Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1906-02-13
WHY IS II NOT COMPLETED9

HHl ID Ii NOb VIVA 1S AN'
In recent issue we present.
ed an address that dealt with the
problem of the river; and while
considering in a general way
the matter of an open river
and as strictly in the line of de-
velopment we are to remember
that about 1888 it was proposed
to complete the West Side rail-
road from Portland to junction
City, thus paralleling the East
Side road for the distance OF one
hundred and thirty miles through
Washington, Yamhill, Polk and
Benton counties, until it reached
junction City, in Lane county
By and on account of financial
embarrassment or unknown
causes on the part of the COM
pany this work stopped short at
Corvallis.
The line of road was surveyed
and the right-of-way secured
from Corvallis to Junction City,
? distance of twenty-five miles.
Much of the necessary work IN
bridging Marys River was act
uaiiy accomplished and Some
grading done on the line OF the
road south of that river when
the work ceased. It has been
dormant ever since.
I. is admitted by all that this
stretch of twenty-five miles re-
naming uncompleted Is the
garden spot of the valley. The
Long Tom country is there in all
its glory waiting for the early
completion and connection with
the main through line of this
stretch of road. It is destitute
of railroad connection with the
balance of the state.
Why is this twenty-five miles
not closed and the railroad line
completed to it's fixed terminus,
junction City? Is the railroad
company acting in good faith
with the farmers who decided to
the company the right-of-wav
over their lands in almost every
instance without consideration?
Is sthis financial stagnation to de-
ter forever the railroad from
finishing it's line over twenty
five miles of the least expensive
of any like number of miles OF
road within the State? 1t rail-
road development is to be the
order of the day in the valley,
here lies work for the early har-
vest, that will not cost the COM
pany as much for the whole
twenty-five miles as the steel
bridge at Harrisburg; besides
opening two lines of travel to
the city of Portland from the
center of the valley.
The early completion of this
line deeply concerns the whole
of the West Side of Western
Oregon. Is the time not oppor-
tune for that much needed work?
Is the farming community to be
compelled for all time to cart
their produce to Corvallis, Har-
isburg and junction City?
When we come to consider that
the through line of travel and
freight from California to Port
land is wholly dependent on the
one read from Junction City with
the chances at all times for a
wash-out or other like interfer-
ence at any point north Of june
tion City. the Importance of
closing up this twenty-five mile
gap is manifest.
A twenty-three years wait for
a railroad to construct this small
stretch is sufficient to chill the
patience of Job, independent of
it being an outrage on the whole
Of the West Side, as well as a |
breach of faith toward the farm
ers who gave the right-of-way to
emphasize the spirit of develop |
ment. Why not a through line
from Portland by the West Side !
to California if this is the day of |