Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 25.djvu/268

230 extending from Tanner Creek (Bonneville) to the upper end of the rapids (Cascade Locks).

Late in August, 1873, John W. Brazee commenced a survey for the improved railroad authorized by the directors of the Navigation Company. The Portland Daily Bulletin of August 23, in the interest of the unemployed of the city published a statement that "several men can now receive employment on the Oregon Railroad at the Cascades and receive good wages therefor;" these men were evidently wanted for building bridges and grading for the new line, which work was carried on during September, October and November, and resumed in February, then continuing until November, 1874.

On February 23, 1874, the Oregon Steam Navigation Company to further guard the portage conveyed the right of way for the railroad to Joseph M. French of San Francisco to be held by him in trust. In this trust it reposed until March, 1880, when the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company succeeded the former company and the lands were deeded back by French.

In 1875 no money was spent on the permanent railroad, but an outlay was made of a few thousand dollars in the spring of 1876. The directors of the Oregon Steam Navigation Company were seriously handicapped during the elapsed period in the management of the company's property by the placing of the three-quarters' share of the company's capital stock bought by the Northern Pacific in 1872, in the hands of E. M. Lewis, as trustee in bankruptcy for account of Jay Cooke & Co., and they did not venture to assume responsibility for further expenditures for construction of the permanent railroad over the Oregon portage while the future control of the company was involved in uncertainty. Forced to activity on the line by the fear of seizure of the Oregon Portage in the interest of any one with sufficient means to seriously ques-