Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1913-08-08
WORK IS STARTED
On NEW CONCRETE
TUNNEL THIS WEEK
Pierson Construction Company
Begins Tearing Up Old Wood
en- Structure.
OTHER RAILRO AID NEW S
Chehalis Grants Franchise to the
Olympia Southern-Local De-
velopments Expected.

Donkey engines, concrete mixers,
steam shovels and other appliances
and materials to be used by the Pier
son Construction company of Portland
in the construction of the new cement
tunnel under Seventh street for the
Northern Pacific railway began to ar
rive this week, indicating that the
company proposes to proceed immedi-
ately with the improvement.
Just what the Northern Pacific pro-
poses to do about the construction of
a new depot in Olympia is still indefi-
mite, though as previously reported an
item of $4,000 for this purpose was
Included in the recommendations Of
the officers of this division to the
home Office in st. Paul. What action
has been taken there on this recon-
mendation is not known locally.
Practically one year remains before
the tunnel for which the Pierson COM
pany has the contract has to be fin
ished, but the rainy season will set in
shortly and there is q lot of prelimi-
nary work to be done in the meantime.
Actual work on the contract was be-
gun this week at the eastern end of
the present wooden structure, where
some of the supports were removed
and further excavations made.
Interest in local railroad problems
was somewhat stimulated this week
when the report came from Chehalis
that that city had granted the Olympia
Southern railroad a franchise to op-
'erate through Chehalis. Just what
railroad is behind this project is still
a matter Of some conjecture locally,
though 1t is generally believed to be
the northern end Of the Milwaukee, s
Willapa Harbor line, as all the other
railroads in this section have fran
chises in Centralia and Chehalis.
Request for a similar franchise is
pending in Centralia and 1t is expect
ed will be granted shortly. Contracts
for construction work on the new line
of the Puget Sound & Willapa Harbor
railroad, the accredited branch line of
the Milwaukee to Raymond and South
Bend, have been called for. and the
tussle between that railroad and the
'O..W. R. & N. Is waxing warm.
Those acquainted with the railroad
situation in Western Washington ad.
NIT that there are some developments
anticipated within the next few weeks
which are expected to mean much to
Olympia. These hedge around the ad.
vent into this city of either the Mil
waukee or the o. & w., and it is gen.
orally believed that an announcement
of construction into Olympia by one
of these roads will also mean the com.
Ing Of the other.
The high rates of interest prevail.
Ing In the Eastern money markets are
believed to be the cause of the delay
hindering the progress of these devel-
'opments, belief substantiated by a
statement made by President Earling
OF the Milwaukee in Tacoma this week
IN which he said no further extensions
would be made by that company until
the money market became easier. How
ever, the Milwaukee floated $3,000,.
. oo0 loan recently for the construction
or Its Willapa Harbor line and 1t may
De that enough will be left after this
work is finished to build a line into
Olympia.
Should the Milwaukee come into
olympia, those who purport to know
claim the line will run around the
mead OF the Sound to Shelton and
'hen on up to Bremerton. affording the
naval yard the rail connection for
which the government is anxious and
mas not today. The road from Shelton
west across the peninsula that Mark
Reed and associates are now construc.
'lhg may figure in such a project, as
'he Milwaukee owns thousands of acres
VI timber lands on the western slope
VI 'he Olympics. to which it is now
building a line from the northern end
VI the peninsula.