THE MORXIXG OREGOXIAN. WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 23, 1910.
G ENER ALTER M INAL
IS NOT INTENDED
General Manager O'Brien Dis
cusses Concessions Which
0. N. & R. Is Seeking.
LAND UNFIT FOR PURPOSE
Grants At ill Give Company 'o I n
due Advantage Over Other torn
pari Irs, or 0er Milpprrs or
City, orrk-ial lcrlarr.
Psnylns; ths cft-rt"td assertion that
tris OR N. Company drains th vaca
tion of pTral streets on the East Side
for funeral terminal facilities and joint
Ir.s; out that the conresslona which the
company seks from the city svill elimi
nate or.e track on tasc Front street, that
thy will Improve the servlc to Puset
Bound by avoiding the necceslty of run
nlnc trains throush the Alblna yards
and that such grants will not give the
company an unfair advantage over any
other railroad . or over the shippers or
over the. cl:y. J. P. O'Brien, general man-
sger of the O. R- N. Company, yenter
day made reply to the various criticisms
thst have been offered idr.ee the contro
versy arose and presented the situation
from bis point of view. Ills statement
follows:
Tlie business Interests of East Tort-
land have urged that a local freight d
pot be built upon the East Side and that
facilities be developed there for the re
ceiving and for the delivery of carload
I and less than carload shipments; for the
on an angle through the freight and
passenger yards of the Northern Pa
cific Terminal Company of Oregon the
West Side approach for the proposed
Broadway Drioge.
"4. A triangular piece of land front
ing (2 feet upon Pacific atreet and "2
feet upon Adams street, from block
Si. Wheeler's Addition to the city of
Portland.
"5. Some (5 acres of land in Car
ruthers" Addition to. the city of Port
land for park and boulevard purposes.
The right to construct within
the railroad right-of-way for a dis
tance of a mile and a quarter, or a
mile and a half, more or less, a large
sewer, known as the "Sullivan's Gulch
Stvfr.' same being nearly three miles
In length.
7. Immunity from damage to blocks
IT and T on Seventh street, account ap
proach to Broadway bridge on the west
side of the river.
"In addition to these concei.loni
some minor concessions have been
made, such as use of compsny property
during construction of bridge, right-of-way
for bridge across Sullvan'i
Gulch at East Twenty-first street.
Value of Concessions Compared.
"Referring to the value of the con
cession made by the railroads to the
city and which have been termed by
some as "petty concessions.' call your at
tention to the fact that an appraisal of
same was made by Pavld M. Stearns
and Lewis Kusseli on behalf of the
city, and while we do not agree with
the figures they contend for. except as
to the South Portland property, yet
using them as basis, they fixed a value
MAYOR
MOTS
DOGKCOMM
SS ON
Control of Waterfront to
Placed in Hands of
Business Men.
Be
FIVE ARE PUT ON BOARD
Membership
MarMaMer,
Moo res.
Consists of 'William
Ben Selling, C. II.
F. W. Mulkey
and II. L. Corbett.
As the first step toward the public
ownership of docks, as provided In a law
passed at the recent election. Mnyor
Flmon yesterday made public his selec-
after the amendment goes Into effect.
The amendment will go Into effect 30
days after election day.
Within ten days after their formal
appointment, the members of the Dock
Commission will be required to meet and
organ lie oy selecting a chairman. They
will then be required to determine by lot
among themselves the respective length
of their terms of service, consisting of
one, two, three, four or five years. All
vacancies must be filled by the Mayor.
Duties Are Many.
Among- the duties and powers of the
Dock Commission are:
The expenditure of $2,600,000 at an
early date for acquiring public docks.
The sale of bonds for this amount waa
authorized In the charter amendmenu
creating the Commission.
To "cause to be prepared a compre
hensive plan for the reconstruction of
the harbor front of Portland."
To "purcase or secure by condemna
tion or by other lawful means" lands
and right necessary for publlo docks.
To "have exclusive charge and con
trol of the wharf property belonging;
to the city." This Includes "the ex
clusive charge and control of the re
pairing, building, rebuilding, operation.
alteration and leasing of aald property
and every part thereof, and all the
cleaning, dredging and deepening nec
essary In and about the same."
To reject. If desired, all bids for con
struction, and have the work done by
day labor. J
to issue permits tor an waterfront
Improvements.
To adopt ordinances governing the
waterfront and have these published
NORTH
COAST IS
HAN
'S IDEA
Late "Wizard of Railroad
World" Financed Road
From Inception. ,
COURT'S ACT CAUSED MOVE
When Northern Securities Company
Was Dissolved Harrlman Laid
Plans to Parallel Northern.
Pacific In Washington.
Additional confirmation of the state
ment that the North Coast Railroad Is
Harrlman enterprise came yesterday
from sources of unquestionable know!
MAP SHOWING STREET VACATIONS ON THE EAST SIDE ASKED BY THE O. R. & N. CO. FROM THE CITY.
benefit of the business district that Is
gromlcg and developing In Central East
Portland, and facilities of this kind re
quire In connection with the depot what
are known as "team tracks.' The property
In question Is adapted to this develop
ment by the expenditure on the part of
the railroad of considerable sums of
money, and these petitions for vacations
were not filed until all the property own
ers Interested, ss well ss the railroad
companies had requested them.
Streets Not at Waterfront.
"I submit herewith a map showing the
ends of the streets petitions for vacation
of which have been filed, that you may
correct the Impression that has been
given by others to tlve public namely:
that these streets reach the waterfront.
The fact is that the shortest distance
from the harbor line to any of the
streets Is approximately from S to 0
feet over private property, with the pos
sible exception of East Pine and East
Ash rtreets. through which the approach
to th riverfront Is provided by way of
Water street.
"It hss been represented that the
ground In question Is desired by the rail
road company for genera terminals. The
fact ' that It Is totally unfit to be adapt
ed t any such purpose. It Is needful
for the purpose of building a freight
house, with necessary bouse tracks and a
team track, with a roadway along the
entire length of the same. The entire
tier of block desired for these depot fa
cilities Is only 1 feet long and 2U0 feet
In width. The new freight house of the
O. R- A N. Company now under con
struction In this city la alone IVO feet
long. The property In question here Is
adapted to no other purpose that we can
conceive of. It Is practically a swamp
In Its present condition and covered by
water during a considerable portion of
th year, and to carry out the plans un
dertaken we are required to use about
UO.oro cubic yards of earth to bring It
up to street grade.
Ground Needed for Curve.
"In addition to the above named
streets, we have also asked for the va
cation of some platted streets under the
bluff at tbe approach to our new steel
bridge, which are necessary for the pur
pose of making the proper curves to
our tracks leading to and from said
bridge, both north and south.
"As to franchises sought, the Navi
gation Company has a franchise cross
ing Front street at the location of the
present steel bridge for an overhead
structure and three tracks. Wa are
asking for a new franchise for li years
to cover the overhead structure of the
new steel bridge across Front street
at Ullaan street, with two tracks under
neath. This Is simply an exchange of
one franchise against another, with one
track less.
"We are asking a franchise from the
city to cross some streets that converge
In Lower Alblna at the foot of Russell
street adjoining our car shop property.
At the present time all trains to the
Sound are being run through our busy
yard In Alblna at great Inconvenience
and delay, and we have constructed a
new line around the east side of our
shop building and through to the Pen
' Insula tunnel for the purpose of avoid
Ing this yard, and the franchise In ques
tion Is merely to connect up this new
line with the present main track south
of our shop grounds.
Exchange of Grants Proposed.
"What tbe city has asked of us: The
contention has been made that we have
offered the city a. number of conces
slona. As a matter of fact, with ,our
applications for our street vacations,
matters of importance to the city came
up for consideration, with the result
that a committee was appointed, com
prising the Mayor and several Council
men, to sea If an agreement could be
arrived at. We felt then, and we feel
now. that It waa our duty to confer
with the city authorities and adjust all
matters upon a fair business basis If
possible. We certainly are not seeking
any litigation with the city If. by any
reasonable concession, we can avoid 11.
As a result of conferences had between
the representatives of the city, ap
pointed as aforesaid, and of the rail
roads, an exchange of grants was pro
posed and was approved by resolution
of the council. By this arrangement
the grants of the railroad company
hereinbefore outlined as desired by It.
were recommended and la return the
city waa and Is to receive the follow
ing: "1. A conveyance to the city of a
right of way feet wide and some SOtl
feet la depth, cutting through the cen
ter of a dockslte of the O. R A N.
Company, fronting on the lower harbor
for a distance of TOO feet. This piece
of waterfront Is effectually cut In two
by the construction of a bridge pier
near the harbor Una and of a second
bridge pier or abutment on the east
line of said property. This grant la de
sired for the esst approach of the
Broadway bridge.
Other Concessions Offered.
"S. A strip of land approximately
tSOS feet long 100 feet wide In
sections 21 and II. township 1. north of
range 1 east, being desired by the city
for boulevard along the bluff in Al
blna, overlooking the Willamette River.
. Tbe rla-ht to build and l&aintala
HA DEO FORTIOS IXDICATE THE STREET". WHICH ARB TO BE VACATED. BLOCKS MARKED A BELONG TO NORTHER V PACIFIC TERM-
I.M.tL CO. BLOCKS MARKED B, TO SOUTHERN PACIFIC AND U. It. Jt N.
to the city, as per their written report
of April . 110. of 1:99.400. and the
value of the concessions from the city
to the railroads -at 1311.880. Since the
date of tbat report the following fur
ther concessions have been made by us
to the city, towlt:
"First A strip 2500 feet long, com
prising six acres in front of the City
of Alblna. for boulevard around the
bluff, said land In said concession If
appraised at one-half of the price for
which lota In that neighbor!, od are
selling, or at 750 a lot. would be worth
approximately 1:7.000.
"Second Area of 71 feet on Adams
street and IS feet on Pacific street
would be worth at least f 16.000.
"Add to these, financial benefit of
the clfy for the construction and main
tenance of a sewer on Its right-of-way
out Sullivan's Gulch, we think there
could be no question that we have out
weighed the city In concessions If the
matter Is to be determined upon a
money basis.
Sewer RIght-of-Way Valuable.
"This sewer, so called, which appro
prlatea 10 feet In width of tha railroad
company's rlght-of-war longitudinally
for a mile and a quarter, more or less,
was located there, as It Is quite appar
ent, to save the city large expense and
great annoyance In securing rights-of-way
through private properties: and
secondly, to save the city a large aura
In construction, because It will have the
advantage of the excavation that has
been made and uniform grade that has
been built by the railroad company In
constructing Its line.
"Tbe maps showing the concessions
from the railroads have been and are
at all times open to the Inspection of
any member of the Council, o- of the
Executive Board of the City of Port
land, or any other office.- of the city.
and to representatives of the press, and
to anyone else tbat is interested in
seeing these matters disposed of upon
their merits, and fair treatment ac
corded to all concerned.
"Regardless of what action may be
taken In these mattera by the Cpuncll,
we want It distinctly understood by
the people at large that we have at
tempted In good faith to arrive a. an
amicable adjustment of the same, with
the city authorities, and If we are un
able to do so we feel that the responsi
bility Is not with us."
City Attorney Will Oppose.
City Attorney Grant, at the meeting
of the City Council today, will object
to the passage of the ordinance.
tlon of the members of the Dock Com
mission. The members, who will have
entire control of the waterfront, passing
ordinances for Its regulation and having
Khe right to purchase, sell or lease dock
property on behalf of the city, as named
yesterday by the Mayor, are: William
Mac Master. Ben Selling. C. B. Moo res,
F. XV. Mulkey snd H. U Corbett.
The men who will administer the de
partment of public docks will have prob
ably more responsible duties than any
other set of men who will take part In
PERSONNEL OF BOCK COM-
M1S3IOX.
Members of the asw Dock Com
mission. In whose hands wilt be
Intrusted the regulation of tbe water
front of Portland, according to a law
adopted by tbe people. November a.
bave been selected by the atayor. and
will be officially appointed by him at
an early date. The members sre:
William McMaster.
Ben Selling,
C B. afoores,
F. -W. Mulkey,
II. L. Corbett.
the government of the city, but they will
receive no pay for their services. That
the great responsibility should not fall
fnto the hands of Incapable men, the
Mayor said yesterday, he has taken much
care In the selection of the members
of the Commission.
Three members selected by the Mayor
have assured him that they would ac
cept the positions. F. XV. Mulkey, the
Mayor said yesterday, had left for Cali
fornia when he was selected and it has
not been possible for the Mayor to com
municate with him concerning the pro
posed appointment. William MacMaster
also has not been seen by the Mayor re
garding the matter.
Acceptances Are Expected.
"But I am sure that each of them will
accept the appointment." said the Mayor.
"Mr. Mulkey Is an enthusiast concerning
the public ownership of docks, and Mr.
MacMaster Is also interested In them.
"The men i nave seiectea, l reel, are
men whom the communfty will trust.
They are ail representative business men
who will be conservative In the perform
ance of their duties."
According to the charter amendment
which provides for the Dock Commis
sion, the Mayor must make the appoint
ment of the members within ten days
with the ordinances passed by the Coun
cil. The Commission Is also vested with
the exclusive government and control
of all wharf property, wharves, piers,
bulkheads and structures thereon, and
waters adjacent thereto, and all basins,
slips and docks, with the land under
the water.
The Commission will ask the Coun
cil to levy a tax for the use of the
Commission, not exceeding one-tenth of
a mill, and In case the Council neglects
to provide for the levy, the Commission
may certify the amount desired to the
County Clerk., who will levy the tax.
PIONEER ACTIVE AT 80
Joseph Bntchel Attrlbntes Vigor to
Fondness for Atlfletlcs.
Joseph Buchtet, who came to Port
land in 1852, received congratulations
yesterday on having attained the age
of 10 years.
Mr. Buchtel has been sctlve In busi
ness almost uninterruptedly since he
arrived in Portland. He built the first
mile of street railway on Grand avenue
and waa associated with William Beck
in starting the movement for the con
struction of the Morrison bridge. He
was connected with the Portland fire
department virtually from the start,
first with th-volunteers and then with
the paid department. He was baseball
promoter and athlete and he attributes
the preservation of bis health to his
active physical life.
Only recently he saved the life of a
woman on union ana .ast Burnslde
street. Standing on the corner he saw
an elderly woman In the center of the
car track, with a car approaching rap
Idly. Mr. Buchtel sprang into the
street and carried the woman clear of
danger before she realized what had
happened.
Mr. Buchtel has been a subscriber
to The Oregonian since 186S.
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MAP SHOWING) LINES OF THE NORTH COAST RAILROAD IN WASHINGTON WHICH HAS
BEEN ACQUIRED BY THE HARRTMAN SYSTEM.
edge and veracity and The Oregonian is
in a position now to announce definitely
that the ownership of the road lies in
the Harrlman railway system.
Prominent officials of railroads not
aligned with the Union Pacific system
yesterday admitted that the Identity of
the North Coast was no longer a mystery
to them, but Harrlman officials were
still reticent, although refusing to deny
the report.
Further light waa given as to the In
ception of the North Coast construction
by a Portland railroad man who is In a
position to know, and his version differs
from the commonly accepted story of the
early history of the enterprise. Instead
of having been an independent movement
by capitalists who designed to sell the
constructed road and surveys to one of
the existing transcontinental lines. It is
now well established, according to this
authority, that E. H. Harrlman origi
nally conceived the' Idea of building the
North Coast and financed the work from
the first.
Mr. Harrlman's plans. It Is said, grew
out of tbe dissolution of the Northern
Securities Company by the courts and
the consequent failure of the merger of
the Northern Pacific and Union Pacific
systems. Believing that he had control
of tho Northern Pacific. Mr. Harrlman
thought It unnecessary to occupy the
north bank of the Columbia River, but
with the dissolution of the Northern Se
curities Company he found he had lost
control of the Northern Pacific and had
permitted Hill to get In ahead of him
on the north side of the Columbia River
gorge.
Then Mr. Harrlman decided to carry a
war against the Northern roads into
their own territory end laid his plans In
such a. way that the Harrlman lines, as
represented by the North Coast, would
practically parallel the Northern Pacific
throughout the State of Washington.
The railroad wizard died without seeing
his plans brought to fruition and the
railroad situation has so adjusted Itself
In the Northwest that his successor,
Judge Robert S. Lovett. now sees no rea
son for longer concealing the identity of
the North Coast Railroad.
Just how much of the original plans
of Mr. Harrlman will be carried out have
not been disclosed, at least In such a way
that they have reached general railroad
circles. The map of the North Coast
aurvey Indicates that there was a definite
plan to drain the l.ewly acquired Harrl
man tonnage in Eastern Washington
down the Columbia River. No other
plan Is conceivable In the extension north
ward from the Snake River of a survey
to the wheat district surrounding Daven
port.
Operation Cost Heavy on Grades.
The reason for connecting this line with
Walla Walla will be apparent to those
who have traveled over Alto Hill on the
Walla Walla-Spokane branch of the O.
R. & N. The grades and curvatures are
those of a mountain railroad and the
cost of operation is consequently large.
Railroad men have renewed their com'
ments on the success of Robert E. Stra
horn, the ostensible builder of the North
Coast, in maintaining the mystery sur
rounding the construction of the line so
many years The attitude of high offi
cials of the Harrlman lines In tbe West
Indicated that even they knew nothing
concerning the Interests back of the
North Coast until recently. Operations
of the Strahora engineers and construc
tion camps were watched and reported on
by Harrlman's confidential agents as
closely and as systematically. It Is said,
as If It were a feared rival.
Brain
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Enjoying the Opera "Pagliacci"
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Ik
S33
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