The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-02-03
Probably Intends Line From Sea.
side on Coast 10 San
Francisco.
MEANS MUCH TO ASTORIA
Report Places Sale Price at Five Nil
lion Dollars--No Official Adviecs
Have Been Received In Oregon
Confirming Rumor.

PORTLAND. Feb. 2.~=ff James j
Iiill has purchased the Astoria g. Co
lumbin River Railroad M rumored~
and e. far ~ local officials OF the two
systems have learned the dynl has not
not been confirmed 1t means the con-
atruction of an nll-conat line In ore
gon. extending from Seaside 40 San
Francisco. the southern goal I'M II
said TO have aciectcd since he has
paved the way for AuccesRful invh'
sion Of the Hartman territory in ore
Ron
Every chief executive who has rep
resented the Hartman system IN the
Northwest since the Wizard OF Wall
Street took over the Southern Pacific
and Union Pacific properties under a
combined organization has recon-
mcnded purchase ~ the A. & G. No
later than August and September OF
last year an examination OF the Ham
mond line was made by Hartman men
and reported on To New York while
the last month OF the year liIll Of
ficial Investigated the road AN to sew
crnl particulars and he also sent II
statement to Eastern officials. The
road has been reported sold several
timca. and alternately to the Hin and
Hartman interests. but the latest IL
based on rumor printed In Boston
January 10. TO the effect that final pa
pcrs were understood to have passed
with having paid sl,700.O00 more for
the property than the figure at which
IL had been offered to him several
years ago, and that the purchase price
was 35OOO,OOO. ,
The Boston authority says Hill took
the property merely because Hartman
was n close bidder, but locally the dis
cuasion OF the situation, In the face OF
no confirmation. leads TO the nsaump-
ton that Mr.. I'm viii construct n
Coast line to the Bay city, not only
20 compete with the Southern Pacific
on passenger business, but to draw a
share OF the rich dairy traffic from
that territory and tap the immense
timber belts. The latter Is, a partc-
uar object IN view Of Mr., Hilrs oft
repeated statements regarding the
gains from handling that class Of
freight.
The acquisition Of the A. 81 C. would
serve n two-fold purpose. Besides CIV
ing access to the Coast, 1t would elm
mate the necessity of building along
the north bank OF the Columbia below
Carols point, where the Northern
Pacific heads almost due north to Ia
coma. What the Hill interests are
aiming at In addition to securing a.
line to tidewater on the Columbia, Is
n more advantageous route to the
Gray's Harbor country to haul timber.
The Columbia River route affords al
water grade, but the principal problem
confronting engineers Is the expensive
rock work. Construction features of
the north and south banks are entire-
ly different, the south bank offering
many places for extensive fills when
the A, & C. was built. Northern Pa
cilc officials pretend to know nothing
OF the real estate activity on the
north bank below CAROLS Point, and
as the Portland Il Seattle has not been
authorized to acquire right way
there, 1t would seem the stir was
caused solely by the Hartman move
ments In connection with the extern