The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-09-24
|OKANOGAN ROADS
GREAT NORTHERN AND IIN,o,,
PACIFIC IN RACE.
Gu eat Northern Line Will Re n,
From Wenatchee--Union Pac;e.
Will Be Extension Of Bellineh.
Bay and British Columbia N,
Maple Falls.

Seattle, Sept. S.-Announceman :.
made from the general Offices Of tha -
Great Northern that next spring wors
will be started on the construction ~
branch line from Wenatchee. on Tho
main line, to the town of Rennbl;o
The survey for this road has been sn
ished within the last thirty DAYS and
bids will be called for before the end
of the year.
The determination to build this road
within the coming year was probable
brought about by the activity of tba
Bellingham Bay & British COLUMBIA
line in its survey from Maple Falls the
present eastern terminus of the shore
line, through the Okanogan country 70
Spokane. This company during all the
past summer has had engineers in tho
field, and they are now ready to report
the completion OF the greater portion of
their work. Such surveys a. are not
completed this fall will be finished
early in the spring and about the time
the Great Northern starts it's Okanoran
country branch the Bellingham BAY &
British Columbia will have a construe.
tion force in the field.
The race will then be for the control
OF vast amount of rich Washington
territory which in the past has not
been Accommodated by any line OF rail.
road.
The Bellingham Bay line, after leay.
ing Maple Falls, is to pass through the
Mount Baker and Slate Greek countries
into the Methow valley, following the
Msthow river to Pateros; thence along
the banks of the Columbia river through
the northern part of the wheat belt to
Spokane.
Ever since this survey was started
there has been much speculation as to
what forces were back of the coast shore
line. No longer is there any secret
made by the Union Pacific system that
the new road through Washington be-
longs to it. From the Union Pacific
offices at Omaha comes the announce.
ment that the Bellingham Bay & Brit
ish Columbia line, when finished rs far
as Spokane, will make connection there
with the tracks of the Oregon Railroad
and Navigation Company, which is a
part of the Union Pacific system.
In this connection it is officially an
nounced that with the clearing of the
snow from the ground next spring the
Bellingham Bay road will begin con-
struction work from the Spokane end
and rush it through to the Methow VAL
ley. This will give the Union Pacific
an entrance to the rich wheat fields of
Northeastern Washington. Later on
the line will be continued westward to
Maple Falls, which will furnish the
Union Pacific an outlet on Puget sound.
In railroad circles the opinion is ex-
pressed that from Wbatcom. the pres
ent terminus OF the Bellingham Bay
road, line will be built to Seattle.
which Will put the Union Pacific sys-
tenn into this city. AS yet there has
been nothing officially given out to base
such an opinion on, but it is reasona-
BILE to believe that the Union PACING,
after reaching the north coast would
seek terminal at the principal center:
The two lines when constructed II
cover a rich field, to the present time
undevelovped in other than the strictly
agricultural districts by reason OF lack
of transportation. In the mineral dis-
tricts there are vast number OF niles
awaiting the will of the railroads before
development work is pushed, and from
this natural wealth much business VIII
be furnished the roads.