The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1905-11-01
suG1Ys!uE AND OUTLOOK
STRONG FOR NORTH COAST
q. A. Fechter and John Rudkin Ad
dress Big Railroad Gathering
in the Lower Country.

The North Coast Railway promot-
ers evidently mean business. At
least they are arousing enthusiasm
among the people of the valley by
promising to build railroad, and II
they don't do so, the probabilities
are that some very influential men in
the city of North Yakima WIFI here
after be looked upon with disregard.
Prominent among the promoters of
the North Coast Railway company,
which rumor says will be the trans
continental line, the Chicago, Mil
waukee & st. Paul, are Mayor o. A.
Fechter and Attorney John J. Rud-
kin. They were visitors to the lower
part Of the county last week, and
were certainly very cordially re-
ceived. according to the following,
from the Sunnyside Sun:
Probably the largest and most en-
thusiastic meeting of citizens of the
valley ever held in Sunnyside met in
Odd Fellows hall Tuesday evening
to discuss the coming of the North
Coast Railroad. Only few hours
time was given to advertise the meet
ing. but Notwithstanding this, every
seat in the hall was occupied and
standing room was at premium.
The outlook country was we'll rep
resented, showing that the people up
there are fully alive to their inter-
ests. o. A. Fechter and John J. Rud-
kin of North Yakima, officials of the
company, and o. A. Weile of Spo-
kane, consulting engineer, were pres
ent.
r. G. Page, president of the Com
mercial club, called the meeting to
order and stated it's objects, and then
introduced Mr.. Fechter, who said in
part:
1--WE are not here to tell you what
the North Coast road is going to do,
so much as to learn what the people
of Outlook and Sunnyside propose do
ing. I have heard it said that the
Northern Pacific owns this territory,
and in the past this has been largely
true. The new company proposes to
divide this territory, and l can give
you the absolute assurance that the
road will be built. In a few months
there will be large number of miles
in active operation. There is no ques-
ton but what the road will go east,
but there is a question as to route
There are three routes east from
North Yakima under consideration,
and the consulting engineer, Mr..
Weile. is here to pass on them. The
matter of route is of great import
ance. The company wants right of
way and station grounds, and If these
can be secured. it is pretty certain
that Sunnyside will get the road"
w. Fl. Norman of Outlook was
called on. He said the people of that
section were enthusiastic for the new
road. and he believed they were will
ing to donate right of way.
Lee A. Johnson said: "This as
sembly speaks for itself. That we
want the road is the opinion of every
man in the valley, so far as I can
learn. 1t is the golden opportunity
for Sunnyside. We have what the
company wants-grade and tonnage
and we can give them both. This
road will do great things for us. In
the matter of competition alone we
have everything to gain. 1t is i'm
possible to get cars to ship out our
grain and produce, and the situation
is growing worse. If we had Compel
ing lines. we would have plenty of
cars. The building of this road
means the success of our city and the
prosperity of our farmers" In speak
ing of the government reclamation
Mr.. Johnson said that he recently
asked well informed citizen of
North Yakima what government rec
gentleman replied that 1--WE can't
Il h,t x,,s1J = lit
valley" at will build" said Mr.
Johnson, "a high line ditch, and that
means an immense amount of ton
mage for any road. We should not
allow this opportunity to pass. The
thing to do is for the people of Sun
nyside to get in and procure right
of-way. If we take hold to win, the
railroad is ours
The next speaker was Mr.. Rudkin,
who said that he did not know that
he could add anything to what Mr.
Fechter had said regarding the in
tentions of the North Coast Railway.
"The company is spending large sums
of money" he declared. "There are
three corps of surveyors in the field,
maintained at cost of $4,000 per
month. The company Is running
against opposition, especially in the
Natchez valley, where surveyors for
another road are endeavoring to get
them tangled up. No doubt the same
thing will be attempted here. If this
road goes south of Snipes mountain,
outlook and Sunnyside would be no
better off than if there were no such
road in the valley. The farmers of
these sections would be compelled to
haul their produce to competing
points, or take cars when they can
get them. To illustrates: At Kenne-
wick, where there is competition. the
shippers have no trouble in securing