The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-12-10
MUST GO TO HARTMAN.

1t would be we'll for the committee
of the Commercial Club that is to con-
fer with the officials of the O. r. &
n. Company regarding better train
service and lower freight rates to bear
in mind that the 0. r. & N. is now
part of Harriman's transcOntinental
system and any concessions made by
the company must be approved by
Hartman. Even Portland does not
get what it wants from Hartman, as
anyone who reads the OregOnian we'll
knows No doubt the Portland Com
mercial Club will be ready enough to
aid Walla Walla, but it is by no
means certain that they can accom-
plish a great deal toward changing
the schedule of transcOntinental
trains on Harriman's lines.
Walla Walla is greatly interested in
the building of the portage railway be-
tween Cello and The Dalles as pro-
posed by the state of Oregon, and the
Commercial Club last Tuesday night
passed a resolution endorsing the pro-
ject But President Hartman of the
Union Pacifis will oppose the desire of
Portland and of the Inland Empire
tributary to that city to have the Col
umbia opened to navigation through
the building of the portage railroad.
The following from the Portland
Telegram will show the attitude of
Hartman toward this Improvement:
Concerning the proposed port
age road between The Dalles and
Cello | will say that providing
understand me-providing the
terfere with our plans for extern
sion; does not prevent the O. r.
& n. from increasing its traffic or
caring for the transportation bus
mess of the territory affected,
then l am in favor of the portage
road or canal"
Such was the declaration of
President Z. H. Hartman when
asked concerning his position on
the all-important topic of interest
in the state of Oregon at present.
AS Mr.. Hartman has been in
consultation with his local legal
representative, William w Cotton,
a major portion of the time while
in Portland. the portage road pro-
ject has been minutely explained
to him by Mr.. Cotton. He is better
acquainted with the subject today
than he was yesterday, when he
made the general statement re-
garding the policy of the Harri-
man lines in dealing with the pro-
ject. Then he said Il am in favor
of any and all Improvements which
increase traffic and facilitate
transportation" Today he was
more explicit and his declaration
as stated makes it clear that Mr..
Hartman intends to fight, with
all the means at his command. the
construction Of the portage road or
the canal. No other construction
could be placed upon his words.
The situation was entirely different
when a committee from the Walla
Walla Board of Trade secured import
ant concessions from the Oregon Rail-
way and Navigation Company nearly
20 years ago, as related by Judge Up
ton at the meeting Tuesday night.
Then the company was an independent
corporation and President Prescott
had the power TO do much as he pleas
ed in the regulation of train service
and the adjustment of freight rates.
Now the O. r. e n. Company is a part
of the Union Pacific system and every
thing affecting its freight service and
train schedule must be referred to
President Hartman. This great mer-
ger magnate is now on the coast and
if the committee appointed by Presi-
dent Turner is to accomplish any good
for Walla Walla it should lose no time
in securing a conference with Presi-
dent Hartman.