East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-09-26

The Lewiston Tribune contributes
the following entertaining chapter
to the volume of railroad building
romance of the northwest.
Attorney j. B. West of this city,
is in receipt of reliable information
from New York to the effect that
bonds are now being sold there for
the construction of a new line of
railroad from Spalding, Idaho, to
Butte, Mont, by Union Pacific inter
ests, says the Tribune. This con-
firms the story sent out from here a
few days ago, following the incor-
poration, at Salem, Ore, of the Bit
ter Root railroad, that this road
The organization of this company
has attracted much comment in the
press, the general view expressed be-
ing that the Hill and Hartman inter-
ests are likely to resume the old time
war In this field. Inquiry seems to
disclose. however, that there is no
foundation for such a view, but rath-
er that the companies are still
working in harmony in carrying out
the joint construction of the Lewis
ton-Riparia and the Culdesac-
-Grangeville lines.
The deal is entirely Independent of
any transcontinental features, and
either the Northern Pacific or the
Union Pacific could build to Mon
tana connection without violating
the agreement.
Under the plan agreed upon. the
joint lines are to be acquired by
holding company, and each road can
handle as much traffic over them as
it desires, since the roads will pay
rental according to the amount of
service.
In addition to the control of the
joint lines now being built, the hold
ing company will also acquire that
section of the Northern Pacific from
Lewiston to Moscow in order to al
low the o. r. &, N. to make connec-
ton there. The companies are also
planning for the holding company to
acquire the right of way OF the o. r.
& N. from Lewiston along the north
bank of the Clearwater to Spalding.
If this plan is carried out, the pres
ent wooden bridge at Spalding will
be replaced by a steel structure.
Right of Way Now Owned.
Several years ago, when the two
roads were engaged in Independent
construction, the o. r. & N. took the
north bank of the Clearwater, fol-
lowing it as far south as spalding,
where a crossing was made and the
survey continued up the south bank
as far as Peck. Right of way fol-
lowing this survey was bought at
this time.
The continued activity of survey
ing parties in the Clearwater country
beyond Peck during the past two
seasons, has given rise to many diff
ferent rumors as to the ultimate
route the cutoff would follow. the
concensus of opinion being that the
line would connect with the Mil
waukee at a point near Missouri, but
1t now appears that the road will
cross the divide some hundred miles
south of Lolo pass, and tie up to the
Milwaukee at Butte instead of Mis-
soula. This would provide the short
est possible route from Portland to
the east.
Capital Stock Increased.
The Tribune says of the later de-
velopments in the Spalding- Butte
line:
Tuesday the articles. of incorpora.
ton Of the Bitter Root Valley Hail-
road company were filed at the Of
flee of the county auditor. This is
the company recently organized in
Portland for the purpose of con-
structing a line from Lewiston to
Butte, Mont, on which line surveyors
are now working in the district east
of Lewiston.
The articles filed show the COM
pany was organized on September
with capital OF s250,000. Septem-
Der IL a meeting of the directors was
held and the capital increased to
S276,Oo0. Still later, on September
20. another meeting was held when
the capital was increased to s4OO.-
900. The articles also show that the
company is authorized to purchase
property of all classes along the line
or the road. install power plants. etc
the distance Of the line is stated to
be 2bO miles