Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-08-02
HARTMAN AND HILL
IN FIGHT FOR NEW
TERRITORY
Picturesque Railroad War Be-
tween Giant Interests For
Most Favored Route Through
Central Oregon,

Portland, ore, Aug. Another OF
the picturesque railroad wars that
have marked the building Of the west
is now being Waged by Hartman and
Hill in The effort TO build into cen
traI Oregon. Both are trying to oc-
cupy the canyon of the Deschutes
river, a narrow, deep gorge that leads
from the Columbia river to the great
saucer-like plain of the interior OF
the state. This canyon is practically
la tunnel 100 miles long and the
stream in many places is 1000 feet be-
low the summit of the surrounding
hills. In places there is only room
for one track beside the stream. 1t
is to seize these strategic points that
the present warfare is being waged
/ John r. stevens, the engineer who
served for a time on the Panama canal,
resigning to re-cnter the Hin service.
is in command of the situation for
those interests. He is on the ground
in person and long wagon rains OF
supplies and railroad equipment have
beer rushed nto the Deschutes can
Won. The Hartman forces are also
very active and contractors have
worked night and day in covering the
DISPUTED ground with workmen.
Forced marches of construction
gangs at night. grading operations un-
der cover Of darkness, the purchase of
lands that cover the approaches TO
the river canyon, and indeed the man
euvers of rival armies have been
brought into play by the opposing
forces.
The Hartman contractors built a
wa gon road down into the canyon at
n cost of almost $40, 600. Upon ITS
completion. the land it crossed when
was still held by farmers, was bought
bv the Hill line and trespass warn
inas erected. Padlocked gates were
NM nm and armed guards stood by
them. preventing the Hartman peo-
ple from using their own roa''
| Springs supplying the Hartman
camps were purchased by the rival
company and water refused.
Recently a forced march Of Hill
construction forces down the lonely
mountain roads under cover OF dark
mess 70 the D%eschutes river at Horse
shoe Bend aroused the sleeping har-
rimon camp and the engineers III
obarqe SET their mon 10 work with
,icts and shovels by lantern light 10
hold the survey.
Timid Italian workm'h' f'''H'7
troublc. have deserted the Hartman
forces because of guns being 'Arrle"
i, some instances by the opposing
obstruction crews. As yet. no cllsh
has occurred between the rival gangs
but actual battles are nor unIlk'IN ~
thoy are working within a hls'hlt '"9,
of oach other at several points ana
tho ATTEMPT will be made 10 capture
n,rrow defilcs where there is room
for only one track. M
The wagon road recently pun ~
tho Hartman contractors n slh''
takcn by the Hin interests, is S'ld 10
he mined with blasting powder 50 ih"'
!, 90, me destroyed whenever "'sli-
,ble Actual conflicts are not un-
wn.ctod Indeed the battles OF IN"
>-ortb Rank road. which was com
n,o,oa last wear. wagcd by the SAM
I'll interests. are still remcmb'fe"'
Inn onposing construction force
,,ro,r rrhted sticks Of dynamite De
s,ro,ed each others grades and role"
rocks down mountainsid"s !"
railroad building.
The Hartman road into mteti',
oregon is surveyed for i3e miles 'no
a. ooo ooo has been set aside Tor as
construction. The Hin line =
~l.,riv marked "at as yci' n.
hpilt the former road viii have a WI
TOR Grade an the way from the wh"al
aclds Of the interior 60 Portland +.
II tfarriman promised this line when
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