Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-01-08

At the Board of Trade luncheon to-
day maps and profles were pinned
up on the walls for an electric line
from Salem to Stayton via Macleay,
Shaw and Aumsville. The route was
explained by NJ E. Reed, prominent
Portland railway engineer who has
made the surveys and plats showing
ownership and estimates of cost. Sa-
lem capital is to be enlisted to the
amount of about 100000 and bonds
will be floated for the rest. Five
miles east of Salem a branch line Is
to go to Silverton, and from Aums-
vile another branch to West Stay
ton.
Who Was Present.
! M. E. Reed, consulting engineer,
Portland; G. E. Tower, horticulturist
of the Bohrnstedt company W. L,
Freres, of Stayton, H. L. Downing,
of Sublimity; Mayor Lachmund and
President Jos. Albert, of the Salem
Board of Trade.
The others present were: C. H.
Dick, ]. p Rogers, J. L. Stockton, T
B. Kay, f. B. Meredith, e. T. Barnes
H. B. Thielsen, H. w. Meyers, H. s
Gile, Carl Abrams, NJ O'Buren, Art
Benson, Russell Catlin, R. X. Page
A. F. Hofer, E. Hofer.
Interest and Enthusiasm.
County Judge Bushey introduced
Mr. Reed, saying he was good au-
thority on the matter and the country
traversed was one OF the best and
most productive in the state Mr.
Reed in explaining the route said il
was nearly straight shoot from Sa-
lem, leaving the corner OF High and
Mill streets east to the penitentiary
and then on past Macleay on the
south and through Shaw, Aumsville
and Stayton. There would not he
over a two and one-half per cent
grade nor a six degree curve. The
distance would be liz miles and the
grading light. Following is estimat-
ed cost per mile:
Grading and bridging. .......,$ 2,5OC
Rails and laying .......... 1906
Electrltylng ................ 4,UUt
Telephone line ........ l0C
Engineering. ........... 500
Rolling stock. .............. 2,4OC
Total, per mile ..........$1 $1,000
Total cost of construction and
equipment, $3O9,OOO.
Eestimated net earnings, per year
$4,000
Earnings of Electrics.
Mr.. Reed showed as the basis OF
his estimate of net earnings of an
electric line to Stayton figures of 4C
electric lines earning % cents per
car-mile on an average. The Oregon
Electric was showing SO cents net
earnings per car mile. Mr. Reed
made a very favorable impression on
those present and answered all ques-
tions relating to the same in an in
telligent manner. He stated that he
had made the survey entirely at mis-
own expense and had friends who
would help take up the bond issue il
substantial people at Salem could be
identified with the enterprise.
Was Hot Discussion.
Messrs Muren, Stockton, Barnes
and Jos. Albert endorsed the propo-
sition in hearty manner. II. s.
Gile went so far as to say he would
! invest $4,000 in any such road to get
into a prune district and the city
would make it back in one season.
Mayor Lachmund was not stuck on
wildcat promoters and was opposed
to giving away any more franchises
as had been done to the Welch lines
T. B. Kay praised the Welch line and
said but for it the Oregon Electric
would never have been built. If any
| good substantial and reliable COM
pany wanted to come in here with
another railroad the mayor could
not stop them getting a franchise
| The mayor said with that qualifica-
ton he would agree with him. Mr.
Kay said Salem owed it to the rest OF
the country to help build this line
and he for one would subscribe to-
wards it. r. K. Page said the people
all the way to Stayton would give
free right of way and many would
help with subscriptions He thought
we ought to build this road ourselves
II we can't get some one else Ia
build it for us as this was a very
critical time for Salem. There was
a movement to take all this business
direct to Portland via Woodburn. OF
through Silverton and Oregon City
Messrs. Freres and Downing both
had haa rtv WOrdc NJ anDrOyoI o.. l. .