Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1910-12-01
palieye Roads Go into Clear
water Section.
TWO ROADS FOR US?
logical Result of Move of H;,r-
riman Lines.

The North Coast having been def
pitely identified as a Hartman line
through an announcement just issued
by the organization of the holding
company-the Oregon Washington
!. Railroad company-the North Coasts
operations in the district east and
north of Lewiston. are now a subject
Of much comment. Residents of the
Arrow Junction locally state that
when the North Coast surveyors
reached there in running the line up
the north bank of the Clearwater
from Lewiston, much time was spent
at Arrow surveying bridge site over
the Clearwater river. The Hartman
lines through the 0. r. & n, own
right-of-way on the south bank Of the
Clearwater above Spalding and it now
seems apparent that the North Coast
bridge survey was made to connect
with this right-of.way. This fact has
now caused the people of the Clear
water country to believe that the Har-
riman interests, either through the
O. R. & N. or North Coast, will build
up the south side of the Clearwater,
thus competing in that territory with
the Northern Pacific, which now han
dies all that business.
The 0. r. d N. right-of-way follows
the south side to Peck and thence ex-
tends up the Little Canyon to the
prairie to Grangeville. The line was
surveyed at the time the o. r. 4 N.
was in conflict with the Northern
Pacific and each contemplated indie.
pendent construction in that country.
The O. r. Il N. survey started in
North Lewiston, followed the north
bank to Spalding and then crossed to
the south side. The distance by this
survey to Grangeville is 101 miles.
Opinion was generally held at the
time the survey was made that it pro-
vlded the best route available into
that country, the grades out Of the
Clearwater being classed as much su-
perior to any that could be secured
out of the Lapwai. The truce stopped
the construction Of the road after the
rlght-of-way for the entire distance
bad been secured. At the time the
roads agreed to build jointly to serve
the prairie region, the route was con-
sldered, but the Culdesac line was
adopted, explanation being that the
Northern Pacific insisted upon some
route that would be farthest from the
clearwater line. A route by the way
Of Waha out of Lewiston was also in
yestlgated, but this was said to be op-
posed by the O. r. Il N. interests.
Inc issue eventually resulted in the
Culdesac hill line.
At the time negotiations were in
progress for this joint construction,
.he impression had naturally been
formed by the public that the deal
meant the division of all the territory
involved in the original conflict be-
tween the roads-that is, not only the
prairie business, but the business OF
,he clearwater district and the Pot
,atch district, which had been served
py the Northern Pacific lines. The
suppositon had been that the O. r.
~. would get trackage privileges or
o'nef rights that would allow it to
enter the Clearwater and Potlatch
alstrlets The final closing of the
ueai' y however, disclosed that the o.
n. " N. privileges extended no farther
'nan Joseph Junction-the company
was allowed to share in the prairie
BUSINESS, but was cut off from any
opportunity to share in the other busi-
mess that had been prominent as the
inventive that caused the trouble be-
'Neeh the roads. 1t was noted, how
e'ei, !, that SO soon as the signing OF
sne JOINT operation and ownership
asfeement 3 had been announced, o.
e,' g, " N, surveyors appeared in the
n.ia and FASTENED to Arrow Junction
Nnere lines were run over the com
pan} pa,} cid Id right, ,of-way up the south
paiik' The work was done in the
taos os, thorough manner and was ex-
r;, r;naea beyond Peck along the main
W.: ~ 10 a point above Kamiah in the
afan .y !. Of kooskia. Shortly there.
ans 'ef The North Coast men appeared
sna, a went to work on the Lewiston
poeane ma,s line. In view Of the infor.
H.. a.loh :, now public, the moves made