Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1910-04-08
SOUTHERN PACIFIC OFFICIALS
HURRY SOUTH
VISIT THE ILLINOIS VALLEY
And then Continue the Trip Through
to the Redwood Forests and
Ocean.

The people Of Grants Pass and
Josephine county have reason to re-
joice over the prospects of a rail-
road move in this city through the
Illinois valley and on to Crescent
City. 1t will be remembered that a
delegation from the Commercial
Club visited Portland some months
ago to secure a new depot for Grants
Pass and gain other advantages
needed in this city. The delegation
found General Manager O'Brien
ready to talk business and he extend
ed every courtesy to the representa-
tives of the club and they were en-
tertained and dined to perfection
and came home In the best OF humor,
for they had gained everything they
went after and had exchanged mu-
tual pledges with the Southern Pa
cific; having on their part given the
company to understand that the
Commercial Club would hold itself
In readiness to do all in its power
to aid the company to make improve
ments In the Rogue River valley,
and the day to redeem these prom
ises came perhaps sooner than any
one Of the party expected. After a
time Mr. O'Brien was ready to act.
He knew that the Commercial Club
would not fail him when the moves
on the checkerboard of railroad con-
struction, which are always indica-
tions of what may happen, reached
certain point, the Southern Pacific
company, or the Hartman system,
resolved to protect their territory.
They had been in communication
with the Draper-Gunn people who
own a survey and right OF way from
Grants Pass to Waldo and these
gentlemen were ready to dispose OF
their holdings, the only question
being the price, Other surveys had
been made in which the Hartman
people were interested, with a view
Of determining without question, not
only the best route to secure easy
grades, but the greatest possible ton.
mage. There was virgin empire to
open up and large interests to be
developed Many reports OF engIn.
GERS had been made and, to say the
least, these astute managers had be.
come deeply interested and wanted
TO make a final examination OF the
country through which Il was pro.
posed TO build line to the ocean
In furtherance OF the plans and
purposes OF the company, General
Manager O'Brlen, OF the Southern
Pacific and A. b. Miller, the general
freight agent Of the same company
arrived IN Mr. O'Brlen's special caI
and at once communicated with Sec.
retary II. L. Andrews and the three
gentlemen started In Oldlng's auto,
mobile for the Illinois valley, that
the railroad representatives might
get clear idea Of the business In
sight in that country OF many rich
resources. After n careful examina
tion along the proposed line, III,
party pushed on for the redwood
country which ls the most extensive
and valuable forest OF this wood e
be found on tho Pacific Coast. Ate
reaching that point they went on Il
Crescent City, Cal, where other mat
tors connected with the enterDrfs,
demanded their attention. ShoulC
this final examination result In IN,
commencement OF railroad construc
tlon Grants Pass will this season be-
come one of the busiest places II
Southern Oregon The rallroal
noople and Mr. Andrews returned I,
this city Thursday nlght and the rail
road men left Immediately for Port
land The Courier prefers TO avail
the railroad information rather tha
advance speculation regarding wha
may happen.
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