The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-11-01
SPECIFICATIONS OF WORK WILL
BE READY FOR ACCEPTANCE
NOVEMBER TENTH.
Open River Association Now Consid.
ering Proposition of Putting
Boats on Upper Columbia.

With the satisfactory progress being
made on the portage road at Ceillo
which now insures its completion IN
time for next years harvest, the exc
cutive committee of the chamber OF
commerce has taken up the proposition
of securing boats for the upper river
After an inspection of the road Sun
day by Henry Hahn of the executive
committee of the Open River assocla-
ton, Attorney j. y. Teal of Portland,
and w. j. Mariner of Blalock of the
portage board it was found that def
mite information could be given pros
pective boat builders regarding the
future of the road, and the construc-
ton Of boats could be undertaken with
reasonable certainty,
Mr.. Hahn said on his return to
Portland that already the executive
committee had offers from two firms
who were willing to build boats for this
upper river run and they expected to
have a half dozen other firms inter-
ested before the contract for the con-
struction of the road was let.
The work of securing boats for this
upper run in time to handle the next
years harvest is next in importance
to the construction of the road, said
Mr.. Harm. To make the road the !
success that it should be there must |
be no lack of transportation facilities .
when the wheat crop is ready to be |
moved. There must be a sufficient .
number of boats, otherwise the trade !
will suffer for lack of transportation |
facilities on the upper river,
AS the possibilities of the trade Is :
to Il certain extent indefinite and un- I
certain bOatmen are not anxious to in /
vest their capital until the business be
comes assured and permanent. Then /
too. the boats Will have to be built at
some point on the river above Cello, /.
which means that ship yards will be
necessary. But we are certain of at
least two boats and are going to get /
more if possible
The men who visited the road sun
day found the engineers making rapid /
and satisfactory progress Regarding !
this work MI. Teal gave out the follow /
ing statement:
AVID hn All
very satisfactory. We spent most of
| The day. on the grounds going over |
the character of the terminal facilities
required at the big eddy. The physical |
situation lends itself very readily to |
tie economical and speedy handling of
| freight The government will probably
be asked for the use of a small tract |
of land for warehouse purposes at this |
point which will no doubt be allowed !
as the canal right of way here is very
wide and touches that of the Oregon |
Railroad & Navigation company.
The line of the portage railway has |
been run. the cross sectioning is nearly |
finished and the engineer promises |
completed plans by November 10. The
more the situation is studied the more |
certain it is that the portage railway |
will furnish a large measure of relief
and will do big business. The COM |
mittee finds the most active and sub /
stantial interest in the measure through |
eastern Oregon, Washington and Idaho /
| and along the Columbia river as far |
| down as Astoria.'
| AS to the raising of the extra $4,000 !
deemed necessary to construct the ROAD
| Mr. Harm of the executive committee
| SAYS the following upper river counties |
amount apportioned to them has been
or will be raised in good time: SpO
| kane $4,000: Lewiston. $4,000: Umatilla
/ $4,000; Walla Walla. $4,000. The other
! counties will contribute their appor-
tionment although no definite word has
been received from them.
! The committee expects as soon as
4 the engineer furnishes the plans and
estimates to advertise for bids for con-
struction at once in order that the ter
minals may be built during low water.
The remainder of the road can be con-
| structed at any time.