Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-09-06
SOME
HOT-AIR
ROADS
A Portland daily says:

II
About 900 miles of electric rail
road is under construction or pro
jected in the Pacific northwest, will
good prospects of being completed
Electric power and railway PROPOSE
tions in the states Of Oregon, Wash
ington and Idaho are just now re.
garded as among the most attractive
Investment, based on strong belief
on the part of capitalists that these
states have under way development
that is genuine and will continue in
definitely.
Some 81 miles of these lines f.
now actually under construction.
The Oregon Electric Railway COM
pany, formerly known as the Will
lomette Traction company, has COM
pleted five miles of its line between
Portland and Salem and begun con
struction of a steel bridge to bring
the road across the Willamette river
near Wilsonville. Construction has
been commenced on the lines of the
United Railways company which,
when plans are consumated, will
have covered more than 100 miles
of road in and outside the city of
Portland.
The Northern Pacific Railway
company has announced that it will
build and electrlfy a railroad over
the old Union Pacific grade between
Portland and Tacoma. This line
would, IT is believed, be the mos.
profitable electric railway venture in
the Pacific northwest. The distance
would be 145 miles.
Other Roads Building.
The Willamette Valley company |
has begun construction of a line
about 25 miles long between Salem
and ehama. Preparations are nearly
for construction of an
electric road over the old survey OF
the Portland Southern. from Cane
nah to Salem. The o. w. p. COM
pany VIII. 1t is said, soon extend its
line surveyed from Lents to Trout
iale, and establish ferry over the !
Columbia river there to bring the {
lorth bank trade into Portland.
The Lewiston & Southeastern has
inder construction 115 miles of cleo d
ric road TO connect Lewiston. n
Nez Perce and smaller y
owns In central Idaho. The Pence =
company has under construction five =
'r ten miles of electric road from
North Portland to Linnton. Mr. !
Pence said In explanation OF his n
,roject.
This road has no significance in n
with steam railway ter n
ninals In North Portland, and Is DOS y
lively not connected with any pro-
ect OF the Northern Pacific or O. r..
n. lines. We are simply prepar- h
ng for an inevitable necessity that &c
viii arise with the Industrial de- o.
elopments we. are planning at the n
ia exposition grounds. This will be n,
he Industrial and factory district OF Ila
'ortland' The workers will have 10 |
ave homes, Where can they get
hem? Not In the present residence
ection OF West Portland. where the
riees OF lots are four times the
mount Il factory hand could pay.-
hey cannot go away over 10 East
ortland to live. for the distance %
ON the fair grounds Is too great.
he region toward Linnton is the y
Ast place, ami there they will be 20
'le 10 tind cheap lots and pleasant !"
lme sites"
In Washington there Is extensive
'velopment under way by electric it'
ilroad builders, The Spokane 4 In
Hand Electric Railway company. po
hieh few months announced con- ms
ruotion OF a system Of about l0c tn,
Hes, connecting Spokane, Waverly. APP
'saiia' Thornton, Colfax and Pa ito
use City. is well along toward do
mpietion, and the equipment is tn,
Ing delivered, The Trolley line Is no
the Westinghouse centenary we
'ndard. Equipment OF both pas Gle
nger and express cars is identical,
d consists of four lOO-horsepower Go,
ernating-eurrent railroad motors
car The locomotives diner In To,
pearahee from the Portland motor
by hiving biz kite-shape frame
rk instead OF a trolley pole con. pre-
ting the top OF the ear with tho