The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1922-04-07
ACTIVITY IN SURVEY
FOR RAILWAY LINES.
IS OF |NTEREsEHERE
Millions of Dollars Appropriated
~ For Improvements In Two
Northwest States.

The running of survey lines in this
vicinity by railroad crews has caused
considerable comment as to what the
result may mean to Athena. Lines
have been surveyed in the vicinity Of
Thorn Hollow crossing on the Una
tilla river, north toward Athena and
Adams. North of Athena, the line ex-
tends through the Sheard, Swaggart
and the old Zimmerman place, now
owned by M. L. Watts From that
point it extends in a rlorthwesterly
direction toward Wallula.
Current reports and rumors are
many and contradictive as to who is
behind the surveys and what the ul-
innate objective point will be.
Some see in the movement an ex-
tension Of the Northern Pacific from
Athena, southwark, across the Blue
Mountains, into the Grand Ronde val
ley, on to klamath Falls and down
into California.
Another and more reasonable YER
sion is that the O. w. r. g. N, now
Union Pacificized, is after an Inland
Empire route through to the Sound.
This claim is given credence for the
reason that future development Of the
Umatilla Rapids project is conceded,
and with its completion, the Union
Pacific wants to be on the ground
to receive all benefits possible accru-
ing from electrified rail lines.
One surveying crew has been work.
ing out Of Athena for two weeks.
Apparently all the members Of the
crew are able to explain is that they
are surveying, and information stops
right there.
However, it is known that railroads
will spend in excess Of 500, 900 900 in
Oregon and Washington this year for
extensions, new construction work, re-
placements and purchase Of materials.
The 0. w. R. & N. budget for spec
ial authorized construction, amounts
to $5,000,000 and in addition there is
another budget totalling $4,500 900
that is up for approval.
Budgets and special expenditures of
the five transcontinental lines serving
the Northwest have been announced
and these with the budgets and special
expenditures planned by three local
rail lines amount to $27 7,700, 900.
Regular annual expenditures for
purchase Of supplies in the two states
will be swelled to a slightly higher
level than at any time during the past
decade and railroad officials estimate
that these supplies will cost $39,0OO,-
600 during 1929.
The five transcontinental lines and
the Pacific Fruit Express company
have announced the construction Of II
054 new wooden cars, the timber for
which will all be drawn from the
Northwest and will cost approximate
ly $8,627, 900.
Though these items do not include
potential purchases of more supplies
by Eastern lines or money to be ex-
pended in short line DEVELOPMENTS
throughout the tive states, they total
$90,327 900. This is the investment
the railroads will make for improve
ments and betterments, This sum does
not include wages or taxes, which ann
ually amount to many millions of dol
lars
These figures offer conclusive proof
that the railroads have faith in the
future development Of the Northwest
country. The results from these vast
expenditures will be manifold and will
mark new era of development and
indury in the two states.
Through the building Of new termin-
ais, new bridges and lines into vast
timber tracts the railroad officials ex-
press the conviction that heavier trade
will develop in this territory and
through the adoption Of more modern
facilities, such as automatic electric
control on the Oregon Electric and
elimination of duplicate service, such
as abandonment Of one Of the De-
schutes river lines, more progress
i've and better cooperative form of
operation has been brought about.
But even more important than de-
velopment of new trade, adoption of
more progressive policies and formula
tion of cooperative spirit is the en-
try Of the rail lines into the North
west lumber market with orders close
ly approximating $4,000, 900. Timber
operators and lumber men see in this
phase new prosperity for the North
west, which is largely dependent up
on the healthiness Of the lumber in
dustry for its economic advancement.