The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-02
Unusual Activity in COnstruc'
tiOn In Washington.
Northwestern Lines Are Push
ing Work in That State.
SEATTLE THE CENTER
Magnates Are in Keen Rivalry
in This Section.
other Items Of Interest in Rail-
way Circles.

More miles of railway are now out
lined or under construction in Wash
ington than in any other state in the
Union. The total exceeds $500 miles
for the one state alone. Oregon, Idaho,
Montana and all the far western COM
monwealths are boasting of their gains
in trackage, while 1000 miles of steel
are to be laid in western Canada. Be
cause of this activity the Northwest
to a lesser degree than any other part
of the country has fell the effect of
disturbances in money centers. Most of
the big undertakings were financed
early in 1907 so the work was well
under way when last winters panic
came.
Seattle is the objective point whittier
most Of the rail lines are fastening
From Chamberlain, S. D., the Chicago,
Milwaukee & st. Paul is hurrying
across Montana. Idaho and Washing
ton. more than 1000 miles, to reach
Puget Sound. and likewise the Harrri-
man lines are building north from
Portland to terminals in Seattle. the
acquisition of which cost $15.000,000.
In retaliation for the Great North
ern's invasion of Canadian soil, the
Canadian Pacific is preparing to build
q line across Washington from Spo-
kane to Puget Sound, thence northward
The North Coast railway. the enigma
of the western railroad situation, is
another line. with branches and trunk
amounting to GA miles. building from
Spokane to Seattle. So secretive have
been the construction officials of the
north coast that the public does not
know whether this is the Canadian
Pacific in disguise or the Chicago &
Northwestern which already extends
far toward the Northwest, and which
for the last two or three years has
shown signs of following the Milwau-
KEGS lead.
Other new lines of lesser prominence
are projected or under way, notably
the North Yakima and Valley, partly
built from North Yakima in the central
part of the state, to Tacoma. This is
another unknown quantity. But the
Northern Pacific and Great Northern
have not been passive. Together they
are building the Spokane, Portland &
Seattle, both the larger lines being I'M
der the direction of Mr.. Hill This
Jointly owned line. more than half com
pleted down the north bank OF the Col, COL
umbia river, provides a water level
outlet from the great inland empire.
Grain for tidewater Will be brought
down this new artery. and eventually
much traffic Of the two main lines Will
be routed that way. The timber. of
southwestern Washington will be haul
ed southwark by easy grades. The con-
struction of this line requires some, of
the most remarka BILE feats of modern
railway engineering, and in parts is
the most expensive on the American
continent, so engineers affirm. The to-
tai length is 377 miles.
In what is known as the boundary
district, on each side of the interna-
tional boundary line. Mr.. Hill has been
busy. Eventually he will have still
another line across the Rockies, from
Winnipeg westward. and with extern
sive terminals in Vancouver, B. G. This
district had for years been looked upon
by the Canadian Pacific as its own
particular territory, and the action of
the Great Northern magnate in delb-
erately invading 1t aroused the Cana
dian powers so that they Immediately
began the financing of American ex-
tensions thai mean the expenditure of
many millions.
For years Mr.. Hill with two big lines
has been the dominating figure in
transportation in all the states that
border western Canada. He has had
mastery supreme. and while his rule
was sometimes harsh, the name of
great Industrial builder as well as that
of a transportation king will be his for
all time. He developed the country as
ne built, for he knew his railway could
not be supported without traffic for
every mile. Dozens of branch feeder
lines to the railway that bears his per
sonal stamp, the Great Northern, at !
tests this fact.
er to be the sole property of James J. |
Hill, for the Milwaukee, Hartman the |
Canadian and other interests are fight |
ing for share and share.
Washington. as the most rapidly de-
veloping of the northwest states. now |
has 1,125,000 people. Her wheat yield is |
worth S40.00000O year and her timber /
$S5, 100000. Her fish mean $4,000, 900 an
nually, her coal $1,000, 900, and her |
Alaska commerce $21, 100000 Seattle,
with 275,0O0 people. has a port COM
merce of 100000.
Puget Sound. nearer the far Orien.
by several hundred miles than the
California ports, boasts a larger for
eign trade than the Golden Gate.
Alaska. with its area as big as the four
largest states, must buy and trade and
travel through Puget Sound. But to
the railways the most attractive prize !
for immediate profit is the timber of
the western slope. After the merchant
able trees of every other port of the
United States fall. forests will stand on
the North Pacific coast. Fast as is the
western timber diminishing, scores of
years must pass before II is gone Mr.
Hill has remarked that an acre of tim
Der al the first cutting produces more