The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-26
Northern Pacific Finds New Route
From Ellensburg to Lind.
WILL CUT OUT PAsco LOOP.
When Construction IL Complete
Trnn.contfnentalM Mileage VIII BE
Reduced Ninety-Nine Miles-Now
Proposed to Further shorten Main
Route to Coast by Almost Air
Line From Lind to Mfssouin-

Official announcement II made BY the
Northern Pacific that the engineer corps
for several months past engaged on
survey of the Lind Fllensburg cut-on, IN
the Eastern part OF Washington. has nm.
ished its work and a complete report OF
the nav risht-of-way is now ON It's way
TO the head offices of the company IN
st. Paul. This survey IL but portion
Of what r. to be made as rapidly al pos
sfble an air line from srssoula Mont,
to Ellensburg, Wash, shortening the AIS
lance of tho transcontinentai line from St
Paul TO Seattle about I'll miles. This does
not include the twenty nine miles dropped
by tho Palmer cut-off on the main Inc
but is in addition
The IAnd- Esllensburr cut-off reduces the
transcontinentai mileage TO and from the
Coast ninety-nine milea At the present
time the road from Houser Junction bends
southwest through Spokane TO Land. when
II turns south by west TO Pasco. and
then northwest through Ellensburg and
over the Palmer cutoff 70 Seattle. The
Lind Ellensburg cutoff does away with
the Pasco loop Just as the Palmer cut
of did away with the Puyallup loop by
way Of Tacoma.
While the survey Of this now cut-off
has been completed, II IL not the inten-
ton OF the company to begin the construc-
however believed. IN official circles that
within two years, providing the business
Of the past T. maintained. this portion OF
the work Will be undertaken and rushed
through to become a part of the main
line Of the road.
EnGineers in Field.
Tho corps OF engineers engaged on the
Lind Elleneburg work has been ordered
20 remain in the field and await orders
railroad circles, means that the Northern
Pacific will continue Its surveys for
shorter line to the Coast 1t is known
that from Lind eastward II Is the In
tentton of the company to find a short
right-of-way to Oakesdale, on the Gem
esee branch. or some other point In that
vicinity, and to still prosecute the work
through Idaho, crossing the Rocky noun
tain range by way OF Lords pass and
on eastward through the Bitter. Root val
surveyed. will furnish a right-of-way 211
miles shorter TO and from the Coast than
the present one.
That II is only the intention OF the COM
pany TO do this survey work for the
present Is practically certain, and in all
probability construction farther eastward
future consideration. and will depend to
great extent upon business conditions
along the line.
The completion Of this work. IT is said
while making a short line between St
Paul and Seattle. more particularly for the
speedy covering of the distance by fast
passenger and freight trains. does not
mean the cutting out OF the road by way
Of Spokane from the main line. 1nis
track II is intended to operate Just as at
the present time. with the exception that
fast trains in either department will not
go that way.
Opens Rich Country.
The country through which the new
rfght-of-way passes is, for the major por-
tion one OF the most fertile I'm the West
From Ellensburg the new survey passes
u,
county crossing the Columbia river in
the vicinity of Island rapids and east
through tho eastern portion of Adams
county to Lind. With this construction
work completed II IL believed. in the alb
senoe Of any official announcement, that
the Pasco branch will DO operated as a
of Kittitas and Adams counties adjacent
70 the new survey are not as yet thickly
settled. but abound. II IL said. In rich ag-
rtcultnral lands, capable Of furnishing
homes for many hundred farmers.
The proposed survey from Lind to
oakesdale, or a nearby point, will pass
through the eastern portion OF Adams
county In IA nearly as can be figured A
straight line running east by north, cross
ing the Palouse river. into Whitman coun-
~. just south OF Rock creek. and on
through greater portion of Whitman
county, 10 the eastern terminal. This
section r. what Is known as the Palouse
country. and while now well settled, there
is said to he an abundance OF unoccu-
way.
The proposed survey east from Oakes-
dale, Will probably pass into Idaho just
north OF Pennington. and continue
through a rich agricultural stretch to the
mountains. After passing through Lords
pass rich fruit and grain section 81
veliey.
With these proposed cut-ons construct
ed II II said the Northern Pacific will
possess the shortest transcontinentai linz
operating to the Coast.