Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-03-23


portland Journal Monday)
That the Hartman interests will
rush construction of its proposed
road across the state of Oregon from
Coos Bay to Vale by way of Burns,
is the latest report in railroad cir
cles on the coast. General Manager
j. p. O'Brien being out of the city,
it is impossible to get his confirma-
ton, but the news emanates from
excellent sources, leaving little room
for doubt of it's authenticity.
According to these reports COM
pletion of the Coos Bay-Drain branch
will be rushed with all possible
haste while at the same time large
forces will be put to work between
Vale and Burns, thus hurrying along
the work from both ends of the line.
Construction of a line from Burns tn
Crescent City, near, Odell, would
complete the line across the state
as it would give connection with the
Natron cutoff from Springfield and
Eugene.
Stirred by Hills Activity.
1t is said that to the activity of
the Hill interests in western Oregon
ness of the Hartman people as they
will be compelled to fortify them
selves against the Hill invasion of
western Oregon by means of the
Oregon Electric and the United Rail-
ways.
Work on the Coos Bay-Drain line
was suspended about three years
ago, after an expenditure of several
H., i Il I'LL frV IN
apparent reason except that it was
thought safe to let the work rest for
awhile, there being no imminent
cause for fear of serious competl-
ton at that time. But now that the
Hill people are rapidly pushing their
way through the Willamette valley
by means of extensions of the Ore
gon Electric, the danger of losing a
rich field is apparently dawning up
on the Hartman people.
Through Rough Country.
The distance from Coos Bay to
Drain on the main line of the South
ern Pacific, is approximately 83
miles, and the survey runs through
a rough country, so that at best il
will take about IS months to COM
plete the line, and this, it is figured,
will be none too soon to keep pace
with the march of the Oregon Elec-
trio into the upper reaches of the
Willamette valley.
The Natron cutoff will soon be
completed between Springfield and
Odell, and it would furnish a suita
BILE link in the chain of branches
across the state. From Odell the
road can be built eastward through
the level sage brush lands and
bunch grass fields of Lake and Har-
ney counties to Burns, thus complet-
ing the chain.
New comers are now flooding into
these counties for the purpose Of
taking up public lands, and it is esti-
mated that by the time the road
could be completed, under the most
favorable circumstances, great por-
ton of the now arid lands will be
pretty literally settled.
Good Engineer in Charge.
The construction of the Coos Bay
Drain branch is under the direct SUI
pervision of Chief Engineer William
Hood, of San Francisco, who is re-
garded as one of the foremost engi-
neers in the country, although the
project will be let in the near fu.
ture is said to be certain.
The Vale-Burns project is sup
posed to be handled by the Oregon
Short line, and it is reported that a
contract for a portion of that work
has already been let.
Transformation of steam to cleo
trio power on the west side division
of the Southern Pacific through the
Willamette valley is also up to CHIEF
Engineer Hood at San Francisco,
and it is reported that before the
end of the coming summer the work
of electrifying the line between
Portland and Dallas will he well
under way.
Preparatory work on the big
power plant at the headwaters of
the Clackamas river has been in
progress for some time; also under
the guidance of Chief Engineer
Hood at San Francisco.
The construction of the power
plant will involve the outlay of
about $350,00O, and consulting en-
gineers say the plant will be capable
of developing at least 10000 kilo-
watt of power, or more than enough
to handle all the business that the
entire west side division might Sc
c1ra