The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1911-03-24
FROM ALL OVER NORTHWEST
Heavy Travel from East-Lumber Central
Selling Agency-Stste Highway Depart
-"Made-in-W aShingtOn" Capitol.

Passenger travel from the East to the
Pacific Northwest has never been
heavier, according to reports given out
by railway authorities in Seattle and
Portland. Advantage Of the thirty-day
home-seekers' rates, ending April 10,
is being taken by many persons. In
fact, this years colonist movement is
said to exceed anything that has ever
gone before. Many Of the Great North
ern trains have had to take on extra
equipment to accommodate the travel
ers. During the first few days of the
rate, the Hartman lines put on extra
trains to handle the business. The
Milwaukee and the Northern Pacific
each got their share of the westward
business. Although, many Of the home
seekers will use their stop-over privil-
eges in Idaho and Montana, the most
of them are booked through to the
Coast, indicating that they intend to
investigate the entire Northwest. A
large number of tourists are also taking
advantage of the reduced fares.
Precedent for the central selling
agency which the fruitgrowers of the
Northwest are organizing, is found in
the articles Of incorporation just filed
at Olympia by the cedar lumber manu-
facturers Of Washington. Eighteen
mills in western Washington have affili-
ated, for the purpose of disposing of
their products more Systematically and
economically. This same motive under
lies the efforts of the orchard interests
to get better control of their own busi-
ness. The plan of organization outlined
at Walla Walla recently is attracting
much attention and growers every
where have it under consideration. One
by one, objections raised are being
removed. Some doubts have been
expressed as to the ability Of any or
ganization to handle expeditiously a
$40, 10000 fruit crop. Those back Of
the movement say this will easily solve
itself, for a man in touch with the fruit
consuming markets Of the world will be
able, from a centrally located Office, to
distribute all apples, peaches, etc., with
the ease that the chief dispatcher
handles dozen norr~s>dely~seasrated
trains.
The confusion which exists in the
states shighway department and its failure
to make material headway, is likely to
prove a snag to Governor M. E. Hay,
when he asks the people of Washington
to endorse him for another term. Since
his determination to oust Highway
Commissioner Bowlby, the governor has
offered the place to half a dozen per-
sons, without getting it filled. The last
Legislature did not help to clarity the
situation, for when Governor Hay con-
fessed that he had made mess of road
matters, a fight was started which left
the whole thing up in the air. People
on the inside say that upwards of $780,
900 Of the taxpayers money has been
spent in this state TO survey roads
which were never built. Elabo-
rate schemes for all sorts Of trunk
systems have been adopted, ex-
plotted at a large expense, but never
brought to completion. Now, some of
the counties wearied of waiting for the
state, want to go ahead and build their
own roads, but the bonding law is not
found entirely satisfactory. For much
of the present trouble, Governor Hay is
held responsible, because he delegated
his authority in road matters to others,
instead Of going ahead according to his
own ideas.
The full train crew law" enacted
at the last session OF the Legislature is
going to find its way into the courts
speedily, according to the best avail
able information. The sole argument
in its favor was that it would promote
safety, but the railroad men say that il
will be difficult to make improvement
in this regard, for operations in Wash
ington have been comparatively free
from danger. The new law requires
five men on every train, although in
many instances they are not needed.
Should the law be sustained, it will add
| $780, 900 to the operating expenses ol
the Northern Pacific alone. AS lead