The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1905-07-20
PAY CASH FOR
RIGHTS OF WAY

BY Staff Correspondent.
White Salmon, Wash, July lS.-A.
X. Upright, right of way man for the
Columbia Railway and Navigation
company, has been here for the past
four days closing up ON the options
made since May |. When he com
menced making options ne informed
the land owners that six months time
was all needed, and be has made good
his word. The old survey of the Co
lumbia Valley railway has been fol
lowed and everything has been closed
out of Kennewick from Castle Rock to
Major creek this side of Lyle.
1t is along the Columbia valley
where the trouble is encountered.
Mrs. theodore Shepler, who has a
homestead at the point this side of
Major creek, made contract and her
father, I. Wyers, is ready to close.
He has lease on school land this
side. The fine holdings of Mrs. Warn
er, managed by her son, j. A. Hen
derson, is encountered next, and the
proposed right of way will use over
seven acres, say at $500 an acre would
mean heavy loss. Judge Byrkett is
in the same position, but will not be
injured as badly as Mr.. Warner. ID.
ID. Mcclure escapes with less damage
than the others.
j. P. Egan has so far been the only
holder who has made price. Mr..
Upright told me that Egau had con-
sented to close on basis of $500 per
acre. S. G. Ziegler, who will be the
heavy loser if the old survey is fol-
lowed, has asked 81, 500 @. d. Moore
has not given any definite answer,
but has expressed himself in favor of
the road. g. f. Adams demands
s., 200.
From the Adams ranch everything
has been closed to the White Salmon
river. Amos Underwood, who owns
the town site, is ready to close if he
is convinced that it is on the square,
and the project is going to be pushed
through. From Underwood it is
smooth sailing till the apple ranch of
Reed is encountered in Clark comfy.
Then it is all done to Vancouver.
Summing it all up, the right of way
is completed with the exception of the
bad spots in Klickitat and Clark
counties. The deeds have been sent
to French & Co. of The Dalles, and il
the abstract is fiawless, the money is
ready.
The duties Of a right of way man
must surely be strenuous. To me
MIR. Upright said 81 can't go ahead
and make settlements on basis that
land is worth -, 600 or even 81, 900 per
acre. The men in hose employ | am
are loath to believe that any such land
exists. Then on the other hand, there
are many who raise the minute there
is railroad talk. | am forced to leave
the situation as it is and wait until
the officials of the road make a care
full investigation fer themselves II
is up to the legal department. did
not make it as an offer, but asked
Mr.. Ziegler if he would consider
$1,000 per acre. Others beside me
will have to decide this question. "
Mr.. Upright and N. W. Bethel, the
chief engineer and general manager,
who has been in the section with his
corps looking the survey over and try
ing to find way around the land and
preparing an estimate of the cost pei
mile of construction, were noncom-
initial, but it is taken for granted
that in all cases where settlement can.
not be made after what the railroad
people believe to be fair and just, con
demnation proceedings will be inaug'
urated Immediately.
There are two sides to the question.
There are many of the ranchers who
are convinced that the Northern Pa
cific is back of the movement and
that the company means business, and
hail the coming of the road, and il
the land was situated in any Other
spot would not hold out for sucf
heavy damages, but on the other hand
would do like many of the others, and
give the right of-way for nomina
sum.
If condemnation proceedings would
allow them say $500 per acre it would
mean a loss of thou ands of dollars.
The land along the river in the valley
is netting many of the ranchers 20 pei
cent; in fact, many acres that will
necessarily be destroyed are worth as
an investment 5000. E. L. q.