.
That certainly is very attractive field
for railroad"
"Is there any connection between the
proposed Eastern Oregon extensions of
the Oregon Central & Eastern and your
Astoria railroad enterprise?"
Well, you know we have a 99-year
lease of the Northern Pacific between
Goble and Portland, which completes
our connection between Portland and
Astoria. 1t may be that it will be deemed
advisable to give the Eastern Oregon