The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-05-29

and the Regulator line Of steamers,
owned by the railroad company. makes
connections with the system at Lyle.
ne grain is coming into Portland
over the new route.
1t is logical to believe that the O. r.
4. \. would like to control the Klicki-
at valley line ald there is no reason
why Mr.. Croker should not represent
}. r. & y. interests in such a deal,
He is close enough to the officials OF
nat road to take up the negotiations
or them should he desire to do So.
There is a rumOr Of railroad build
| ing into Washington from the direc-
ton of Denver. Reports Of surveyors
and others having travprsed the
route from the Colorado metropolis
clear to the Sound country are preva-
lent. and there is good reason for be-
lieving that there is a likelihood of
something being done in that direc-
ton. None Of the local railroad men
or those in touch with the Columbia
River situation are assured of the
names Of the parties represented by
those who have been making an eX-
animation Of the Denver Puget Sound
line, and the entire matter is one of
uncertainty But an extension of the
Tacoma eastern through one Of the
mountain passes into the Yakima
valley has Deen discussed thoroughly
during recent months, and the pres
ence of other railroad men in the ter
ritOry has given rise to the statement
that developments mays be anticipat
ed within a comparatively short time.
This is another of the propositions
Mr.. Croker might have represented.
There is still open the possibility that
private capital, recognizing the Kick
itat valley road as good proposition,
desired TO control it.
But, no matter what Mr. CrOcker's
mission may have been, he refuses
to disclose it, and railroad men are
deeply interested in the next move,
for it is felt there is likely to be some
thing following these Overtures.
Chance of New HostiIities.
The Northern Pacific has persisted
in the theory that the O. r. & \. is
back of the Columbia River & North
ern, despite repeated assurances that
this is not the case. The Columbia
River & Northern is a business prOpo-
sition fathered by local capital. There
is no question but that President c..
s. Mellen. of the Northern Pacific
has received this information from
sources upon which he can rely. but
the Northern Pacifc's president re
fuses to be convinced.
In railroad circles it is believed the
theory Of O. r. & \. control is a com
Portable one for the Northern Pacific
to entertain. The northern line would
have no excuse for resenting the con
struction of the line by local capital
but should the O. r. & n. build such
a system. President Mellen and his
associates might take the reasonable
ground that il meant an invasion of
Northern Pacific territory by the Har
riman system. something that is for
hidden by the agreement that pro-
tects the territory Of the two lines.
If the North n Pacific is tempted
to reach out il direction that could
not be CONSIDERED if the agreement to
protect the rival territory is in eff
feet, the claim tina the O. R. & \. has
already broken the compact Will be
advanced. PrOclaiming that the Co
lumbia River & Northern was O. r.
& n. property. the Northern Pacific
would boldly strike out into O. R. &
n. territory, and by the same system
of bluff with which Mellen success
fully withstOOd Hartman in the Clear
water country the northern line
would win out.
1t is not believed in railroad cir
cles that there is any other reason for
Mellen's persistence in holding that
the O. r. & n. controls the Columbia
River & Northern save that he plans
to make this a basis for another rail-