St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1910-04-01
EXTEND PORTAGE ROAD.
State Commission Arranges to FL
nance Project at The DaIles.

| otate COMMISSION HTTanBeS 10 F'-
nance Project at The DaIles.
The Dalles--Work will be commenc-
ed on the construction of the extension
of the state portage road from Big
Eddy TO The Dalles as soon as the
contract can be signed up and the con-
tractors get their plant on the ground.
Judge w. j. Mariner. member of the
state portage commission, and Mr..
Newell, of the engineering firm Of
Newell, Clossett & Walsh, who at the
suggestion of the commission has done
the engineering work on the extension,
had meeting with the city council
and arrangements were made that in
sures .the speedy completion of the
road.
1t was explained by Mr.. Newell and
Judge Mariner that the cost Of the ex-
tension would be about $4,000, and
that only $50, 900 Of the appropriation
made by the last legislature is avail
able. Therefore the commission would
be short about $40, This state Of
affairs was anticipated by the city
council some time ago, and an ordin-
ance was passed authorizing the sale
Of $40, 900 bonds, the money TO be ex-
pended In building bulkheads at the
lower terminus Of the portage road and
the inclines leading to IL.
The extension Of the portage to be
built commences at Big Eddy, some
three miles above The Dalles, and
reaches navigable water and safe
harbor at the foot Of Washington
street. At the terminus will be bulk
heads on which freights may be con-
veniently transferred from river
steamers to wharf boats or onto cars
that may be run in on the incline, or
may be discharged from cars directly
into the steamers.
The construction Of this extension
will complete the connecting link of
river transportation with the lower
river and the upper Columbia and
Snake rivers. Since the completion Of
the state portage around the falls Of
Cello there has been connection be-
tween the upper and lower river, but II
has not been practicable TO handle
heavy freight over this line, because
of the poor facilities for transferring
II from boats 10 the portage road at
the lower terminus.
Rush Work on Coos Bay Road.
That the Hartman interests will
rush construction Of lis proposed road
across the state Of Oregon from Coos |
Bay TO Vale, by way Of Burns, is the
latest report In railroad circles on the
coast. II 10 impossible TO get confr-
nation, but the news emanatcs from
excellent sources, leaving little room
for doubt Of its authenticity.
According TO these reports compile
lion Of the Coos Bsy-Drain branch will
bc rushed with all possible haste while
1t the same time large forces will be
put 10 work between Vale and Burns,
.hus hurrying along the work from
both ends Of the line. Construction Of
, line from Burns 70 Crescent City,
rear Odell, would complete the line
across the state. ~ II would give con-
,cction with the Natron cutoff from
Springfield and Eugene.
II Ia said that TO the activity Of the
I'LL interests In Western Oregon may
'e attributed the progressiveness Of
he Hartman people, as they will be
ompelled TO fortify themselves against
he Hill invasion Of Western Oregon
y means Of the Oregon Electric and
he United Railways.
Work on the Coos Bay-Drain line
vas suspended about three years ago.
fter an expenditure Of several hun J
red thousand dollars, for no apparent q
eason except that II was thought safe q
D let the work rest for awhile. there G
eing no imminent cause for fear Of I
erious competition at that time. But {
ow that the Hill people are rapidly q
ushing their way through the Will o
'mette valley by means of extensions C
the Oregon Electric. the danger of
sing rich field is apparently dawn
" upon the Hartman people.