The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1911-12-15
EARLY RAILROAD BUILDING,

+ dispatch from Olympia under date
OF Friday last states that a final agree
'nent had been reached between the
Treat Northern and the state officials
IN the matter of state road No. 10, that
has become celebrated from the pro-
tracted controversy that has been car
ried on in its name, by which the rail-
road Is granted the use of the present
road bed on the understanding that the
old wagon road is to be replaced by
new one built by the railroad in con-
formity with plans determined upon
by engineers representing both sides
in the transaction. 1t is further an
IlOunced that the railroad officials have
promised that work of construction on
the long hoped for and anticipated
Wenatchee-Oroville branch will COM
mence at an early day.
State road No. 10, the bone of con-
tention that has caused delay in the
building of the railroad that is to con-
meet Oroville and Wenatchee, skirts
the west shore of the Columbia river
from Wenatchee northward At point
on the Columbia between the Entiat
river and the old Knapp ferry cross
ing is precipitOuS mountain side,
washed at the base by the river. There
IS very narrow passageway at the
foot of the bluff, and construction for
an eighth or Il quarter of a mile will
be in solid rock, requiring a fill that
cannot be otherwise than very mar
row between the cliff and the river for
new wagon road to replace the pres
ent road which will be used by the
railroad. The steep mountain side,
zigzagged with veins, is one of the
sights that attract the attention of
travellers on the river boats. Indian
tradition has it that at one time this
mountain split Off and fell into the
river, damning the waters until the
river for miles below was almost dry.
1t surely has the appearance of having
been Jared loose by some seismic dis
turbance in the long ago. The phys-
cal conditions present considerable of
an obstacle to the construction of par
allel wagon and railroad, and action
has been held up for some time until
an amicGble understanding coull be
reached between the railroad and the
state authorities, the state declining to
surrender the right of way until the
railroad would enter into a contract
to replace the wagon road destroyed
With another just as good. While the
position Of the state officials may have
delayed the beginning of actual work,
S east the railroad Wonld make tap
pear SO it was the proper stand to
take, as the state road, which, to say
the best is an Indifferent advantage to
the people, considering the small num-
Der who use it, was constructed al con-
siderable cost, and it was only protect
inging the interests of the public that
the highway to be appropriated by the
railroad should pe replaced BY that
corporation. and replaced in snch
manner that it would not be menace
to those compelled to use it. Accord
ing to the dispatches, all differences
have been adjusted, and if the railroad
was sincere in the declaration that the
settlement of this point was all that
stood in the way of building, actual
work should soon commence.
And there is every reason to believe
that building will commence soon both
at Oroville and Wenatchee. Governor
Hay very commercially demanded that
if The Great Northern was granted
right of way over state road No. 10,
work of construction must commence
within six months and be completed
within reasonable time, and that was
part of the contract that the railroad
has entered into. This was a business
like stand en- the part of the governor,
and one for which the official is en-
titled to the gratitude of Chelan and
| Okanogan counties. People knowing
the dilltOry practices OF the company
have reason to doubth the promises Of
the Great Northern officials, and it is
| Just possible if it were not for this
| time provision inserted in the contract
with the state the railroad con pany
| would find some excuse to continue
delaying the construction of the We
natchec-Oroville branch. Under the
understanding entered into with the
state IN The adjustment of road No. 10
tangle it is mandatory on the company
to start construction within six months
and there is now no doubt but that ac-
Iual work will really commence at an
early day.
This is the first time since grading
ceased between Oroville and Pateros
that the public has had any grounds to
hope that the Okanogan branch was to
be completed within reasC nable
period. Al. reports heretofore given
circulation regarding construction
have been based upon rumor. rumor
without shadow OF AUTHENTICITY. PeO
pie were 50 anxious to see the road
built, SO much dependent upon its con-
struction, that they were in a recep-
tive mood ready 70 accept as fact any
report put in circulation. Most OF the
reports were a Cru el hoax, and at last
the people came to believe .he consum-
nation of their hopes was never to be
realized. Now all doubts are rem owed
and by this time next year, if the com
pany is diligent In pushing work
trains should be running between Oro-
Vile aud Wenatchee, travhrsing what
is certain to be the richest territory
tributary to the Great Northern Sys-
TEN.
The people OF the Okanogan valley
and especially the residents of Oro
Vile, cannot realize what the branch
road, once in operation. means fol
them Indeed, it will not be necessary
to wait until trains are actually run
ming to see and feel the beneficial et
fects that will accrue tC the country
1t will mean the injection of new lil'
into that portion OF the cOuntr,
through which the road is to be built