The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1905-03-24
MlSSoulA TO
LEWISTON
Plans OF the Northern Pacific
Believed to be Made Aleag
These Lines.

~on;an saws: viii the Northern "a
eiec stra,ghten out its line between
port,and and Missoula, Mont, estab-
10, an easy grade and cut off hum
areds of miles from the present lime
This is the question that is being
osked by the railroad men in view OF
+be recent railroad Developments in the
,orthwest and the majority of those
who ask the question expect an affirm
ative answer.
short time ago the Columbia River
T. Northern railway, running from
1r1e to Goldendale. was bought by
Henry p. Scott and the assumption is
that Northern Pacific money was be-
mind the deal. The Northern Pacific
,eople say they know nothing Of the
rurchase. but so do those who repre-
sent the Great Northern, the other al
legged purchaser and for that reason
the matter is in doubt. But on top OF
the purchase by Mr. Scott, President
Elliott. Of the Northern Pacific, made
a snecial visit to the northwest, stop
ming at Tacoma. Seattle and Spokane,
and travelling over the branch lines
farther to the east. On the heels of
Mr.. E,lliotts visit surveying party,
under Engineer Pollard. of the North
ern Pacific. is sent to Culdesac and out
over the territory between that place
and Missoula, where it still is. All
these things have made people ask for
the reason Of the concurrent visits and
sales and for the general activity. In
explanation they hold that it is un-
doubtedly the intention of the manag-
ers to build shorter road at an early
date.
Wants Line on North Bank
The dream of the Northern Pacific
for route down the north bank of the
Columbia is not thing of the past and
is not dead. The men at the head of
the company yet look to the day when
there will be a bridge across the CO.
lumbia either at Vancouver or Kalama.
or perhaps farther up the stream. Tina t
such would he the case ultimately has
been admitted time and time again by
officials high in the councils Of the
road, though it rested I'm the future in
definitely
Only Few days ago a party of en-
gneers left ST Johns after having
spent days In sounding the river above
and below that place. presumably for
bridge foundations and piers. The men
were -committal but they We're in
the employ Of the Northern Pacific
and made extensive examinations of
the bottom of the Willamette.
1t has been stated in Portland during
the past three weeks by man promi-
nent in financial and business life that
the Northern Pacific intended TO COM
mence the construction of it's north
bank line inside Of Is months from this
date. This man is connected closely
with the plans of that company and
mas foundation for what he says.
Road May be Constructed
All these circumstances lead to but
one conclusion. and that is to the con.
struction of the long promised road
along the Washington side of the river
mas in the past few years secured pos
session of the short line from Vancou
Yer to kalama: it has purchased the
oid Portage road right Of way opposite
Inc DalleS; it has had men at worl
quietly buying up rights along th'
river until it now controls, either b,
purchase or promise, practically th'
entire bank between Vancouver am
Lyle and now it is rumored and no
eohtradicted. that it has bought tn
uoidendale line reaching out towar,
me main line at Prosser through tn
Yakima valley.
Surveyors Invade Country
ihese things are significant and so
uie present invasion of the Lewiston
country by the Northern Pacific sur
Neyors, under Mr.. Pollard. The North
eih fac1he officials explain this visi
" the story that the right of wa
"iroHgh that country has now lapset
VI is about to do so. and il is necessar
W resnrVey the line in order to hal
franchise which il * not desired :
SUES 1t is undoubtedly true that II
e'npany does not wish TO lose the rigl
way and it may be true that if it
u ne Kept t Is to he used.
therefore. all Indications point
instruction in short time It is sal
ne the intention of the company
Du''u from Vancouver to Lyle frol
""h place the tracks of the Columbi
thern will be used TO the tel1nini
"oidendale. Then il is to be expecr
'ntt the line will he built throue
=, To the northeast, and c
oush the Yakima valley along
grade to junction with the ma
dt Prosser or near that place.
New Tracks Win be Built
-. Dayton again, or at Pleasant Vie
terminals to branch lines in cas-