The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-06-24
THE OREGON SHORT LINE.

The Tribune yesterday morning gave
comprehensive summary and detail Of
the great work which the Oregon Short
Line Company has been doing, is now
doing. and intends to do for all this
mountain region, That company has
since the summer of 1900 added an ag-
gregate of 645 miles Of new main track
at cost Of about $13,OO0.000. Our ac-
count gave a detailed itemized state
ment Of the additions to its railway
system thus made.
We also presented the schedule of
contemplated additions to the railroad
mileage of this system, aggregating in
tho principal lines named $50 miles of
track to be constructed. On these new
lines there is TO be expended $14,500,-
600: while the company's total expen-
diture on all accounts will reach the
great sum Of Sla,000,000.
1t is altogether a most enterprising
and long continued system of ben
cfcial work for the settlers along the
streams and in the valleys Of the
mountains Of this region.
A curious complication which the Ore.
eou Short Line management has done
It's best TO smooth over and remedy
has been the action Of the Government
with respect to the addition of 1924
miles Of new track known as the Salt
Lake & Idaho. This line was designed
TO serve the settlers under the Mini
doka project. The country is fairly
well settled not only by reason of the
Governments reclamation project
named, but because the Pacific Land
d Water Company is arranging TO car
ry out the development Of a large area
OIL FARMING country contiguous there
to as soon as the railway facilities are
provided This line is ready and
graded for the rails, but the track.
laying has been held up by an iniunc.
tlon Of the Federal Government. The
railroad company has purchased from
the settlers, and paid for it's right Of
way through the entire Minidoka nroi.
ect. But yet the Government insists
upon guarantees on the part of the
and that the company refuses to give,
before permitting the rails to be laid.
The settlers have petitioned the Gov
ernment to permit the company to pro.
ceed with the finishing of this line In
order that they may be able TO get to
market with their products. But the
Interior Department refuses, insisting
that the Government must "protect
the settlers, this protection being the
prevention of getting a railroad to
them, sort of protection which the
settlers do not in the least appreciate.
The sentiment in all that region is
unanimously iD favor of the railroad
and against the Government require.
ments. There can be no reason what
ever urged in common sense or fair
ness for the euloining of the compile
ton of this road. Its operation would
undoubtedly be beneficial to the set.
tiers, and there is no possibility of any
wrong to be done them by its construc-
ton. The possibility of Government
interference is simply because the Gov
ernment has not yet transferred the
final title TO the settlers, although they
will be entitled to the patents for their
lands in due course Of time as they
make their payments and as the Gov.
ernment reclamation project becomes
Of greater practical use. When We add
that the delay of the Government in
supplying the water to the settlers has
been one of the main causes of dscon.
tent. the case against the Govern
ment S interference in this railroad
construction is made complete.
few days ago we spoke euIogisti-
cally of the great work done by Pres
ident Jsmse j. Hill in helping the
farming communities of the north and
northwest contiguous to his railroad
lines in developing their farms, iu get,
ting the best quality OF seeds, and the
like. We now have to repeat that
eulogy in behalf of Mr.. William H.
Bancroft, Vice President and General
Manager Of the Oregon Short Line
Company, To him is due the chief
credit for the taking up of the extern
sive building programme which is de-
tailed, and also TO him is due in large
measure the credit for the rapid dcvel-
opment of the country which the Ore
gon Short Line Railroad and it's
branches serves, Mr. Bancroft has Ia
ken hold Of and encouraged the devel.
opment of all that region in a truly pa
ternal way. He has adopted policy
that is progressive and constructive
for the present and also that includes
large future benefits, policy in sharp
contrast with the Obstructive policy of
the Interior Department in undertak-