Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1910-12-30
SURVEY OF RAILROAD
TO THE ILLINOIS VALLEY
|1HE POINT OF DEPARTURE
Residents of Lower Country Jubilant
Over the Prospects of the New
Railroad to the Coast

n The Courier has endeavored to
'keep its readers informed regarding
the railroad situation, always avoid
Ing wild rumors which do not bear
the impress of reliability. There is
certainly much railroad talk from
Grants Pass all the way down to the
Illinois valley. This, for the most
part, has related to the so-called
SGrants Pass & Crescent City line.
The people who are conversant with
what is going on fully believe that
8construction on this road will be
commenced within the next few
months. There is great activity along
the first half of the route, the sur
aveyors being active at several points.
At one time there was much talk
about the purchase of the Draper
right of way by the Southern Pacific
and the fact that the survey made by
this company parallels the Draper
line looks as If the Southern Pacific
4 refuses to pay the sum demanded and
are trying to bring down the price.
z The Draper right of way was secured
to sell and just why 1t has not found
y a purchaser before this is not defin-
itely known to the public. The sur
veyors are making things lively, even
N around Grants Pass. At the present
4 time there is a camp of eight engln'
81 eers on what Is known as the bridge
n road, near the old county home, near
"A ly two miles west Of town. These
n surveyors have run numerous line:
"a and finally settled on route tc
A leave the main line at point neal
= the California box factory; thence
n skirting along the hill west to thu
B old race track, where 1t makes south
Il west towards the river, passing neal
a the Dimick school house; then cross
& ing the river near the lower White
4 Rocks. From that point the roaC
q will run in southern direction anC
as far as possible avoiding steel
'f grades. In leaving Grants Pass b.
q the route spoken of full mile 1
\ saved as compared to the Draper sur
vey.
IA The survey camp which has so lon
"a been located at Love Station will W
are informed, be moved in a fe'
days to Waldo There has been n
"A little difficulty encountered by tn
engineers near Slate creek, ther
& being no less than three surveys u
Y the stream named and they all cor
*, verge at Hayes hill A tunnel wi
& be driven through the hill and II
III length will be from half to three
ouarters of a mile. The line OF tn
e tunnel will be under the preser
wagon road. A talk Wednesda
night by phone with r. c. Churchill
W the merchant at Selma, shows Una
the people down that way have CO..
8 fidence that the Southern Pacii
# company is in earnest and VIII bui
the road without unnecessary dela
He said that It would be a great ne
To that country in the way OF deVe
II oping the agricultural and mining j
& terests Of that section. He thoug
# the rich valley down there would
X able to supply large and constant
z increasing tonnage for railroad al
Il Il was his opinion that there were ie
more promising countries throul
which to build a road The peop
+ he said. we're watching with deep
terest every move by the railro
men and II good wishes count
,ucb an enterprise there can be
KN failure.
# From what has been learned
NJ Portland. The Courier believes u q
tho Grants Pass and Crescent y
road will be the subject Of discussi
al a meeting in New forK III 'ue :, !,
near future. It has not as yet !. De
decided % build the line, but Il
thought. by those on the INSIDE ,... :, :,
the chances are. fsvOrsSlefor lts a. C |,
s,ruction the coming season "s