Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-02-06
PACIFIC EXPECTS TO
SPEND $1,000, 900 TO ELEC-
TRIFY ENTIRE WEST
SIDE LINES.
WORK TO BEGIN AT ONCE
First Change to Include Track Be
tween Portland and McNTinnvilIe,
After Which Steam Power VIII Not
Be Used North of Latter Place
Service Every Two Hours.

The proposition of the Southern
Pacific railroad Company to begin
the construction of a double track
electric line out of Portland toward
McMinnville, making the initial step
in a line to Dallas later, now depends
upon the fate of an ordinance to be
brought before the Portland city
council. The committee appointed
from the Dallas Commercial club is
awaiting some necessary data before
taking steps to urge the passage of
the ordinance.
An appropriation of $1,60O,0OO has
been made to carry on the work and
If no delay Is met with construction
can be started at once, officials of
the company say.
Trains TO Run Often.
Plans for the operation OF trains
provide for service in either direct
ion out of Portland every hour The
hourly trains will alternate over the
Fourth street line and the Yamhill
division, giving the towns on each
branch a service in either direction
every two hours.
McMinnville will be the southern
terminus of both routes at present.
All traffic of every kind will be
moved by electricity and steam To-
comotives will not be used on the
West side lines north Of McMinn-
Vile.
A large amount of material is now
on hand, in warehouses ready for the
commencement of construction. The
rolling stock will consist Of steel pas
senger cars of the very best modern
pattern.
Franchises Obtained.
Franchises have been secured at
Forest Grove, Hillsboro. and New
berg, under which the electrified
lines will enter the heart OF each OF
these cities. At other points the
present right Of way will be operated
and such additional depot and sta
tion ground facilities acquired as may
be necessary.
"Of course II must be apparent to
any student OF transportation that the
electrical development to McMinn-
Vile Of these West side lines cannot
stop at McMinnville." says General
Counsel w d. Fenton, in an inter-
view. "and while the present appro-
prlation only provides for construct
ion to McMinnviiIe. ii must logically
follow that the electrihcation must
be extended 10 cover the entire West
side mileage, taking IL 20 Corvallis
and all intermediate stations now
served by the West side lines. This
will certainly follow as a second unit
Of the development. and the officials
Of the company have visited these
other places beyond McMinnville and
have given assurance to this effect.
Through Line Assured.
when the electrificatiOn shall have
reached Corvallis. IL is apparent that
the gap between Eugene and corval-
lis must be closed. with the result
that the entire West side. from Port
land to Eugene. must be served by
an electric through line. with neces-
sary connections. TO serve all of the
important cities and towns on the
west side Of the Willamette river.
This means a great development Of
an of this country. and II necessa-
rily beneficial to Portland a. great
metropolis. interested In the progress
and development Of the cities and
.r...-,-s ~ the efafa