The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1912-05-29
Discussion Arises Over the Pro-
posed Plans of the Northern
Pacific for Near Future
SUBSIDIARY LINES ARE
ALL TO BE CONSOLIDATED
Extension of Hartman Trackage
Into the Selah Gives Rise to
Many Rumors as to What the
Future Holds

Ties have been laid over nine miles
of the railroad from Toppenish to
White Swan and steel on three miles
The work is stopped for the present
because of the lack of STEEL but will
be renewed at once when the supply
is re-established. This is the infor-
nation given in North Yakima yes
terday by j. ID. Cornett of the Top
penish Fort Western & Simcoe line,
and he said that it is the intention to
push the construction.
It seems to be the opinion among
railroad men that consolidation of the
North Yakima 4 Valley railroad with
the Toppenish, Fort Simcoe & West
ern Is certain to result as an outcome
or the retirement of George Donald
from the presidency of the Valley
railroad and the elevation of Judge
RED of Tacoma to that position.
Both lines are feeders to and subsid-
laries of the Northern Pacific. and
the construction Of the Simcoe line
has been under the direct supervision
of the valley line
Northern Pacific Plans
Messrs. Cooper Reid and other Of
metals when here recently went over
the Simcoe road on an inspection at
the Same time that they inspected the
valley railway, aud talked and acted
then as If the two were to he under
one management. Just what the
Northern Pacific actually is planning
is matter which Is causing consid-
cradle interest. Higher officials OF
the company have for some time
recognized 1t to be fact that il was
bad advice which kept them from es-
tablishing the street railway here.
ana that mistake was made in per-
hitting 1t to so into the hands of the
.. W. K. & n. people. More recent
development has emphasized this be-
iief The construction of the electric
line into the Selah and the electric
line construction in Kittitas, which is
understood to be work by the same
interests, together with the announce
ment that the kittitas rails are 10
connect directly with Yakima. have
caused considerable speculation
among Northern Pacific officials.
q. W. X. n n. Men at Work
1T Is known that right-of-way men
or the O. w, Il. a. n. have been or
Grating in this valley, though thew
have not appeared as such They
have been In disguise. il the state.
ment does not sound too much like a
detective story. One man In the over
alls OF laborer was recently recoa
nlzed as he made inquiries on a prom
erty Just north of this city, and such
material as is available connects hin,
with the Hartman interests
CONSTRUCTION work on the part of
the street railway people is not UNI
der the same officials who are en-
gagged in the operation of the existing
electric line here, and Is being carried
on in manner which has led some
observers to believe that the rails will
be used, at a later date at least. for
a steam line connecting with western
terminals
Rcctifying Mistakes
Just what preparations the North
ern Pacific Is making to meet the con-
ditions to be brought about by tina
new construction and extension is not
known. Extension of the line into
the Cowiche and the roadbuilding to
Fort Simcoe. 1t is said, Will complete
the construction work proposed. and
that is the reason Mr.. Donald is re-
tlring. the construction period having
passed and the operating period hay
ing arrived Whether this belief COW
ers the whole situation Is not under
stoot by those without the circle.
There Is an opinion, however, which
rs more or less general, that the rail
way is preparing to overcome, if nos
sible at this time. some of the mis-
takes made when the electric line was
permitted to get away from 1t, and
also when the Zillah trackage was de-
layed until a rival had entered the
field.