The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1907-02-20
.STRAHORN IN
A STATEMENT
DENIES STORY PERSONALLY
states North Coast Is Financed-Nu
Willingness to C0mprO.
mise Found.

President Robert e. Strahorn OF
| the North Coast railroad denounced
as pure fiction yesterday the charg-
es made in the kilograms from North
Yakima which appeared in Seattle
and Tacoma papers Sunday to the
effect that the North Coast is max
ing no effort to compromise its suits
against the Northern Pacific, which
involve the obtaining Of right-of-
way at several points where the line
conflicts with that Of the Northern
Pacific, and further, that the North
. Coast is counting litigation SO that
the construction work may be de-
iayed.
| The North Yakima telegram states
that Mr.. Strahorn had suddenly left
for New York to consult with the f.
nanciers backing the road, who had
become dissatisfied with the pro-
longed litigation. 1t goes on to say
that Mr.. Strahorn has shown no dis
position to compromise the troubles
with the Northern Pacific, and thar
II Is getting to be the conviction that
the North Coast has no financial
backing and that Mr.. Strahorn is
sparring for time by keeping matters
in litigation in order to secure more
time in which to finance construction
Ira P. Englehart, attorney Tor the
Northern Pacific, is quoted in con-
nection as stating that the Northern
Pacific will carry the case to the su.
preme court OF the United States il
ii gets adverse decisions in the love-
courts and that litigation between the
two roads will probably continue for
two or three years over the points
contested in the Yakima valley and
| until these points are settled the
North Coast will be prohibited from
proceeding. Mr.. Englehart states
that he is one of the believers in the
theory that Mr.. Strahorn is sparring
for time.
Mr.. Strahorn denied that he had
any intention of making the trip to
New York. When shown the pub
lished dispatches Mr.. Strahorn said:
"Those statements are the purest
fiction, except possibly the statement
of the Northern Pacific's attorney to
the effect that his company will en-
ceavor to prolong litigation by carry
ing it to the supreme court of the
United States.
"The North Coast is financed, =
said Mr.. Strahorn, "and has been for
long time. We are building every
foot Of the road in which we are not
interfered with by the Northern Pa
cific, wher we have settled right
of way. 1t took US about six months
to get any attention from the North
ern Pacific, even in the way of con-
ference. over the points which are
now in dispute in the courts and the
most severe criticism l have had at
the hands Of my friends is that /
bore with the situation peaceably as
long as / did.
mo Northern Pacific official has
ever exhibited any willingness to
compromise these cases on any basis
other than practically complete sur
render by the North Coast road. In
other words they are perfectly will
ling to compromise If We keep of the
earth. but this still remains a free
country and we propose to use
enough of it on which to build the
North Coast road If. as they say. it
must consume three or four years of
fighting through the courts.
I'm brief. the kilograms are pure
ly the invention Of Northern Pacific
attorneys to weaken our position in
the Yakima country and possibly in
| IhC CoSts WAbA TIC PAA tAS0AdA V4CW Al
mind that. for every shipping season
the North Coast can be kept out of
the Yakima valley the Northern Pa
cif1c can we'll afford to spend large
sums for litigation"
Continuing. Mr.. Strahorn said: 81
will sum the matter up by saying that
the Northern Pacific has made itself
SO unpopular in not furnishing ade-
quate railroad facilities in the Yaki-
ma country and also by what the
people believe to be q fight agains;
the North Coast that the attorneys
of that road are naturally hunting
around for some subterfuge and have
hit upon this one. but the charges
are absolutely false"
Return the Indemnity.
At the conclusion Of the Boxer re-