GENERAL EVENTS
Turning from political events to those of more general nature we discover that the most important developments in transportation were connected with three lines of business; the construction of the branch line of railroad from Starbuck to a little beyond Pomeroy; improvements in the navigation of Snake River and Columbia River; and the development of the peculiar shute and tramway system for moving grain from the high prairies in the northern edge of the county to the Snake River steamers.
The railroad history goes back to 1883. In April of that year a delegation of Pomeroy and Pataha men, consisting of B. B. Day, C. B. Foote, John Houser, Cyrus Davis, and F. W. D. Mays, went to Walla Walla to meet Henry Villard, head of the O. R. and N. System, and received much encouragement that a road up the Pataha would be immediately considered. However, the time was not yet, and, as common in such cases, time passed on without results.
In January, 1885, Pres. Elijah Smith of the O. R. & N. Co. made the proposal to the people of the county that if they would grade and lay ties the company would complete the work and inaugurate the line. To many farmers this seemed rather a skin game, not a unusual process in railroad building.
We find some correspondence and some comments in the East Washingtonian of so much interest that we incorporate them here:
"At this period grain was stacked up on the banks of Snake River awaiting a sufficient stage of water to permit of its being hauled away by boats. With the road built it would soon be in the markets of San Francisco and Portland; the farmers of Garfield would be placed on an equal footing with those of Columbia County. Grain would be worth at least 10 cents more per bushel than it was at that time; cattle, hogs, etc., would not have to be sacrificed at cut-throat prices to pay taxes and grocery bills. With a railroad tapping the heart of Garfield County, an era of prosperity appeared likely to prevail. As conditions existed the county merchants could not take grain for store bills; they would be compelled to hold most of it until the next year before they could ship it; they must take all chances upon the price remaining at what they had paid for it. Within sixty and ninety days their goods must be paid for; wheat would not answer for that purpose; practically, the farmers had no reliable market whatever. The theory advanced was, 'Build a road and wheat will be legal tender for all debts.' Under date, New York, January 24, 1885, Mr. John Harford, of Pataha City received the following letter from E. H. Morrison:
"Dear Sir:
"Your letter received, also one from Doctor Jorgensen, stating that the Garfield County people were willing to furnish the grading in case the O. R. & N. Company would build a road from Starbuck to Pomeroy or Pataha.
"I am sorry that there should be any opposition from the Pomeroy people, as certainly a road to their town would benefit not only the people of that city, but the tributary country. In the first place it is going to be a very difficult matter to interest the company sufficiently to have them build in any event, as there are some branches which they think are of far more importance, such as the completion of the road to Moscow and the road from Colfax to the Farmington country. Therefore it behooves your people to settle all your difficulties and unite as one in doing everything to get a road to that section of the country.
"Since receiving your letters I have had an interview with Mr. Smith, president, and some of the directors, and I can tell you that they are not exuberant over building additional roads in Washington Territory or Oregon. But, I think, if in addition to the grading, which your people must agree to do, you will secure subscriptions sufficient to pay for the ties, that they will go ahead and build the road in time for the coming crop. These subscriptions must be in the form of notes, of grain notes, something that they can turn over to a contractor who will have the building of the road, and in that way relieving them of all trouble in collecting the subscriptions.