The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1912-05-17
DISTINGUISHED VISITORS.

| Monday afternoon three automobiles
rolled into town containing high Off
cials of the Great Northern railroad,
who were making a tour of inspection
over territory tributary to the main
and branch lines of the road the gen.
tlemen represent, and especially where
contemplated branches are soon to be
constructed The "soon" however,
may be remotely in the future, but the
territory visited is where branches
have been promised, anyhow. The
party consisted of l.. w. Hill, who has
resigned the position he long held
as president of the Great Northern
company, to take effect Sunday Mr..
Hill will continue to be force in the
government of the Great Northern
system. c. R. Gray, who was recent
ly elected president to fill the vacancy
made by the resignation of Mr. Hill
II. A. Jackson, assistant traffic mana
ger, st. Paul. M. J. Costello, assis-
tant traffic manager, Seattle. f. C.
Leedy, general immigration agent, st.
Paul. F. W. Graham, general immi-
| grafton agent, Seattle. c. G. Morrison,
l.. T. Mcdonald and e. G. Hardgrave,
of St. Paul, holding responsible posi-
tions in the official army of the road.
The party left Spokane Saturday
afternoon, ran out to Davenport, and
from that place to Peach, to which
point branch has been recently con-
structed from the Central Washington
line. From Peach a run was made to
the Columbia river opposite the mouth
of the San Poll river, the crossing of
the Columbia being made by ferry
The route from there was up the San
Poll to Republic. The extension of the
branch from Curlew to Republic down
the San Poll is in contemplation, in
deed, has been in contemplation for
long time. From Republic the travel
ers reached Oroville on the road
through Wauconda. Anglin and Ton
asket.
Mr.. Hill and his associates spent
about two hours in Oroville, meeting
number of citizens, and were taken to
the OkanOgan Smith ranch to see what
this country is capable of growing in
the way of orchards. From here the
eXcursiOnists continued on to Pentic-
ton, across to Keremeos, Hedley and
Princeton. In this long run Messrs.
Hill and Gray, the real heads of the
road, covered large scope of country
and became by close observation ac-
quainted with its wonderful extent and
possibilities in the way of producing
tonnage that must be hauled to mar
ket. The chances of speedy railroad
construction are enhanced by this tour
OF observation, for those welding the
power to do things could not fail to be
impressed with the evident resources
of country awaiting development. a
development that would be hastened
II means of transportation were pro-
vided. 1t may be true that that ton
mage is not directly in sight, unmoved
because there is no means to move it,
yet 1t must be patent to these gentle
men that that tonnage would be forth
coming If the encouragement of a rail-
road was an incentive to produce it.
The country Is new. 1t is filling up
rapidly. 1t is an inviting field for the
industrious and investor. Railroads
have built into new countries with far
less promise of haulage than is offered
by this north country, and the building
Of such roads has been followed by
growth that speedily provided busi-
ness for the transportation companies
that tapped such territory. The same
could be counted on by railroad build
ing through this part of the northwest
only the business would be created
much more rapidly, and to a greater
extent than elsewhere where the eX-
pertinent has been tried
As usual with railroad officials the
gentlemen were uncOmmunicative as
to the object OF the trip, or the inten-
tiOns of the company as regards fur
ther construction of branches. Mr.,
Hill did state that when the company
commenced laying steel on the Oro-
Vile Wenatchee' branch, laying of
track would start at this end of the
line, although he failed to intimate
| when a start would be made. How
ever, some hope and consolation can
be drawn from the presence of so many
high officials in this part of the coun-
try. Besides the Oroville- Wenatchee
branch, and the San Poll extension, a
| line has been surveyed from Oroville
to Penticton, and as result of this
tour of observation active work may
be decided upon all these three con-
| templated extensions. Railroad cor
porations move with great deal of
deliberation, and in the past the Great
| Northern has extended feeders from
| the main line that have not yielded
much of a contribution toward divi
ueuuS. I1cuCc IucIe lHuSt Dt
thing tangible in sight in the way of
| tonnage before the company manifests
any great activity in new construction.
Still after viewing this vast northern
domain. that has been held back for
| lack of ready means of communica-
tion, the head of the Great Northern
may advise and urge a speedy occu
| pancy of the field. At least that is
| a conclusion it is hoped President
Gray, ex-President Hill and his asso-
ciates will reach after their visit.
A portion of the party arrived in
Oroville on the return trip Wednesday
about noon, and left Thursday morn
| ing for Wenatchee via Brewster and
intermediate points. 1t was the pub
licity part of the delegation that re-
turned, as it is their business to Sc
cure advertising and booster dope for
the country tributary to the line, to be
used in the east. Messrs. Hill, Gray
Jackson and Costello cut across coun-
try at Princeton to catch the Canadian
Pacific, and return to their duties.