The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1911-09-27
RAILWAY WILL
FOLLOW NACf1ES
O.-W. r. & N. Extension West
ward Il to Come Out Near
Auburn, in King County

An engineer and a crew of 80 men
headwaters of the Naches in survey
ing a route across the hills for the
0. ". r. & N. company. They are
now in Kittitas county and are work.
ing toward North Yakima. The start
was made from Auburn, in King
county. The route of the party was
up the White river on the west side
of the hills, through the Naches pass
and down the east side by way of the
Naches river, the route of the rail-
way lying very close to the north
side of the Naches river. That the
party has been at work in the ter
ritory west of North Yakima has
been known for some time as sup
plies have been purchased in North
Yakima and have been sent out from
here to Naches City, from where
they were taken in to the camp.
Admit Work I'm Progress
Officials of the o. w. r. & N.
railway sometime ago admitted that
work has been in progress, looking
to the extension of the Hartman line
westward from Yakima to an outlet
on the Sound, but were not inclined
to give out any particulars. In fact,
they rather left the impression that
the proposed route was through the
Selah and Wenas and to a connection
with the Milwaukee railway at Ell
Iensburg. This does not appear to
be the case, neither does it appear
that the railway will follow the south
side of the Naches as expected. That
the company planned construction
work at no very distant date was
made manifest when the Donald rail-
way recently began construction work
in the Cowiche, running line off
from It's main line across country
which it was naturally expected the
Hartman line would penetrate.
Electrical Experts Here
1t seems altogether probable, as
Vice President r. e. Strahorn an
nounced some time ago, that the line
west from North Yakima would be
in whole or in part operated by cleo
tricity. Coincident with the arrival
in this territory of the crew Of sur
veyors, there has arrived here two
electrical experts of the Hartman
system, who propose to make tour
into the mountains over the route of
the railway. These experts are A. H.
Babcock, of San Francisco, and Paul
Lebaum, both connected with the
Hartman work 1t is expected that
they will be Joined by other officials
of the railway, who will go out with
them over the hills and into the ter
ritory where the electrical power for
the railway, if resorted to, will be
used
Has Much Business
While many people find it difficult
to understand where the new line
will get business to sustain a route
between this town and the sound
ports. the fact remains that there is
a great deal of business out of this
valley which the o. w. r. G. N. is
handling as far west as its territory
extends. That business today runs
into thousands of carloads and is but
fraction of what will offer under the
development of the next few years.
Such of it as is picked up now In the
lower valley, Is turned over to the
Northern Pacific at North Yakima.
When the western extension is COM
pleted, there will be no such division
and the aggregate is worth working
for. AT least such Is the statement
made by those who know, shipping
men and others.