The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-04

The all-absorbing topic In local rail-
road circles yesterday was the reported
sale of the Everett a. Monte Cristo rail-
road TO the Northern Pacific Railway
Company. The portion OF the press dis
patch referring to the removal OF the
roads terminals from Tacoma to Everett
IL not seriously considered by any OF the
local representatives OF transcontinental
lines. Mining men interested in the Monte
Cristo and Siverton districts are tubi-
liant and point to great possibilities in
the mines OF those regions. as result
of the reported deal.
The situation IL probably most correct
ly viewed by General Agent Nadeau, OF
the .,orthern Pacific. who when asked
regarding the reported sale said:
THE whole matter Is news TO me.
have not even heard an intimation OF any
such deal. The terminal portion OF the
report Is to me improbable. The purchase
of the railroad. however, would not sur
prise me. 1t Is now the rule for the
larger lines to absorb the weaker as
feeders, and IL the Northern Pacific has
bought the Monte cristo road 1t is prob
ably for this purpose"
Next to Impossible.
other railroad men are even more out
spoken I'm their opinion that the removal
81 terminals from Seattle or Tacoma
would be next to impossible and point TO
the construction OF the Palmer cutoff as
the first step toward diverting the Seattle
trade 10 the Northern Pacific That 1t Is
the intention OF the Northern Pacific,
however, to secure tho ore from the
Everett district. which has heretofore
been dependent on the Everett amelter,
for division among the three other smell
ters on its line. Is considered most prob
able.
To do this 1t IA shown that II Is not
necessary to build a mile of new track.
- h. T.tw nrtf-
on the main line of the Northern Pacific
instead OF branching south for the pur-
pose of entering Tacoma Will continue
westward to a point one mile above Au-
burn on the old Puget Sound Short Line.
now owned by the Northern Pacific. This
line runs as far north as Black River
Junction. where II connects with the Pa
clio Coast line from Seattle, over which
tho Northern Pacific has n long-term
trafYic arrangement for entering this city.
From this city the Northern Pacific
owns a controlling interest In the Seattle
n international. which line meets the
Western division OF the Everett q Monte
Cristo road at Snohomish and the Eastern
division at Hartford Junction. The dis
tanee between these two points Il covered
by the Seattle a International. which has
= traffic arrangement with the Everett
. Monte Cristo road.
But while the Northern Pacific has this
10 and Silverton districts It is thought
probable another and shorter route will
be used which will necessitate the COM
pletion OF the old belt line railway run
ming around the eastern shore of Lake
Washington. which was projected. with
the Northern Pacific. by the promoters of
the Kirkland Townsite Company.
The kirkland smeiter.
This line has never been finished al
though several miles of steel have been
laid and the greater portion OF the grad
ing done. The Kirkland smelter. which
was just completed few weeks ago, Is
as yet the most important industry on
the line
The bolt line has It's southern terminus
. mile above Orillia, on the old Puget
Sound Shore Line, passes in a northeast
sriy direction to Renton. and then almost
due north. along the east shore of Lake
Washington. through Houghton and Kirk
Land to Woodenvile, on tho Seattle Il In
ternational This route II Is shown Is
. shorter one, and beside will furnish
work for the Kirkland smeiter from the
eres of the Monte Cristo and Silverton
districts.
Seattle is and has been" said a
prominent railroad man yesterday, fur
nishing by far the greater portion OF the
Pacific coast divisions trade OF the North
ern Pacific. and for that reason the rond
seeks terminals here. Tacoma has not
contributed to the freight business OF the
Northern Pacific to any extent and as
for the Oriental trade OF the road now
handled at Tacoma Il could be done just
~ well at any point where the road
has docks"
Cherry valley Cut of.
Another new point In connection with
tho alleged transaction developed yester-
day. BY those m a position 10 know Il Is
said that the Great Northern was figuring
on the Everett a Monte Cristo road. and
was aware that the Northen Pacific also
had an eve on II,
''rf that deal has gone through" said
an ofticial In speaking OF II yesterday, 'It
will be the means OF bringing about at
once the construction OF the Cherry VAL
ley cut-on by the Great Northern. The
cut-off will begin at or near Monroe sta
ton and run south through Cherry Val
10y TO Seattle. This will shorten the
Great Northern between spokane and Sc
attic by about itty miles. making il In
the neighsorhoed OF 100 miles shorter than
the Northern Pacific.
everett will then be dropped from the
main line and will contribute 10 the Great
Northern over the Coast line. which viii
b operated for the Everett trade alone
p. w. CoRBETT PROMOTED