The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1910-12-01
OREGON-W WASHINGTON RAILROAD
AND NAVIGATION COMPANY
Hartman Interests Including Mysterious North Coast Un-
ion Pacific and All Its Subsidiary Lines
United Under One Name

the public last week, when the an
nouncement came from Portland.
that Robert E. Strahorn had unveil-
ell the great mystery which has en-
shrouded his projected North Coast
road and other minor projects, by the
statement that his entire labors for
the past few years had been under
the direction of the Hartman syS-
TEN. At the same time papers of
incorporation were filed at Salem.
Ore, gathering into one system under
the name of the Oregon Washington
Railroad and Navigation Company all
the Hartman lines in the Pacific
northwest, including the o. R. & NJ,
Union Pacific, North Coast and all
subsidiary lines, excepting only the
Southern Pacific and subsidiary line,
with capitalization at $4,000 900, and
headquarters at Portland. The total
mileage to come under control of
the new company will be 3,079 miles.
The purpose of the movement. as
set forth by the officials in author
ity is that the o. II. e. y. having
grown to such proportions since its
reorganization in lS96.when it had a
total of 1144 miles of road, which
has now been extended to 3,079 miles
that it has become necessary to reor-
a nivn fn hn - -,
creasing demands and cover the
growing territory with necessary
lines. The capitalization in 1895 was
100000 which has now been in
creased to $50 100000 A recent bond
issue Of 100000, coo has been made
for construction purposes.
The Union Pacific, through its
ownership of the North Coast system,
will shorten its line from Spokane
to Portland over GO miles. Also by
the North Coast Walla Walla line it
will cut down the distance 65 miles.
When the Union Pacific line is
completed down Snake river from
Huntington to Lewiston, Idaho, and
a connection made with the North
Coast at the last named place, it will
shorten the Union Pacific route be-
tween Spokane and the east several
hundred miles. and cut down the dis
tance from Spokane to Lewiston
some 35 miles.
The first visit of the North Coast
surveyors to this section was made
nearly a year ago and the crew
promptly took the field, their init
ial work being in Lewiston. where
apparently connection was made with
an old survey. They then crossed to
the north bank of the Clearwater and
ran line up the stream to the mouth
of the Potlatch
Another important matter that the
announcement of the identity Of the
North Coast makes clear is the fact
that through that road the Hartman
interests will gain an entrance into
the Clearwater and Potlatch sections,
which are now served exclusively by
the Northern Pacific and Milwaukee.
The North Coasts Potlatch line
would compete with the Northern
Pacific in that district, while from
Arrow a branch could be run over
the right-of-way so long ago acquir-
ed by the o. r. e. N. on the south
side of the Clearwater. During the
last year the company has done
much to safeguard its ownership in
the right-of-way and the significance
Of the move now seems apparent.
The company has taken steps that
will assure entrance of the Hunting
ton line through the Lewiston c Clark
ston gateway to connect with the
North Coast, and the steps have been
Of such character construction oper-
atoms could be commenced on short
notice.
Another feature of the news CON
eyed by the Associated Prses. is
that the ownership of the Pittsburg
& Gilmore is now surrounded in still
greater mystery. This road was sup
posed to be an ally of the North
Coast and that both of them were
owned by the Northwestern. Now it
must be classed as Hill. Milwaukee
DR. Burlington line.
The large fact looming up in the
plans of the Hartman
system as just disclosed, in which
Lewiston-Clarkston occupies the focal
point, is the fact that the northwest
ern country is fixed upon as the
scene of such tremendous energy. No
other part of the nation Is susceptible
Of such operations as this particular
a r,