The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-05-01
SPENT MILLIONS ON
HILL LINES
GREAT NORTHERN TO HAVE
WATER LEVEL HAUL FROM
CANADA TO THE SEA-TAPS
RICH COUNTRY.

While the Milwaukee and Harri-
man interests are attracting atten.
tion by their sudden entry into the
field considered to be Hills own
country in this state, Idaho, Montana
and British Columbia, James J. Hill
is pursuing an aggressive campaign
of construction within the borders OF
Idaho, Washington and British Co.
&Hmbia. The Great Northern, which
is the biggest factor in these move
ments aside from the proposed North
ern Pacific cutoff by way of Lolo
pass, is making many moves in
volving the expenditure of many mil
lions so quietly that it has attracted
little attention.
Following are some of the lines
under way, nearing completion and
proposed for construction in the near
future:
The line from Columbia River, the
station below Wenatchee on the east
side of the Columbia river and built
to Mansfield will have all rails laid
within a very few days and will next
fall be ready to drain the wheat belt
in the so-called Waterville district,
estimated to produce 100000 bush
els. A four and one-half mile spur
is proposed from Douglas to Water
vile. The total length of the line is
so miles.
To Go Into Okanogan.
Within a few days actual construc-
ton work will begin on the line from
Oroville, near the British. Columbia
boundary in the Okanogan country,
1to Brewster. where the Okanogan
river empties into the Columbia This
line will be 60 miles in length and
will be in running order next sum-
mer. Leaving Oroville. the road fol-
lows the west bank of the Okanogan
to Riverside, where it crosses to the
east side, to which bank is clings as
far as Ophir, where it crosses to the
try to Brewster.
A line will be built, the surveys
having been made, on the west side
of the Columbia river from Wenat-
chez to Brewster, distance of ap-
proximately so miles. This will tap
an entirely new region. A fleet of
steamers is planned for Lake Chelan,
which, it is expected, will assist in
developing the Stehekin mining dis
trict, where copper, silver and gold
Iodes are said to exist in bodies suf-
ficient to encourage the entrance of
a transportation line.
From Columbia River the survey
and franchise held by the Northern
& Southern. controlled by Al Rogers,
of Rogers & Howe, Waterville, will
be used south along the east bank
of the Columbia to Priest rapids,
where it will follow the west bank of
junction with the Spokane, Portland
& Seattle. and giving the Hill line
complete water lever haul from the
Canadian boundary and Big Bend
wheat country to the sea.
To Tap Mining District.
4 Actual construction work and
track-laying is under way on the ex
tension of the line along the Similka-
meen from Keremeos to Princeton, a
distance of As miles. This taps a
great mining district, Hedley. on the
new line, having one of the best pay
ing gold mines in British Columbia.
This road is surveyed and plans are
under way for construction work
from Princeton to Hulameen. down
the Similkameen to the Frazer river |
and thence to Abbotsford, making a
direct connection with the road al !
ready constructed from Vancouver |
through Cloverdale to that point.
A line has also been surveyed and |
may see actual construction work this
year from Spokane. following the
Spokane river to Miles, crossing the
Columbia at Hellgate ana recrossing
II at the mouth of the San Poll, which
1t will follow to Republic, tapping
the big mining region at Keller and
giving Republic a direct connection