The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1910-03-29
W|NNfMUCCA TO
Be GREAT R.R.P POINT

Nearly ten thousand men are working
on two railroads up the Deschutes river
from its confluence with the Columbia
river at the northern border of Oregon.
1t is the titanic struggle of the Hill
and Hartman interests for supremacy
in central Oregon. The Deschutes ap-
pears to be the line Of battle. The Des-
chutes river flows from central Ore
gon northward to the Columbia, bisect-
ing the state from north to south, cross
ing and intercepting roads from the
east building to the Pacific.
Both Hartman and Hill saw the i'm
portance Of this line not only as great
feeder for their main lines east and
west but line that would tap some of
the richest farming, timber and min
ing lands in the west. Had Mr.. Harri-
man lived no doubt this excitement
would have been intensified, for it was
his greatest move in railway construc-
tion and territory appropriation. How
ever, the public has been assured that
his plans will be fully carried out.
Present indications justify the asser-
tion. The Hartman and Hill inter
ests had fierce legal battle over the
Deschutes route, which was comprom-
ised, by which both sides could proceed.
The Hartman interests still control
one point of vantage which is q STUN
bling block to Hill, but he is confident
of surmounting it, for the Hill road is
being surveyed and graded on both
sides of the land in dispute.
The Hartman system is building
south along the east bank of the Des-
chutes river, connecting at Deschutes
with the Oregon Railway & Navigation
xrvhs fAll Aha oa.,+h az 10 -
the Columbia river east and west. This
road furnishes transportation facilities
from Portland for material and sup
plies and has enabled more rapid con
struction work than has been possible
on the Hill line on the opposite shore.
The Hill interests are building the
Oregon Trunk line up the west shore of
the Deschutes to Madras, 108 miles
south of the Columbia, the present
limit Of contracts, but it will be push
ed on to Bend, forty miles further
south, without delay and has been sur
veyed to the California line. The Ore
gon Trunk line, the Hill road. win
build to Klamath Falls, to connect with
a line that is to be Immediately sur
veyed from point in Plumas county,
California. where connections will be
made with the Western Pacific. The
Hartman system plans road east to
Lakeview and Alturas, and another
limo across country to Winnemucca
to connect with the Central Pacific.
Hill also has surveyors running lines
down through eastern Oregon to Lake
view and will run q branch to the Ore
gon Trunk line at Lakeview 10 meet
that project, which will give short
cut to his transcontinental road
The Hartman system is also busy with
surveys in Idaho and eastern Oregon.
where active work has started in the
link in the Hartman system out OF
Caldwell, idaho. to Winnemucca, locat.
ed several hundred miles south, and
giving connections between the Oregon
Short Line and the Southern Pacific
also with the viaduct line direct from
Winnemucca to Los Angeles, the all
year open line east of the Sierras
Now we know a great deal about
railroad building in this section that
mp to the present has been all guess
work We know the status and objects
of the Western Pacific and the Caldwell
road, and unless some coup is effected
such as rumors from Denver. that a
friend of the Harrimans has secured
control of the ID. & X. G.. and Western
Pacific, the competition of the Hill and
Hartman interests will give this see
tion one of the most complete and
competitive systems of railroad in
America. north and south as well as
east and west. They will turn the tide
of immigration this way, which has
been goino almost exclusively to the
northwest or TO California. They will
open up vast tracts of timber lands
also coal, oil and mineral that are now
inaceessahle
Rumors now are crvstalized into
facts. for we have the confirmation OF
these movements from the highest Of
fcers and engineers Of both systems
who find secrecy no lorger necessary
Winnemucca must become n great rail
road center and manufacturing will
naturally follow cheap fuel and raw
material. Rairnaa building will boom
the mining and all o'hor interests. be
sides expending millions of dollars
amorg MS for labor. etc The year 1910