The Washington herald., 1909-06-20
RAILROADS EXPAND
IN TIE NORTHWEST
Engineers Explore Noun
tains to Find the Ways.
CONSTRUCTION GANG FOLLOWS
Mighty Contest Going On Between
Traffic Kings for Strategic Points
iR Washington and OreEon-Ifues
Tap Timber, Fruit, and Grain
Belts OF Inland Territory.

/ Spokane, Wash. June I9-Pathhnders
OF the Pacific Northwest awakened 10 q
development and growth never dreamed
Of even BY its most optimistic supporters.
have laid the foundations for what an
parently VIII be the most wonderful era
OF railroad building the nation has YET
seen
Claiming Il oy right Of conquest. a regi-
ment of engineers and their level and
rod men has taken possession OF an area
Of more than 10000 miles in the North
west, extending from the Dakotas 70
Puget Sound, and IN every important
portion Of Ihis span OF territory the
American railroad giants are Waging the
mightiest struggles for empire IN the his
tory Of the world.
Engineers in the employ OF the North
ern Pacific, the Great Northern, the Chi
cago. Milwaukee, and Puget Sound, and
the Hartman systems have worked over
four great mountain ranges winter and
summer. spying out every available pass
where railway trains can be run safely
and probably. The Rocky Mountains on
the east the Bitter Root range IN Idaho
and Montana. and the Cascades and
Olympics n Washington have been pane
trated and mapped as never before.
There are reports now that Oregon vii
also be invaded by the pathfnders.
EarIfng Instructs Engineers.
When the Milwaukee projected its ex-
tension 10 Puget Sound. Albert J. Earring.
president Of the road. gathered together
in conference his trusted men in ths en-
gineering corps. Additions 20 the star
were taken from the ranks OF the best
equipped railroad engineers IN the cOun-
Try They were told that money did not
count for much. but that secrecy was
everything Then they were directed 70
seek out and locate The best routes Tor
the Coast extension and its branch line
Construction 10 follow later. the project
involving an expenditure Of S100.000.00o or
more.
Since that day the railroad engineer has
been king OF the Pacific Northwest He
has gone about his work by devious but
at al times certain ways. More than one
man AT the head % secret parties for the
Earring and Hartman systems has had
hundreds OF thousands OF dollars at his
disposal for the purchase Of rights OF
way IN The narrow canyons on the Olyrn-
Pic Peninsula, or through the steep de-
files OF the Cascades and the Bitter Root
Mountains
Il is a matter Of record that an engi-
neer IN the employ OF Earring saved bis
Il company S7a3o00 BY quick and judiciOus
application OF the money test 10 q man
who owned a body or timber in The Olyn-
pic Peninsula. where future operations
OF the Milwaukee road VIII be on an ex-
tensiye scale.
Run Mountain Passes.
These engineers have threatened every
mountain pass and tinabered area In ths
Pacific Northwest They have gonsl
through the grain and fruit belts in
Eastern Washington and Central Idaho.
staked thei- lines IN the irrigated dis.
tricts IN the CoIunnbia River Valley. bar
gained with wealthy orchard owners in
! the Yakima Valley for rights OF way,
and have kept their Own counsel. the
while defying every attempt OF agents
| Of rival roads 70 penetrate their secrets.
There Is a possibility OF another trans
continental line for the Northwest IN the
project known as the North Coast Ran
way. This company. headed BY Robert
E StrahOrn. Of Spokane. plans 70 build
Z a line OF 100 miles between Spokane and
Portland and Puget Sound Il has Al
ready done considerable construction work
IN Central Washington and has expended
more than s.. .10000O for terminal sites IN
! Spokane.
Nr. Strah0rn has so closely guarded
the secret OF the cOmpany's financial
hackers that the road Is the enigma OF
the railroad world The most plausible
theory yet advanced is that the North
Coast IS backed by Standard on interests
and is eventually 70 be made part Of the
Chicago and Northwestern system.
which has long looked 10 this part of the
/ country for a portion Of the trade OF
the Pacific Coast and the Orient
Line Approaches Spokane.
, II Is significant OF note in this connec-
, ton that the Northwestern's western
terminus is now within 600 miles OF
? Spokane.
Four thousand. eight hundred and eigh-
ty-three miles OF steam lines and 80
miles OF electric roads are actually IN
operation IN those portions OF Eastern
Washington and Oregon. North ant Cen
traI Idaho. Western Montana. and South
eastern British Columbia embraced n the
inland empire and Il Is estimated By
, competent engineers that more thaa
2001 miles OF lines are under construc-
tion or projected 20 be completed before
the close OF 1910.
There are Indications that the Lewis
ton country in East Central Idaho south
/ transconttnentai lire by way of Lolo Pass,
extending from 8 connection with the
Oregon Railroad and Navigation Com
pany's line az Lapwai Junction, Idaho.
by way OF AisSOula, Deer Lodge. End Sill
, yer Bow 20 Butte. This road. incOrporat-
ed as the Montana. idaho and Pacific Is
believed 10 be backed by the Hartman
interests The Northern Pacific IS also
active IN the Lewiston district. and there
/ IS keen rivalry between the XII and Har-
riman engineers now IN the field for de-
sirable territory
Should the Chicago and Northwestern
, enter this territory II viii be by way of
LoIo Pass. which Is the most feasible
route known across the Bitter Root
Mountains. Since the Northwestern has
close traffic relations with the Union Pa
. cifc it IS believed that the Hartman IN
terests would favor an extension OF the
former by way Of the northern route.
thus cutting into the HilI territory. rath-
er than through Southern Idaho. which Is
conceded 10 be the Union Pacihc's ex-
elusive preserve AUGUST WOLF,
Corrsspondsut.