The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-12-01
HUNTINGTON TO RIPARIA.
O. r. e. N. Will Build Long Expected
Railroad.

ORILAND, OTe., Dec. line III
corporation of the Oregon, Washington
& Idaho Railroad company at Lewis
toni Idaho, for the purpose of building
line between Lewiston and Riparia,
r. & N. to build line from Hunting
ton, Ore, down the Snake river to
Lewiston, and thence to Riparia, where
it will connect with the main line in
to Oregon and Portland. This new
line is to be the main freight line
from the southwest into Portland, the
route affording a water grade all the
way, thus making a material differ
ence in the cost Of operating the road.
While the route will be longer than
the present one, heavy loads can be
handled with much more ease, with
less expense and consequent reduction
in freight rates will be the result.
Besides this, we'll populated and
highly productive valley in Idaho,
that is now without railroad service,
most important pieces of proposed
railroad work that has been announc-
ed in some time and an official of the
O. r. & n. is authority for the state
ment that the road will surely be
built. The time Of commencement of
the work is indefinite as yet. Off
Gals declare that no decision had been
made relative to that point, but it is
asserted that in due time the line will
be constructed.
Northern Pacific May "cut Up.'
The scheme will probably mean the
renewal of the fight between the 0. r.
& n. and the Northern Pacific for
right of way between Lewiston and Ri
paria, but evidently the former COM
pany has reason to believe that such
OPPOSITION will amount to but little as
blocking the way of the cOnsumma-
ton of their scheme. The Oregon,
Washington & Idaho cOmpanys road
from Riparia to Lewiston will follow
the long contested route that the O.
r. & n. and Northern Pacific have
been fighting over for several years
past.
The company was incorporated
with President A. L. Mohler of the 0.
r. & N. as its president and w. H.
Kennedy, chief engineer of the same
road, as constructing engineer Of the
new line. This in itself is sufficient
proof that the proposed line is an 0.
r. & n. concern, but there is no deni-
al Of it by officials Of the Hartman
road. Both Mr.. Mohler and Mr.. Ken
nedy are out of the city, but it is learn
ed from an authoritative source that
the company means business and that
work on this section of the new line
will commence within the near future.
Is Not Bluff.
Il can not say when, but he road
will be built said an o. r. & n. Of
fetal. Not only this portion, but the
portion between Lewiston and Hunt
ington will be built. OF course the time
Of it's construction is an indefinite
matter as yet but it is coming, and
that is a certainty. Other promoters
who are talking about building roads
through this district will never build.
They are bluffing. This proposition is
not a bluff"
That a road would be constructed
between Lewiston and Riparia has
long been expected, but the other part
of the plan is a new one. There have
been hints that such project was on
foot and guesSes have been made as
to who was back of certain schemes
that have been foated in the east
lately. M. O. Reed, COlfax attorney,
announced in the east a short time ago
that he had about financed the road
from Huntington to Lewiston. 1t was
surmised then that Hartman was back
of the scheme. Later on it was re-
ported that Hartman and Hill were
jointly interested in the matter. Local
officials state that Reeds proposed
road has no connection whatever with
Harriman's plans.