Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1902-05-01

solidating and building not only north
to Crescent City but as far as Astoria,
at the mouth Of the Columbia River.
Personally have an official connection
with the California & Northern and the
Eureka & Eel River r. R., and am well
posted as to their intentions. There
fore, we know that by building a short
line from the vicinity of Waldo to Cres-
cent City, distance Of, not to exceed
55 miles, we should have railroad con-
nection with San Francisco, certainly
within two years, and over standard
guage track. We will also have the
broad Pacific Ocean which no one con-
tolls. 1t is very simple matter to pur-
chase couple of steamers to ply be-
tween Crescent City and San Francisco
or other ports, even il there was no
railroad from San Francisco north to
Crescent City.
In addition to this, the country be-
tween Waldo and Crescent City, as is
probably well known to you all, is one
OF the best mineralized sections in the
west. Its deposits Of gold and chrome
iron have been famous for forty years,
but, above all, there are vast tracts OF
redwood and other timber, and gentle
men friends Of ours, have become largely
interested recently in the purchase OF
some of these tracts. Naturally, we
felt that our way lay toward the sea and
not to the north, where our only outlet
would be via the Southern Pacific r. r.
and when you realize. as you must do
every time you get freight shipment
or every time you go to Portland or
San Francisco, that the charges of that
road are somewhat excessive, you will
understand our situation in that respect.
This is a subjec. do not care to dwell
upon, because it is too well known to
you all.
Now comes your joint resolution and
| have laid itsbefore my associates and,
with their approval, l beg to make you
the following proposition: II you will
furnish to our Company sufficient
right of way, to be determined by your
City Engineer and myself and also ade-
quate terminals to bring us to a con-
nection with the Southern Pacific r.
r. within your city limits, free of cost
to us, we will Immediately begin the
surveys of the road from Grants Pass
to Crescent City, via the neighborhood
OF Waldo. do not ask you to turn
over to our Company the deeds to the
property until we are ready to actually
begin work; but do ask you that you
shall place the deeds to that property,
after 1t has been surveyed, in the First
National Bank or the Grants Pass Bank
ing x Trust Co., in escrow, to be deiv-
cred to us when we shall be ready to
begin the actual construction of the |
road. Any point Of controversy can be
decided by any gentleman that you
choose to appoint for your city and my
self for the Oregon & Pacific Railroad |
Construction Co. 1t is naturally un.
necessary for me to represent the ad-
vantages that would accrue to Grants
Pass by having a competitive line to
the sea. You are too intelligent and
too keenly alive to the welfare of your
city and your business interests to need
on this subject II we start
this work, it is my belief that We will
carry it through. 1t remains with you
gentlemen now to take the initiative.
am ready to give the order for the
surveys at once. thank you for your
attention"