The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-06-07
Mystery Surrounds the Financial Back
ing of the Project---L. H. Bowman
Has Been Instructed to Buy Right of
Way and Have Survey Made so That
Contract Can Be Let This Fall.

The Okanogan country has the
promise of another railway, but the
financial backing of the road remains
a mystery. For some time there has
been rumors of a road to be built
from Pateros up the fertile valley of
the Methow and the name of L. H.
Bowman has been connected with the
undertaking. Mr.. Bowman has been
in Spokane and on the coast for the
past week and returned last Saturday.
A reporter of the World met him this
morning and asked him if he had
heard anything of the Methow valley
railway while on the outside. The
story came out from Mr.. Bowman lit
tie by little, but it developed a pecu-
liar situation. Mr.. Bowman says that
there is to be a railway built from Pa
teros up the valley, but as to the
identity of those backing the enter
prise he states positively that he
does not know. He knows that the
money has been raised for the rail-
way: he knows that he has lnstruc-
tions to go ahead to secure the right
or way, do the surveying and let the
contract this fall for the building o1
the road, that is as far as he knows
Whether the road to be built up the
Methow is connected with any OF
the transcontinental roads he does not
know. 1t is known, however, that
there are $50 surveyors working IN
half dozen different places in the Cas-
cades between Rainy and Slate passes
and it might be that the Methow ROAD
was financed by one of these com
panies who hope to secure the first
road in the valley and hold 1t for
its strategic position. Then it is pos
sible that the road is to be built, hop
ing that it might be an interest pay
ing proposition from the gradual ie-
velopment of the valley. 1t is known
that this is one of the most fertile
little valleys in the state and that II
is now fully under water from the
various projects and it is considered
possible that the road may be nm
anced by parties who hope to gel
their returns from the gradual en-
hancement of the value. Mr.. BOW
man himself does not know who is
\emploving him and where the money
comes from for doing the work. All
he knows is that he considers that
he has a responsible position at a
good salary and was likely employed
from the fact that he is a pretty good
rustler and is very familiar with the
conditions in the Methow valley.
"Mr. Bowman, have you any imam
cial interests in the road yourself!
was asked by the World reporter.
mot in the least, as l have SAID
nv only connection is that OF wna'
u;oht he termed a right of way mau
I am going to close up all my per-
sonal and private business this month
and then go up to the Methow valley
and interview the property owners
relative to this MethOw valley road. =
"Mr. Bowman, have you no 1dea
whatever as to the ownership of the
nronosed road?" was asked him.
"No more so than you have.
have my instructions and this is all.
When do you expect that the road
will be built?"
"My instructions are to rush all
work lust as fast as possible, COM
mencing early next month. l am
roing to give all my time to the
railway in securing the right OF way
surveying and cross-sectioning ano
have everything all completed with
,he estimates, tonnage and details OF
tho line complete so that the con-
trac, can be awarded early next tail
.nd actual construction work started
aar,v in the spring, so that trains
cor he running a year from this com
ing fall" =,
"How far up the valley Will the
line run, Mr.. Bowman"
"That / cannot tell for sure as yet
The road will start at Pateros ano
may go up to Winthrop next fall' ou'
k,,,. con not be said for certain"
"Mr Bowman, what is to be the