Lincoln County record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1900-1905, 1901-04-19
COMMUNICATION
RAILROAD SITUATION.
April l7lh, 1901

Since the last issue of the RECORD
some new developments have been
made in the railroad imbroglio.
The Whittemore forces have been
increased by additional importa-
tions, twenty-five men arriving yes
terday from Salt Lake City. The
Oregon Short Line track-layers havt
laid over FIVE miles of track and wi
the arrival of rails will continue the
track laying. A large shipment of
rails (sutficient for ninety miles of
track is at Ogden and will be at
the front in day or two. We re-
gret to say that the opposing forces
are not fulfilling the promises made
for them by Mr.. Whittemore. If
we are correctly informed, they are
destroying in part at least, the very
grade which is the subject of con-
tention. 1t is said that in erecting
barricades across the grade, to arrest
the progress of track-layers, White
more's men are filing the cuts with
trees and debris. We do not under
stand the purpose of all this. This
grade is designed for railroad uses,
and both parties claim the right to
use it. This presents question of
law which ultimately will have to be
settled in the courts and its final
decision will not be anywise depend
upon such childish aud wanton acts.
The Short Line people seem to be
in possession of the grade and there
are but two ways of depriving them
of possession; i. e. by force or
judicial process. We insist that the
first alternative is not to be thought
Of. In this connection we NAV say,
that there has been imported into
this State a number of persons who
do not claim to be laboring men.
Some of them are said to be armed,
whether they are or not, why are
they brought here. Is the Clark
Company playing child's game of
bluff, oris it really intended that
these men shall fight, il necessary
1t is difficult to understand the
company's real position in this
matter. 1t has no railroad nor the
beginning of one anywhere, but
claims the property in the grade by
means of local land office decision
recommending to the Department of
the Interior, that certain maps of
be approved. This decision
is yet to be reviewed by the Com
missioners, and Secretary, and when
so reviewed, if affirmed will not be
final or conclusive. In the end the
matter must be determined by the
courts. If the Short Line company
we're to stop its railroad building to-
day, what would the Clark company
do?
Ground is not yet broken for the
of the Clark road, There
are no bonds nor money behind it.
No man can remember single
ut.erance of Senator Clark ineicat-
ing that he had assumed any re-
sponsibility in this matter. The
Utah capitalists who at one time
were active and jealous in promotion
Of the venture have all dropped out,
Mccormick, Kearns and Keith,
severally own one share of stock in
the incorporation. The company is
not in position to build railroad.
But if it were in such position what
has it to lose by permitting the track
to be laid over the grade? If its
contention is right, in such event,
it would eventually acquire the
grade, and with it the ties and steel
laid upon it by the Short Line Co.,
Its purpose was accomplished
when it made its protest. What
more is necessary