Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1913-07-25

and hoping for the railroad TO
the sea, Grants Pass will see the
commencement of the realization
of her dream Monday when actu-
al construction work upon the
first unit will be commenced.
This action was assured Sat
urday when the city council i'm
special session authorized the
execution of the contract with
Franklin Helm and the Inter-
state Construction Co. for the
building of the line to Wilder
vile, the construction company
TO accept the bonds of the city
of Grants Pass at par i'm the pro-
secution of the work.
Gives Option for Purchase.
Contract was also entered in-
to between the city and the CAL
ifornia parties providing for the
sale of the municipally-owned
portion of the road to the Cali
fornia, Oregon ~ Eastern rail-
road company by the end of three
years from date, at which time
the latter company contracts TO
have the line completed through
to the coast at Crescent City.
Under the terms of the agree
ment, the construction company
is to prosecute the work of
building with diligence, and as
directed by the city of Grants
Pass, the engineer employed by
the city to have charge of the
engineering work. Funds have
already been made available by
the California people, and Mon
day teams and men will be put
on the job, MIR. Helm stating IL
will require from ninety to 100
days for the completion of the
line TO Wilderville, the time be-
ing determined by the expedi-
ency with which the rails can be
obtained. He is now negotiating
with the steel mills for the rails,
and will have the road bed
graded and the ties ready as
soon as the rails can arrive.
May Purchase Riggs Roads.
Negotiations are also pend
ing for the purchase of the
Riggs road, which includes
what there was constructed of
the proposed Williams Valley
line two years ago. Four thous-
and feet of rails are already laid
ON this, connection made with
the Southern Pacific main line,
and a temporary bridge built
across the Rogue. The right-of-
way of this line parallels the
right-of-way owned by the city
from the 5. z. track to the river,
and no change would be neces-
sary in the course of the line.
Plans are already drawn by
which the old bridge could be
reconstructed into a span bridge
in much less time and with less
expense than would be necessary
for the building of an entirely
new bridge, thus greatly expedit-
ing the road building. The loco
motive is also included in the
negotiations, and the council by
resolution authorized the rail-
road commission TO investigate
the property, and to purchase it
If IL saw fit at price not 10 ex-
ceed $500.
To kerby in Fifteen Months.
That the line shall be built to
ketiby within 10 months is pro-
vision of the contract, the build
ers to prosecute the work con-
tinuously till the interior at
Grants Pass and the sea at Cres-
cent City are united by the twin
bands of steel. \ three-year linn
IL is set upon the time when the
road shall be completed to the
coast, though Mr.. Helm states
that he expects il will be finish
ed and in operation long before
that date, this being determined
by the length of time necessary
for the driving of the longest
tunnel on the route. The build
ing Of the road from the end Of
that portion constructed by the