The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-02-23
NORTH COAST N
OKAA0GAN

That the Independent was correct
few weeks ago in surmising that
the North Coast railroad people were
seeking an entrance into the Okano-
gan country, was proven this week
beyond a doubt when representatives
of that company placed papers in the
hands of our county sheriff to be
served on. property owners near Pa
teros, and notifying them that con-
demnation proceedings were about to
be commenced for right of way,
bridge sites, etc., says the Okabogan
Independent. The land in question
| belongs to w. z. Cooper, one of the
pioneers of that locality and to all
| appearances it is desired by the Stra-
horn interests as a west bank ap-
proach for bridge.
The North Coast surveyors have
been at work most of the winter rum
ming lines on the east side of the CO.
lumbia river, leaving their main line
at Kennewick. They surveyed as far
as Pateros where they stopped sew
eral weeks ago. 1t was stated that
they were contemplating crossing
at Methow rapids where it is compar-
atively easy bridging, but according
to later developments it appears that
they will cross the river at a point
a short distance above the town of
Pateros at the Cooper ranch.
What the course of the Strahorn
road will be after it crosses the CO.
lumbia river can only be conjectured.
There are those who claim they are
looking for a Canadian Pacific con-
nection and will make it by way of
the Okanogan valley. A gentleman
recently from a visit to Spokane says
the talk among railroad men in that
city is to the effect that Strahorn has
taken over the Okanogan Electric
railway and will reach Canadian ter
ritory by that route. Col. Dewey,
| president of the local line, however,
recently Indignantly denied that any
such arrangement had been made and
said that the Okanogan Electric rail-
| way would be constructed independ-
entity. Others claim that the North
| Coast is headed up the Methow with
view of reaching tidewater at Ana
cortes, Bellingham or some other
Northwest seaport.
simultaneously with the announce
ment of Strahorn's activity in this
county comes the report that the
Hill road will build to Wenatchee at
once. We are informed that con-
tract has already been let for the
construction of the line between Pa
teros and Wenatchee and that with
in all probability another week or
two will reveal the fact that work
will commence this year on the Great
Northern's Methow road. People
from the Methow valley state that
Great Northern surveyors have been
in the valley all winter.
The action of the Strahorn people
in invading the Okanogan country is
undoubtedly responsible for the re-
cent decision of the Hill interests to
build to Wenatchee at once. 1t was
definitely announced last fall that
the local line would be extended on
ly to Pateros, and this announce
ment was accepted with as much
grace as possible by the people along
the Columbia and in this upper
country where a closer outlet to TIDE
water means so much.
A funny incident is related by one
of the residents in the vicinity OF the
| mouth Of the Methow river relative
to the actions of the surveyors. When
the North Coast men were at work
on the east side Of the river in this
vicinity and their motives were not
understood either by the public or
the opposing railroad men, promi-
nent engineer in the service OF the
Great Northern posted himself In
clump of bushes near the junction OF
the Methow and the Columbia and
watched the North Coast men through
a transit glass several hours one af-
ternoon. The result Of his observa-
tons was not made public but it Is
a significant fact that within a very
short time after that date the Great
Northern began to take on life as
though nothing on earth would stop
them building to Wenatchee as soon
| &C pocSih1p