Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-02-15
LOSES
EASTERN
y OREGON
POrtland'S Rip Van
Wrinkle Policies Fat
al to Oregon
Railroad Lines Will Connect
With San Francisco, Cut
ting Out GumShOe
vile

A link of steel from Baker City to
the Golden Gate.
That is the dream of roalroad build
ers in this part of the world.
Think for a moment what it will
mean.
1t will mean that the trade of an en-
pire will be brought to the doors of
the merchants Of the world
It will mean that all of Southeast
ern Oregon-thirty odd million Of rail
roadless acres-will be brought into
touch with civilization.
1t will mean that those thirty odd
million railroadless acres will leap for.
ward in development unprecedented
in the history of the whole West.
Let us see how much Of a dream
this steel link between the noun.
tains and the Golden Gate really is.
Arrangements are being made for
the construction of a 25-mile exten'
sion of the klamath Lake railroad
from its present terminus at Pokega.
ma to Keno, on the klamath river
When completed the extension will
bring passengers from San Francisco
into rail connection with klamath
Falls, the metropolis of South Central
Oregon. The point at which the Klam'
ath Lake road strikes the Pacifc's
main line is a small station named
Laird's about two miles north Of Ager,
California. The distance from Ager
to San Francisco is $3.50 miles. II is
about the same distance from Baker
City.
Prior to the construction of the
Klamath Lake railroad, there was
hope that the Columbia Southern
would extend from Shaniko TO Klam-
ath, and tap the rich, growing trade
of that region for the benefit of Port
land merchants. With its usual dilia.
toriness, the Hartman outfit, which
is back of the Columbia Southern
permitted the California people to
reach the goal first.
From authoritative sources the in
formation comes TO the Herald that
the bonds for the construction of the
Bonita railway from Baker City to
Prairie City have been fioated in New
! York, and that the actual construction
will commence as soon as the wealth
q er will permit. II Is further learned
that one OF the considerations OF the
4 floating Of the Bonita bonds, was that
the railway should not be simply a
. jerl-water line, 10 AFFORD an outlet for
Z the mines Of the Grant county region,
I but IL should be a part Of a system
OF great magnitude and assist in the
Industrial development Of a vast In
, land Empire in South Central and
! Southeastern Oregon.
The Herald is not at liberty TO d.
D yulge the source of this information,
p but II can assure the reading public
that Major Bonita has succeeded In
his efforts 10 float the bonds, and that
work on the railway will be com
q menced this spring
: Instead OF the road being a trolley
p line. operated by electricity, II Is
stated that steam will be the motive
power in order that the line may be
! come part OF a transcontinental sys'
TEN.
Major Bonita, protector Of the line
has been in New York for two months
perfecting the details of his fotation,
= He is expected TO arrive in Baker
City about the 18th OF March
I A Better Grade.
p. soards, Of China creek, was in
town today, and reports that force OF
Major Bontas engineers are now at
/ work in that vicinity, making surveys
for better grade along this water
course.
Major Bonita is now In the East,
and II is understood that the financing
Of the enterprise has been practically
completed, and that the object OF put
ting men 70 work in the snow, com.
pleting the survey, with a view OF
letting bids for the construction OF
the road at an early date The inten'
ton. as far as can be learned at this
time, is 10 have everything in readi'
ness for early spring work, that the
new road may be completed as rapid
ly as possible during the summer