The west shore., July 01, 1889, Page 379, Image 30

THE WEST SHORE.
erly direction to Foster, on the 0. R. A N. railway,
thence southerly to Butter creek, a total distance of
about thirty miles from Fulton. There is a proba
bility that this line will be extended still farther west
toward the Prineville country, in Crook county, trav
ersing the fertile belt lying between the Blue moun
tains and the Columbia, but this is not contemplated
for the present season.
Fifth A short line from Riverside, on the Walla
Walla division, to Prescott, ten miles to the eastward,
will probably be constructed.
Thus there is planned for building the preiont
year a total of about one hundred and ninety miles of
track, which, added to the mileage already under op
eration, will give the Hunt system about three hun
dred and thirty miles of well equipped road. The
lines ramify the Inland Empire in such a way that by
far the greater part of the territory is tributary to
them. They are built for the accommodation of local
business, and every faoility is afforded for the pro
ducers to reaoh the best market with their goods.
The road seoares the patronage of those already lo
cated in the country through which it is built, and it
renders the country accessible to the vast hordes who
are seeking good homes. A large amount of capital
is invested merely in the construction work of the nu
merous lines, and hundreds of men and tesms are
steadily employed throughout the soason. Eureka
Flat junction is made the general supply point for the
construction department for implements, and Hunt's
Junction for the iron and ties. The construction de
partment is exceptionally well furnished with every
convenience for doing rapid and efficient work. Mr.
Hunt owns three saw mills along the Cascade division
of the Northern Pacifio and cuts all the timber used
in building his lines.
The cities whioh Hunt's railway lines touch are
vigorous, thriving, western towns that are enjoying a
healthy growth and rapidly extending their business
interests in every direction. The largest city is
Walla Walla, where the business headquarters of the
system is established. It is one of the oldest towns
of the northwest and it is known from one end of the
country to the other as being in one of the most fer
tile sections of the United States. It is a city of
about seven thousand inhabitants, has water works,
electrio lights, street cars, three daily newspapers, two
banks and large number of mercantile houses that
have a trade so large as to be surprising to any one
not fully acquainted with the surrounding country.
In the sales of agricultural implements Walla Walla
leads the Inland Empire. The territorial penitenti
ary is located there and the United States maintains
a military post about a mile from the business
portion of the city. It U the county seat and
has many publio and private buildings, such as the
oourt house, schools and colleges, churches, business
blocks and residences of striking architectural beau
ty. A fine new hotel is among the possibilities of
the not distant future now that the Hunt line is ex
tended there. Considerable manufacturing is done,
principally of flour and agricultural implements, the
power being furnished by Mill creek, whioh flows
through the middle of the city. The professions are
well represented in Walla Walla and many of the
practitioners are of more than local fame. The bulk
of the shipping to and from this city is done by the
Hunt lines. The next largest town is Pendleton,
having a population of between three and four thou
sand. It is situated at the edge of the Umatilla In
dian reservation, arrangements to open which are
now in progress. The lands of this reservation will
be allotted the coming fall, and there will then be
subject to entry by settlors a large traot of as choloe
land for general farming as can be found anywhere.
These Isnds will not be obtainable for speculators,
because one person oan take only one hundred and
sixty acres and residence of one year on the claim Is
required of all who secure title to land in that traot.
The farms and stock ranohes outside the reservation
have supported a good growth in the city and the
prospects are favorable for a boom as soon as the ad
joining lands, now held unimproved by the Indians,
are occupied by thrifty settlers. The town has man
ufactories of flour snd furniture and all the oonven
ienoes of a modorn city. The city of Union, to which
it is proposed to build, is the seat of justioe of Union
oounty, and this railway will make it one of the most
important places in Eastern Oregon. Bummerville Is
also an enterprising town whioh the line to Union
will touch. The railway will relieve it of the embar
go whioh tedious transportation by stage or freight
Warns at present plaoes upon its growth. Centerville,
Milton, Weston and Dayton are flourishing towns
having a large agricultural patronage. At Center
ville there is a junction with the 0. II A N. This
point is growing rapidly and in a substantial manner.
Waitsburg has a fine situation in the heart of the
wheat oountry. It is a town of nearly a thousand in
habitants, has a large flouring mill and dors a great
volume of general business. Prescott, a number of
miles to the west, is another live town having excel
ltnt prospects. There are sure to grow op oo the
line of the road where there has been no previous set
tlement several towns of considerable slie.
The Hunt lines connect with the Northern Pacific
railroad at Hant's Junction, and Mr. Hunt has a traf
fio agreement with the Northern for fifty years, lbs
Hunt lines drain the oountry toward the sound and
the traffio arrangements are so favorable that It is a