Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-04
CORTLAND AND SALT LAKE TO
BE CONNECTED
LOS ANGELES CAPITAL WILL
BACK PROJECT
E. p. Clark of the Los AngeIes-Paclflc
and Associates Plan Big Project.
Part of the Work
Done

and operated by electric power furnished
by the SHOWS of Mount Hood, is the start
ling information emanating from the OF
fee of Eli P. Clark, the millionaire Los
Angeles trolley president.
Mr.. Clark and his associates have con-
troll of the water power of Mount HOOD,
have an immense electric plant under
way and have about twenty-five miles OF
the new system graded.
The magnitude of the plans has until
now been a secret.
1t is said reliably that Senator w. A.
Clark has been interested in the DIE
project, which will be another INK IN
new transcontinental road, possibly the
Moffatt and Rock Island interests uniting
to carry the system east from Salt Lake
via Denver.
Not for Oregon Alone
President Clark, the presiding genius OF
the Mount Hood enterprise, has for
year made trips to Portland in connection
with the big development enterprise fed
by the SHOWS of the big monarch OF the
coast range, but until now it has not been
supposed that he was representing MS
distinguished namesake or that the scope
of the project was so daring and far
reaching.
The latent power of Mount Hood Will
eventually be to the Pacific northwest
what the power of Mount Whitney (frst
made feasible by John Hayes Hammond)
is to Central California and the San Joa-
quin valley, and what the Sierras will be
to the Los Angeles-Owens river aqueduct.
Only Wall street influences can now
check the vast project, for President
Clark admitted to The Herald yesterday
that with money as valuable as 1t is
now" the less said about new railroad
projects at present the better.
Gigantic Electric Line
Originally the Mount Hood enterprise
was stated to be merely plan for get
ting tourists to the peak--a sort OF Mount
Lowe inclined railway arrangement.
This has secretly developed into plan
by which central Oregon and later north
western Nevada and northern Utah Will
be put in close touch, and that by cleo
trically-operated trains, the biggest elec-
trio scheme in America today.
Railroad men in Los Angeles recall that
when first the Los Angeles, San Pedro q
Salt Lake system was broached 1t was
proposed to extend an arm of the line to
Portland s,-s
The strong grip of Edward H. Harri-
man then exerted itself and the Oregon
plans were vetoed.
Recent hearings in transportation con-
troversies Indicate that by means of
traffic agreements and manipulation Har-
riman's lieutenants were able to convert
the Salt Lake system practically into a
link of the Hartman transcontinental
chain.
Will Beat Hartman
Completion of the through line by the
shortest most practicable line is now the
main object of the locating engineers
who are secretly working for the Mount
Hood Railway & Power company.
With a stealth of movement seldom
surpassed by right-or-way men these
agents of Los Angeles have completed
their lines over the eastern slopes OF the
Cascades, thence southeasterly into Ne
yada as far south as Winnemucca, and
then almost due east to the metropolis
of Utah.
Because of the activity of Hartman
engineering parties in that country the
Clark men easily masked their purposes.
1T is stated that the heaviest work in
the ascent of Mount Hood will be done
this winter by the construction forces.
Was Harriman's Fault
Californians several years ago called
on Senator Clark to tell him of advan-
tages of coast tidewater points.
Mr.. Clark at that time informed this
delegation that it was the intention to
build north from Los Angeles as soon
as his end of the line was completed.
completed became public property through
the recent revelations in the Union Pa
cific hearing
That Mr.. Hartman made 1t impossible
to do so was the evidence then adduced
Much is expected in this connection
from the Denver, Northwestern & Pa
cific, generally referred to as the Moffatt
road. which is steadily advancing be.
tween Denver and Salt Lake City.
Denver to Portland
President David H. Moffatt ormeriy
executive head of the DenyEk & Rio
Grande system, announced several
months ago that his company would
build to Portland eventually.
Whether he had the Mount Hood enter
prise in mind is not known, but 1t is
evident that connections east would be
easily afforded by this means.
IF The Goulds are involved in the new
proiect. as has been hinted, the trackage
connection may be made in Nevada in
stead of at Salt Lake.
Three lines not controlled by the Union
Pacific-the Burlington, Rock Island and
Santa Fe-make connection for the east
at Denver.
The route as outlined will serve the
greater part of the vast territory east
of the Cascades now remote from trans
portation. -,
Development in that territory will Of
course rush work on the surveyed routes
of the Southern Pacific and Navigation
company extensions, but railroad men
saw there will be traffic enough for all,
and through the Intervention of the
Clarks the interior states, as well as
California, will secure the benefits of out
let's to tidewater and the trade with the
orient through the Pacific ports.
Clark Deprecates Publicity
President Clark was chagrined yester-
day that news of the plans had leaked
out.
"Premature publication of our plans in
connection with the Los Angeles subways
has practically killed our efforts to per-
feet our rights of way. We have not
secured single parcel of ground since
notifications began to reveal our plans.
1--WE are developing great water
mower and development work on and
around Mount Hood
..We have already staked out, surveyed,
graded and made ready for twenty-five
miles of trackage.
"That is only beginning, 1 admit,
but how extensive our plans are | am
not ready to discuss yet. 1t might be