Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-02-26
.NATRON CUTOFF LINE
NOW WAITS ON COURT

Until the issues involved in the suit
of the federal government to separate
the ownership of the Southern Pacific s
stock of the Central Pacific Railway
company from it, completion of the Ma
trOn cutoff to klamath Falls will not
be undertaken. This statement is made
by officials of the company. Early in
December the governments s case was
submitted on argument at San Francisco
for decision by the circuit court of ap-
peals A decision is expected momen-
tarily.
The government s contention is that
ownership and control of the Central
Pacific s lines by the Southern Pacific
| company, which, over certain stretches,
has competing line, is in violation OF
the Sherman antitrust act of congress.
Whichever way the decision goes, it is
regarded as certain that an appeal "
be taken to the United States supreme
court, causing at least a delay of two
years before legal obstacles will be ov.
ercome.
When construction of the cutoff was
stopped three or four years ago the new
line of railway, reaching out along the.
middle fork of the Willamette river
from Eugene and Natron, was built
distance of ~ miles from the latter
place to Oakridge. Prior to the com
pletion of the section to Oakridge the
cutoff was built from Weed, Cal. to
klamath Falls, distance of Sc miles,
and before work was stopped the line
was extended Al miles farther north to
Kirk. The gap between Kirk and Oak
ridge is from 115 to 12O miles, depend
ing on which of several preliminary sur
veys is adopted.
Frisco 100 Miles Nearer
When the Natron-Klamath Falls cut
off is completed the distance by rail
from Portland to San Francisco will be
shortened approximately 100 miles, com
pared with the distance of III miles
over the existing route.
Opposition of the Southern Pacific to
dismemberment of the Central Pacific
from its system, as now and for several
years controlled and operated, is based
on a showing that the original Central
Pacific, extending from San Francisco
eastward to Ogden and with line run
ming from Tehama northerly to the Ore
gon line, is a valuable and necessary
physical connection, the separation of
which would be injurious to the South
ern Pacific system, and that likewise to
separate the Central Pacific lines from
the allied lines would leave the latter
without needed connections with other
roads
The building of the Natron-Klamath
Falls cutoff, as far as completed and
projected, has been carried through as
an undertaking of the Central Pacific
1t would avoid the excessive grades
over the SiskiyOu mountains and, be.
sides bringing the Klamath Falls 20
gion in direct communication with
Portland, would open a new and pro
ductive country to outside markets,
Completion Seems Assured.
In the opinion of those who are fa'
miliar with the situation, if the govern
ment finally succeeds in dismemberine
the Southern Pacific and the Central
Pacific the stock of the latter will have
to be sold, and in that event the Union
Pacific system, or more probably some
7 other road now having its western ter
minus in Wyoming, the Chicago &
Northwestern, or the Burlington OF
Rock Island, terminating in Colorado
would buy the Central Pacific and by
extending westward to Ogden would
have connection with the original line
, reaching San Francisco from the east
In that event the gap between Sar
Francisco and Tehama, ou a Sortherr
, Pacific line through lease of the ore
gon & California Railroad company, anC
the Natron-Klamath Falls cutoff
would likely be made a through route
From Eugene or Natron to Portland
would involve construction of a new
z line unless the Oregon Electric could b,
, negotiated with for connection. II
any event. it is regarded as certain
that ultimately the cutoff will be com
nlate1 nc ori rioino1Iv intended