East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-03-16

The following synopsis of the status
of the portage road is made by the
Salem Statesman, from information
and opinions cleaned by it from the
members of the canal commission.
who have just returned to Salem
from an inspection of the work:
Good progress is being made, and |
present appearances indicate, if moth
ing happens to interrupt that the |
portage railway will be completed, |
equipped and ready for operation !
within the specified time fixed by the
contract, May 10. 1t is also quite
probable that an agreement between
the state board of canal commission
ers and l. II. Taffe, of The Dalles,
whereby the contest for right-of-
way over the latter property for the
proposed government Dalles-Celilo
canal will be brought to an end and
al am.catle agreement reached.
"These are the conclusions that
have been reached as a result of the
trip to Eastern oregon made by the
portage road and canal commission
ers on Friday, at which time the
board viewed the progress being
made upon the portage road and also
visited the site of the canal where
it crosses Colonel Taffe's property
the suit for the right-of-way over
which is still pending appeal to the
supreme court from the decision rem
dered by the trial court i'm favor of
the state.
"The board paid particular atten-
ton to the work accomplished upon
the portage road, and the members
are we'll pleased with the good show
ing made. All of the bridges have
been built said Mr.. Moores, and like
wise the trestle work, and the work
upon the grade is getting along we'll
toward completion. He thinks they
: will soon be ready for track-laying.
Some of the rails have already ar
/ rived, and the balance are on the
! road. There is a force of about 100
/ men at work, the weather conditions
t have been exceptionally favorable,
, and the contractors have taken ev-
, cry advantage of their opportunities.
"Mr. Moores stated that it would
have been the next thing to an i'm
possibility for the extension to have
been built from Big Eddy to The
D Dalles, to connect with the Columbia
Southern and o. r. & N, as proposed
by the bill which was before the leg.
islature at the last session, which
, carried an appropriation of $4,000
d for that purpose. In order to do thi!
y, the q. f. G. n. road would have t.
be crossed twice and the upper cross
ing would have to be an elevated
u road. necessitating great expense ant
X greatly lesscning the pulling capacit,
lie of the locomotive on the portage rail
lie way. Tnis engine will be capable o
N pulling twenty loads over the road a
e it is Low being constructed. whereas
+ IL the crossing was to be made owe
the .. Il. & n. the grade woulG -
dudce the drawing capacity of tn
engine to at least five loads.
an regard to the differences ex
I'd isting between the board and Colone
L. Taffe in the right-of-way dispute. Nj
Of Moores says that he feels certain tina
some compromise will be reached be
b, tween the board and Colonel Taffee i
ar the near future, whereby the latte
V. will be paid an additional sum t
in that awarded by the court, $50
by reason of having taken more {
his land than was embraced in tn
ts condemnation suit and that Colon'
- Taffe will withdraw his threatened az
PEAL to the supreme court. Colon'
. Taffe demands 100000 for a settle
ment and the board has offered hil
IN s17,5OO, thus leaving but S2,500 di
nj ference between them"