Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-05-07
vALLEYANDSILETzROAD
RUMOR SAYS WORK WILL BEGIN
DURING SUMMER.
Line Between Independence and Airlie
Would Develop Rich Agricul-
tural Territory.

Notwithstanding the fact that the
company's chief engineer has made
plain that the proposed railroad from
Independence to Airlie will not be con-
structed until the financial condition
Oh the country materially improves.
the report goes forth that work on
the connecting link will be prosecuted
during the present summer. The Cap
ital Journal of Monday has the fol-
lowing concerning the movements of
the company, and there is a possibili-
ty that that era of prosperity for
which the work was waiting has
struck. The Observer sincerely hopes
that The Journal is correct in its con-
ciusions regarding the commencement
OF operations. but the two years fran
mise asked from independence would
further indicate that there will be no
work on the extension this year.
"Unquestionably one of the biggest
pieces of development work to be un-
dertaken the coming summer and the
one which means more for the William
cite valley than any other one thing
is the proposed connecting UP of the
valley & Siletz railroad between Inde-
pendence and Airlie and the extension
of the line from Kings Valley over in
20 the Slletz timber region The line
$ already built and in operation be-
ween Airlie and Kings Valley. one of
he richest little valleys in the state.
md the right of way is practically Sc
ured between Independence and Air
lie when the construction work will be
egun. This years work will involve
n expenditure of about $1,000 900.
X. L. Donald, the man who did the
rellminary engineering work and the
1aJor portion of the construction
ork on the Oregon Electric, will have
1arge of the construction work of the
alley & Siletz. Mr.. Donald states
lat j. L. Hanna, who is in charge
securing the right-ofway between
dependence and Airlie, a distance of
1elve miles, is rapidly closing up the
Up and 1T is expected that the line
III De rushed through to completion
Id put in operation this summer.
lrther than that Mr.. Donald did NOT
re to state.
From prominent citizens of Inde-
ndence, who are familiar with the
uation, however, 1t Is learned that
road from Airlie into Kings Valley
ps one of the richest farming re-
ms in Western Oregon and that
len the road is connected up with
dependence, affording an outlet for
products of that valley, they ex-
u TO see some great strides in agri-
tural development in that section.
om Airlie it is proposed to extend
line on to the head of the Siletz
er in Lincoln county to tap won
fully rich body of virgin timber.
The estimated cost of construction
ween Independence and Airlie is
0,000, which work will be perform
the coming summer. but it is not
ected that the road will be extend
into the Siletz until the lumber
rket opens up and the depression in
money market is relieved SO as
make 1t pay to develop the lumber
lstry in Western Polk and Eastern
coin counties at the head of the ST.
1t is understood that the uiti-
e intention of the promoters of the
ley q Siletz railroad is to extend on
n the head of the Siletz to New
t, a distance of about SO miles.
ch Will afford short cut from the
ey to the seaside and make travel
to and from this popular summer
IT. more convenient and much
lper than the present route"