The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-07-27
RAILROAD NEWS.
Hartman and Hill Interests
War in Oregon.
Development This Year Costs
Sixty Millions.
TILLAMOOK BAY GOAL
Further Northwest Extensions
Are Projected.
CILLAMOOK BAY GOAL
Other Items of General Interest
to Traffic World.

New York, July 27.-James ]. Hill has
| apparently adopted the motto that
| what is good enough for the Hartman
railroad interests suits him to perfec-
/ ton. When the Hartman interests
| decided to tap central Oregon, Mr. Hill.
Notwithstanding many difficulties. got
| on the ground within five weeks, and
has now about caught up with his
rivals in the great Deschutes valley.
No sooner had the Hartman interests
decided to start construction across
| Oregon from Ontario to Coos bay at
right angles to the Deschutes railway
| than Mr.. Hill commenced a parallel
line from Boise, Idaho, to Coos bay,
| Oregon.
| All this time the Hartman interests
| had a card up their sleeve to tap the
great undeveloped region of northwest
ern Oregon, covering four counties of
| about 10000 square miles, or one-fifth
the area of the state. Under the name
of the Pacific Railway and Navigation
company, with a board of directors not
| included in the Hartman roster, a line
to Tillamook bay came out of a clear
sky, and shovels began to toss dirt.
Mr.. Hill appreciated this little joke,
and took a card from his own sleeve.
The United Railways company, an
electric line, jumped out of a box, with
a board of directors of it's own. Gain
ing by experience this time, Mr.. Hill
was on his way to Tillamook in less
record by Is days. Steadily his army
of laborers and heaps of material in
creased, so that now his men are in a
neck and neck race with those of the
Hartman lines.
The Hartman Tillamook line is I'M
der construction by the Pacific Rail
road and Navigation company, OF
| which E. E. Lytle of Portland is presi-
dent. The line commences at Hlllsporo,
| IL miles west of Portland, on the
mil
approximately one hundred miles long,
its tracks alone costing $4,000 mile,
| or 81 900 900, without stations, wharves
or terminals, which will ultimately
cost more than the route itself. a
mountain range between Portland ana
Tiilamook has to be negotiated, so tnat
two years may be required to complete
the road, Notwithstanding that several
thousand men are at work
It is proposed to open the road for
| traffic as fast as tracks are laid, ana II
| is expected that one-half will be in
oneration by autumn. When the rest
| in the Coast range will be ready Is
problematical, owing to the dlrnculties
of construction. Already some OF the
road is in operation on the ~Hlllsporo
and Tillamook divisions. with automo-
biles caring for travellers in the gaps.
=Tillamook consequently Will have
three roads to Portland, of which the
Hartman interests will own two.
According to late adv1ces from ore
gon. the Hartman interests have de-
cided to advance further northwest.
They have surveyed and projected an
extension from Buxton on their Tilla-
| nook road to VERONA, in Columbia
county and thence to Astoria on the
Pacific ocean, by going down along the
Nehalem nd Clatskamie rivers to
Youngs Bay. By another branch they
can tap the immense bodies of timber
in Clatsop county. BY a cross line fur
Their connections will create a network
of roads affecting every resource in the
four counties of northernmost Oregon.
Mr.. Lyt1e announces that another
line will be built into Tillamook by the
same corporation, following the head
waters of Gales creek, near Banks, to
the summit of the divide between the
valleys of Nehalem and Wilson rivers,
following the Wilson river to Tillamook
bay.
1t is along this line that the Hill
| forces are rushing their rival construc-
ton. The United Railways is to be an
electric line, to be completed this year
from Portland to Tillamook.
Hartman surveyors occupy all the
strategic points, and Hill surveyors
have had busy time finding room for
| their road The Hill line. when COM
pleted. will have cost 100000. about
| the same as each of the Hartman
! lines; in other words, s12,000,000 for the
| fI7roa RAILWAYS