Rural enterprise., September 09, 1925, Image 9

RURAL ENTERPRISE Supplement, HAhSi,P!iTos'
Southern Pacific Company Outlines Plans For
Oregon-California Railroad Development
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I
o< Klamath I alls July 30 ¡935 by P aul Shoup Executive V ice Pri sident Southern Pai ifit < ompan> 1|
N response to requests that we clarity the situation
with respect to our plans for the development of
tr a n s p o r ta tio n facilities in K lam ath Falls, southern
Oregon and northern California generally, they have
Been matured to the extent that enables me to make the
following statement on behalf of the Southern Pacific
Company, authoritatively in making it comprehensive,
statements heretofore published are to some extent
reviewed therein:
1. The Southern Pacific has acquired subject to
approval of the Interstate Commerce Commission an
interest in the Strahorn Railroad (the OC&E), and
application has been made to extend this road to a
point on Williamson River, and also to Silver Lake
and eastward to Lakeview
The Southern Pacific has made application to the
Interstate Commerce Commission for authority to
extend its line southward through the Malin and
Merrill territory forty miles to Cornell. The
Southern Pacific which has acquired all the common
stock of the N. C. O. subject to the approval of the
Interstate Commerce Commission has agreed to
broad-gauge the entire line into Lakeview.
2. The Strahorn Line (the 0C£rE), if the taking
over of an interest in this system is approved by the
Commission, will within six months after their
approval be made part and parcel of the Southern
Pacific system so far as rate making is concerned, Mr.
Strahorn having concurred in this plan.
Through the applications made and such other
applications as are necessary the Interstate Com­
merce Commission will be asked for authority to
create a line through from Klamath Falls to connect
with the Central Pacific, giving a route via Ogden
that will be reasonably direct and avoid the present
longer haul through Weed; and upon approval of the
Commission we will promptly undertake the con
struction of this line and build it within the time set
by the Commission.
4 Our study of the territory to lie served, con­
struction costs, and operating conditions are not yet
complete, but we will complete these investigations
within a reasonable time and upon their completion
will announce the route to the East to be taken to
connect with the Central Pacific.
We have been asked whether or not there is any
prospect that a cut-off between the Natron Line and
the Strahorn Line (the OCcyT) at Williamson River
would be constructed in the event we took over the
Strahorn Line (the CX3c',E), thereby placing Klamath
Falls off the direct through route from Ogden to the
East via the Central Pacific. It has not at any time
been given any consideration, in fact, the suggestion
did not come from us, nor do we know who sug­
gested such a route.
t. If our applications are approved we will locate
our terminal for this district at Klamath Falls. This
involves a very considerable payroll at Klamath
Falls which will lie increased as our traffic grows.
This terminal would be located within six or eight
miles of the center of the city. We wish to get as
close in as may be practicable but it is impossible at
this time to name a more specific location.
All these plans and promises are as definite as we
can make them just at this time and are, of course,
predicated upon the assumption that our applications
are approved by the Commission, without destruc­
tive competition; and the support of Klamath Falls for
our program is assumed.
Supplementing the foregoing statement of our work as
planned, it wall be noted that not only will Klamath Falls
become a very considerable railroad center, but that
through our lines will be able to reach substantially
all of the markets of the United States for its products
with direct service. Locally it will be connected with
all its tributary regions where railway service can be
justified. It will be on a main trunk line between north
Pacific Coast points and California. It will be on a
through line between Portland and western Oregon and
the East; this line will give direct service to the East for
the Klamath region.
W ith the very great natural resources of this region
under development, direct railway service to markets, and
the establishment of important terminal activities here,
Klamath Falls is assured of a bright future and, it seems
to me, has the right to feel optimistic.
May I, in this connection, -av I think we should not
overlook the great development coming to this section as
a resort region; to my mind your possibilities in that
direction are as yet not comprehended. We will lie glad
to co-operate in making them known.
SEE MAP ON OTHER SIDE