The Washington herald., 1909-04-25
RAILROAD War NAY
PLAGUE NORTHWEST
Reports Indicate that Hill
and Hartman Part.
WIZARD PLAYS GAME ALONE
Eastern Washington, Central Idaho,
and Western Montana Scene of Ae-
tIvity in Track ConStructiOn-Ear-
ling Throws Down Gauntlet and
Three-cOrnered Fight Is Ready.

Spokane. Wash. April 24.-EasteTn
Washington, Central Idaho and Western
Montana are the checker-board upon
which Hill Hartman. and Earring. are
plsying the game Of modern railroad
building. and the presence Of engineers
in Spokane. Lewiston, and Missoula sug-
geSts that the inland empire viii be the
scene OF 8 struggle which for resistance
and energy. has no parallel in the North
west
Indications are not wanting that HsEri-
man has broken truce with the veteran
smplre builder in the Clearwater country
IN Central Idaho. southeast OF Spokane,
and It Is generally believed that the
plans now being exposed by the appear
ance Of engineers have been under prepa-
ration since the fall Of 1907. and that
every detail required for anaying the Har-
-lman and Earring interests 10 wrest the
territory from Hill has been arranged
c. & P. :. Seeks New Feeders.
The Chicago. Milwaukee and Puget
l.ound Railway Company. which expended
100000 IN completing its transcon-
mental line through Washington. is also
making a fight for feeder territory in this
state. Idaho and Montana.
The announcement by Howard Elliott,
president Of the Northern Pacihc Railway
Company, Of the construction Of line
% connect the Washington Central with
the Northern Pacific at Pasco. Wash.
south Of Spokane, thereby giving a direct
Hne 10 the water level haul OF the
Spokane. Portland and Seattle. and pass
f1g through the Moses Lake country from
mo Big Bend has stirred the Milwaukee
ficials Surveyors are in the field for
line 70 be constructed from point
near the Columbia River west Of the
Noses Lake country and tapping. eventu-
ally, the Big Bend country, the wheat
belt west Of Spokane
Il Is also definitely announced that the
Milwaukee viii build direct into Han
rord. on The West side Of the Columbia
River. and may soon formally announce
IS intention OF reaching the Yakima Val
ley. The most important movement. how
ever. started by the Milwaukee is dis
patching Assistant Chief Engineer Kyle
70 the Flathead country. in Montana
Large Plans working Out.
More than surface indications are ap-
parent that the johnson Electric Railway
between Nez Perce and Vollmer. Idaho.
row nearing completion. the Northwest
ern Lumber Companys road. projected
from VoIImer into the Craig Mountain
timber district. the Clearwater Timber
Companr-s road. projected from OrOfinO
into the great timber district OF the Clear
water country. are links in a planned
system that when completed win give the
Chicago. Milwaukee and Puget Sound and
the Hartman roads a direct line from
Butte 20 Missoula, Mont, 20 Portland
Greg. through the Clearwater country,
with feeders extended 20 serve the great
est tonnaEe-prodUcing districts
Engineers are now active on the North
western Lumber Company-S road and On
the Clearwater Lumber COmpany's road
The latter IS Weyerhaeuser concern.
while the former IS said 70 be closely re-
lated 10 the Monarch Lumber Company
and subsidiary 20 the Milwaukee The
fact that the Milwaukee has acquired the
Weyerhaeuser road from PaloJSe 20 Bo-
Vile. and the announcement OF plans for
extension 20 the Clearwater country, sug-
gests its intention Of becoming a bidder
for a business that does not exist at pres
ent. and can he developed only through
activity in the lumber district
Timber Companies Ready to start.
The two timber companies are nov
ready 10 begin operations. and by the
time the mills are installed and in opera
ton the Hartman and Milwaukee inter
ests could be in a position to provide th'
necessary transportation into the market.
not accessible under present transporta
tiOn facilities
Northern Pacific officials are wondering
what part in the game will be played .!
the Lewiston and Southeastern Electric
Company. promoted several years ago
and Of which little has been heard lately
The Johnson road, between Nsz Perc
and VoIlmer. follows the Lewiston ani
Southeastern survey between those points
and. in fact. has appropriated the con
structed grade work without any prOtes
on the part of the Lewiston and South
eastern.
Il IS definitely known that in the las
two years all the engineering data Of tn
electric project has been in the Portlanf
Office Of the oregon Railroad and Nsviga
ton Company. and that less than tw
months ago an inspection Of the rOut
vas made by the o. P & y engineers
Headed by J. VI. Keasinss.
As far as the public is concerned III
interests OF the electric road are now he'll
BY the Commercial Trust Company. whicl
Is headed by Joseph n Keatings. q Ne7
York banker. who came 10 Lewiston les
than a year ago to make his residence.
Mr.. Keatings is known 20 be one Of tn
originators Of the plan Of establishin
q terminal al Lewiston, and was befor
the City Council upon several occasion
to secure concessions for the franchis
then being prepared It is also know
that he has been deeply interested
Lewiston. establishing its title 10 II
riparian rights lying between the North
ern Pacific right of way on both IN
Snake and Clearwater Rivers. and th
nsander Inc
The engineering department OF the cit
OF Lewiston has been engaged severs
weeks compiling data preparatory
making a definite move along these line.
and while these movements have been
matter Of speculation for some time. re
cent developments seem 10 have stampe
the whole movement as part Of the Ha'
rimsn plans II carried 10 a successfl
conclusion this viii practically rout HI
from his Clearwater stronghold
Look Into NeE Perce Prairie.
Important in the consideration Of thei
conditions IS the fact that several weel
ago parties engaged in the operation
an oil drilling plant, in the Wilamet
Valley in Oregon. said 10 be Harrima
agents, visited the Nez Perce prairie q
matters pertaining to the johnson ele
tric road. After their return % Sale
they gave out an announcement 10 Il
effect that they had acquired the Johl
son road and that aside from immediate
completing the line from Nez Perce