Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1912-11-29
PROPOSES BONDING GRANTS
PASS FOR A RAlLRO3I

To the People of Grants Pass and
This Community:
] wish to say a word to the people
of Grants Pass apropos the plan to
build railroad from Grants Pass to
the coast
l was the chief directing and dis
uibuting official for two years and a
half for the Hartman lines i'm Mexi-
co, during. which period there were
constructed 500 kilometers-or
about 500 miles-of railroad a rail-
road that was physically inferior
even in its very first year only to
such roadbeds as the New York Cen
tral and Pennsylvania. Under my
authority of execution were handled
40 work trains, 30 locomotives and
so train and engine crews; a fleet of
ballast cars numbering 500 and
ranging from the immense battle
ship" and Ledgerwood classes down
to those of ten ton capacity. known
among hard rock men as the mos
quito flotila" When no "cribbiug
was encountered, track was laid at
the rate Of from three to four Rilo-
meters day Fourteen miles OF
steel bridges were built
mention these details to show
that | am qualified to speak on the
subject of railroad construction
much better, perhaps, than most men
in this community. Jim and Ed To-
lin, of Grants Pass big and practical
railroad men, were some of those as
sociated with me in the immense
work in Mexico
At the railroad mass meeting to-
morrow night why should Mr. Fry.
Nr. Gilkey, N,r. Garner, 3lr. Ki2oov
and a score of our other enterprising
and wealthy citizens be asked to bear
alone the financial burden of fnanc-
ing a railway from Grants Pass for
distance of 70 odd miles to meet
the railroad that Mr.. Hotchkiss and
his partners are to build from Cres-
cent City this way. Why not allow
all the people to bear the burden.
and, incidentally, to share in the ben
efts of such an enterprise.
Why not submit at once to the
people of Grants Pass proposition
to bond the city for 100000, sach
sum to be used for the immediate
construction OF railway from
Grants Pass to meet the Hotchklss
project, tapping the Illinois valley
and the Swede Basin lumber forests !
Such railway, when completed, 10
make a very low rate on unnnisned
lumber into Grants Pass, this to oe
sawed and finished here. 1t Is d
we'll known fact that redwood Iunl-
ber cannot be finished at tide"a'eI'
Such a railway can be constructed
from Grants Pass for % miles toward
the coast at from $4,000 to Sl+'OVo
per mile. Many members OF my po-
litical party favor this plan ana 1t
meets the friendly interest and more
Of such acute business men and EN-
pire builders" as Dr. Reddy WIN
whom | discussed the plan TeceN'''
If the people of Grants Pass reply
afarmatively on the proposition / az
yocate for the issuance Of the bonus
the railroad question would be set
tied at once and for all, with the en-
tire communicated not only le"
behind it.
However, the approval Oh lD7 p'.
to issue bonds would not neeess'' '''
mean that the city would have 70 pay
this sum. unless it desired to 40 so
as when this step was once
and railroad construction '--
menced. offers would come u va"
many financial sources to l'ns 49,
the entire proposition. and the ...
could then sell out with pion. '-
interest if it desired. or could retain
ownership if it desired. Leave .-'
entire matter Of this also to 'hs p''
pie.
We shall have to have De"
pr+ with q rail-