The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-04-20
MAY DROP PROJECT.
MILWAUKEE DIRECTORS REPORT.
Ed TO Be DISSATISFIED.
Possibility that Coast Line May
Not Be Completed---Leading
Members of Board Opposed to
Further Outlay Unless Legis-
latures Will Be Good.

New YorF, April 13.-Directors Of
the Chicago, Milwaukee & st. Paul
road said yesterday that while the
company had not decided to discon-
tinue work on the Pacific coast extern
sion, as reported the previous day in
dispatches from Chicago, the matter
was under serious consideration. It
would undoubtedly come before the
board, it was said, in the near future
and there was a chance that discon-
tinuance of the work might be ap-
proved.
The company has no intention of
turning the part of the extension al
ready built and the rights of way of
the remainder over to any other rail
road system, nor, as is we'll known,
is it concerned about money, the
recent 500, 900, 600 stock issue having
provided ample funds. The sole rea-
son for considering the proposition,
directors said, was the restrictive
legislation proposed in several states.
Fought by Its Beneficiaries
"Other companies which have built
transcontinental lines" said one of
the most prominent directors, "have
been aided by federal and state gov
ernments. We are encountering hos
tile measures, even from the states
which the construction of the road
would most benefit. We believe
that the construction of the road
would greatly help the people along
its route, but, of course, we cannot
look upon it altogether as one-sided
undertaking. We must see some pro-
fit for our stockholders, and if we are
to be deprived of the chance to profit,
we cannot in justice to our stockhold-
ers go ahead with the expenditure of
their money!
The route of the Pacific extension
is from Glenham, 8. D., to Seattle.
Work was begun about a year and q
half ago and several millions have been
spent on construction. Last year the
company bought the Montana railroad,
with the idea of using half this line
for the extension. The western ter-
minus of this road is close to the foot
hills of the Rocky mountains. The
director above quoted was asked if he
thought it good business to have the
western terminus of the road in the
foothills of the Rocky mountains or
to have an occasional disconnected
branch running from nowhere to no.
where.
"We will stop construction at the
foothills of the Rockies" he replied,
or at any unheard of spot on the
prairies before we will spend more
money in an enterprise practically
prescribed by abe state governments.
We see no business in throwing good
money after bad"
we'll Miller; J. Ogden Armour, John
A Stewart, Frank S. Bond, Herman
s. Leroy, Albert J. Earling, Peter
Geddes, Charles w. Hardness, Fred
erick Layton. Joseph Millbank, Will
liam Rockefeller and Henry Fl. Rog-
ers The most influential are believed
to hold the opinion above quoted.
In railroad circles apart from the
Milwaukee, however, it was believed
that several of the directors would
object to the change of program.
Many millions have already been put
into the extension, which has long
been a cherished dream of the mana
gers of the road, and it was thought
that several of the directors would
advocate the continuation of the work
as more profitable under any oircum-
stances than the loss of the money
placed in it.