Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1903-12-11
ALL ARGUMENTS
AGAINST STATE
POSTAGE FADING
CONTINUED from first paee.)

appropriate an additional sum foi
that purpose. or to put Off further leg
islation in the matter until the mex
regular legislative session in 1905. arc
problems that are vexing the law
makers.
Commercial parties of Portland in
sist that the portage be built as soon
as possible, canal or no canal. They
will no doubt advise that the matter
of securing right Of way for the cana,
be deferred until the next regular ses
sion.
IF an additional appropriation
should come up at the special ses.
sion,' remarked Henry Hahn yester,
day, 1T might force such compro
misc as would divert part or all of
he Sl65Oo0 appropriation and delay
the portage. The persons who are try.
ing to work up the amendment hope
to retard the portage-that Is the 70.
menters of the movement do. No
doubt If the portage were indefinitely
postponed enough delays would hap.
pen to the canal to put II off until the
Millennium. We need the portage,
no matter how soon or late we get the
canal, and no matter II the portage
should be no better than a 'one-hoss
shay
"lf one delegation at Washington
can't get a resolution adopted at this
session Of congress directing the see.
retary Of war to acquire land for the
canal, then our legislature can pro.
vide means for securing the land at
its regular session one year from now.
Does anybody remember how long
the canal at Cascades was delayed?
Was It 20 years? Then let's have the
portage Immediately"
No Serious Interference.
Major Langhtt said that the portage
and the canal "ncCd not seriously in
terfere with each other" The only
place where the portage win be in the
way Of the canal is at the upper end
of the waterway. Major Langfitt con.
ceded that construction of that part
OF the waterway could be put OF un.
I'll toward the end of the work so that
operation of the portage would not
be obstructed
Acquisition Of ground for the canal
will not be expensive nor is there
room 10 believe that II will cost 800,
900. That sum was named by the gov.
ernmont engineers in a rough esti.
mate, sufficient TO cover the most out.
side contingencies. f. A. Seufert, OF
The Dalles, who owns most OF the land
through which the portage and the ca.
nal will be built, said that right of
way for tho waterway can be obtained
for $4,000 at most
The canal will not approach the o.
r. g. n. so closely as will the portage.
Damages TO the o. r. & N. from the
canal, Major Langhtt said, would not
be heavy. AZ some places the canal
will encroach upon the alleged right
OF way OF the railroad, but not injuri.
ously TO the latter
Mr. Seufert declared last night that
right OF way can pc readily secured
for both projects. He said that land
for the portage will cost little or
nothing, and for the canal not more
than $4,000 He urged prompt con.
struction OF the portage, and advised
a further appropriation by the Oregon
legislature for the canal right OF way.
"Ill bot" ne remarked that with
ing three years after the portage Is
finished the Northern Pacific will
have a line down the NORTH bank OF the
Columbia. The portage will put down
rates nearer the wator level and the
Northern Pacific. unable 10 haul
freight over high mountains 20 Pugei
Sound. IN competition with water lev.
81 rates, will have TO use the water
level route
THE Northern Pacific Is getting
ready 10 build down the north bank
already. II has an agent The Dalles
all the time who Is securing right Of
way Three months ago be bought a
nlne-mile stretch from Leon Curtis
for $4,000, just opposite The Dalles.
The Northern Pacific secured the Paul
MohE road some lmc ago
viii Permit State 10 Use Land.
The persons who own land that
will be trayersed by tho portage viii
permit the state 10 uss the land just
as long as the state needs Il. We
(meaning the soufeFt BrosJ own about
hvs miles Of the siz-miie stretch. and
we shall ask IN return from the state
only for certain trackage accommoda
tions. and for certain cheap improve
ments. which are necessary 20 protect
our business from interference by the
portage Chief Of thegs improvements
Is an elevated tramway which will
q