Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-09-13
RAILROAD WAR
is PREDICTED
Late Plans Of 0. R. & N.
Disclose Many COmpli-
cations In Situation

The announcement of the organiza-
tion of the Bitter Root Railway COM
pany TO construct a line from Spald-
ing to Butte, Mont, is believed by local
railroad men to be the final act in the
railroad drama that has been enacted
behind closed doors during the past 10
months and which has involved .
break in the compact between the o. r.
& N company and the Northern Pa
cific in the joint plans to construct
and operate the Oregon, Washington a.
Idaho road from Riparia to Grange
vile.
1t has been definitely learned today
that the plans of the o. r. & N. COM
pany provide for early construction
work in the Clearwater country and 1t
is believed quite possible for extern
sive construction operations to be COM
menoed along the river before the close
of this year.
The move is generally regarded as
the elimination in the Hartman plans
to wrest the Clearwater territory from
the Hill system and, to hold the van
tage now secured. active construction
must be commenced on all features OF
the work that enter into this system
The friendly relations between the
Milwaukee and Hartman lines has
been well defined and the project road
into western Montana will form con-
nection with the Milwaukee transcon-
tinental road and will give the Harri-
man lines direct coast outlet for the
large business secured in northern
Montana.
1t was stated some time ago that the
Milwaukee company was now survey
ing in the Collins section for branch
line into the North Fork of the Clear
water river and that this road would
effect connection with the o. r. &
N. Clearwater line at point near
, Ahsahka 1t has also been reported
! that the Milwaukee company has ac-
quired the weyerhaeuser road from
Palouse to Boville from which term-
mus a connection IS now being con-
, structed to Collins. The completion or
, this system with the Bitter Root road
into Montana. The Huntington line to
Lewiston and the Riparia road viii af-
ford direct outlet for the timber tons
!, mage of the Clearwater country into ali
of the markets of the United States
The rush work on the Lewiston-
! Huntington line was announced several
p weeks ago when uae of the men sent
= to the larger cities of the northwest to
il secure laborers, reached Spokane and
n told the newspapers of the hundreds Of
i men that are being rushed into Hunt
ington and the orders received by the
+ contractors to hasten all features Of
/ the construction work as much as pos
: sible.
g Until recently the work on the Lew
iston-Riparia road has Jagged. 1t was
y generally known that the scarcity Of
. labor was not responsible for the de-
q lay in completing the link that the O
( r.. & N. officials formerly boasted could
: be constructed in four months If occa-
f sion demand. Recently the work has
: been taken up with an energy hereto
r fore unknown to the o. r. & N. and
/. the construction Of the bridge here has
g been placed under the supervision oi
: one of the best builders employed b
a the Southern Pacific.
: In the meantime the Northern Pa
cific has not been idle and survey
v for a line down the south bank of the
t Continued on page Eight
=