Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1906-07-27
ILROAD BUILDING
ERA IN OREGON
Many Surveys BeinS Made for .
Network OF Lines Over State
Soon to Be Built.

ever kuOWu III tue history VI tue stdte
is proven by the large amount of con-
struction work now carried on in
various parts of the state and by the
much greater amount OF railroad
building that is being definitely
planned to be done next year. In
Eastern Oregon Hood River is having
a railroad built through that valley
from the o. r. & N. to the big tim.
ber belt at the base of Mt. Hood.
The road will also bring out fruit for
shipment from the orchards in the
upper sections of the valley. The
Dalles is having a line built south to
bring trade to that enterprising little
city. A survey is being made for
railroad up the Deschutes river. A
half dozen other lines are being pro-
jected in that part of the state, which
is sure to be covered with network
of railroads within five years
In Western Oregon great activity
in railroad building is going on. 1t
is expected to have II miles completed
by Fall of the line from Hillsboro to
Tillamook. Construction is under
way on the electric road from Port
land to Salem which is to be extended
on to Eugene and eventually to be a
part Of system Of electric roads that
is to connect all the towns OF the
Willamette Valley. An electric line
Is to be built from Oregon City to
Molalla and on to Wilhoit Springs,
a distance of 30 miles. The railroad
project for a road from Medford up
Rogue river has taken new life, Mich
igan capitalists having bought the IA
miles of completed road from Med
ford to Eagle Point and will begin
shortly to extend tbe railroad to the
big timber DISTRICT on the upper
Rogue river.
The Southern Pacific has over 100
men in various engineer parties max
ing resurveys and setting grade stakes
on its line from Drain to Eureka and
from there to San Francisco. The
depot grounds at Drain are piled full
of heavy steel rials and construction
work is to be begun probably in Sep.
tember. Last Spring the Southern
Pacific sent reconnaissance party OF
surveyors to examine the county from
Natron on up to head of the Will
annette river aud thence on across the
Cascade mountains into Eastern Ore
gon. That the Southern Pacific has
determined to build this line is indi-
Gated by the following from the Port
land Journal of Tuesday:
"An army of surveyors is being
rushed into the field on the proposed
Hartman line from Natron through
Central Oregon. 1t is said Mr.. Harri-
man has determined to forestall plans
of rival companies in this region at
all costs, and that the road from
Natron over the Cascades will be the
first construction work to be done this
Fall by the Southern Pacific company
in Oregon. It is believed Hartman
has learned the plans of two or three
other syDdicates having intentions on
this route, and he has given orders to
push the Central Oregon line ahead of
all other work.
More than go Southern Pacific sur
veyors are now making headquarters
at the Herbert ranch, on the upper
Willamette river, 60 miles east of
Eugene. A party of eight more en-
gineers who arrived at Eugene yester-
day from San Francisco departed at
once to join the camp. They are but
a small portion of the total force of
engineers who are now trying out
every route and Pass and following
up the preliminary work with the
setting of permanent grade STAKES,
"The road will follow the Will.
annette river and cross the Cascades at
or near Crescent Jake, where two
routes have beeh surveyed over the
summit. Reaching the east slopes of
the range a branch of the road will
go to klamath Falls while the maif,
line will proceed eastward to meet
the Oregon Short Lines projected ex-
tension from the Snake river.
ut is believed that the contracts will
be let for this road ahead of contracts
for the Drsin-Coos bay line. despite
the fact that rails have been delivered
and rigbt-of-way is being cleared for
the latter road. The announcement
that bids are wanted on the Oregon
Central is expected any day."
Fine commercial printing at the