The Hood River Glacier, Hood River, OR., September 14, 1905, page 1

ROAD DOWN NORTH BANK
N.P. Begins Active Operations
GRADERS IN FIELD
Start Work at Carson Landing
SECRET MOVES BECOME KNOWN
Early Predictions of the Glacier are Being Confirmed by Recent Events Along the Columbia River

     With surveying parties and construction gangs in the field and right of way agents closing deals with the land owners, the very air is charged with railroad operations on the north bank of the Columbia.  The Glacier was the first paper in the Northwest to give the news of railroad operations down the north bank of the Columbia, and its early predictions that the Northern Pacific is behind the movements have received almost daily confirmations within the past week.
     The renewed activity in different quarters now makes very reasonable the supposition that the work is to be commenced at once.  Engineering offices have been opened in Vancouver, men and horses and tools have been shipped to the front.  Late Saturday night a train of 11 cars loaded with wheel scrapers, teams and equipment for grade work, including a large quantity of giant powder, was hurried to Vancouver.  The steamer Dalles City of the Regulator Line, now owned by the Northern Pacific, was rushed to that point, and spent all night loading from cars.  Early Sunday morning the steamer, containing four carloads of equipment, left for up river points.  The cargo was distributed along the Northern bank from Washougal to Cascade Locks.
     Will Isenberg of this city, who was at Collins hot Springs Sunday, says that the steamer Dalles City stopped at that place in the afternoon and unloaded there a gang of men with steel drills and a camping outfit.  Permanent camp was established at Collins, and designated as camp No. 5.  The man in charge of the party maintained a strict silence as to whom he was working for, but when Mr. Isenberg conversed with him regarding the general conjecture that the operations were being conducted by the Northern Pacific he had nothing to deny.
     Mr. Isenberg says men with tools and camp outfits were also landed at Stevenson, Carson landing, Cooks landing and as far up the river as Drano.
     Portland papers stated Monday that the Steamer Defender had been chartered for conveying a party of surveyors to White Salmon, but up to Tuesday morning the boat had not reached its destination.  However, a gang of railroad men is daily expected to begin grading operations on the Lauterbach property just west of the White Salmon landing.  Several of the land owners there hold signed agreements with Northern Pacific right of way agents that when they give a quit-claim deed to any property, it shall be used for a right of way for a railroad.
     People of White Salmon have every assurance that active operations will begin there within a few weeks.  A few of the farmers in the berry belt have not yet granted rights of way.  At Underwood, nothing definite has been accomplished, but it is understood that Captain Harry Olsen has granted rights of way for $2000.
     There is an understanding between Right of Way Agent Upright and the Menominee Lumber Co. concerning the crossing of the mill company's land, as there is also with government lands where the fish hatchery is situated at the mouth of the White Salmon river.
     Efforts have been made all summer to keep secret the activities of the Northern Pacific, and as soon as the O.R. & N. realized that something was doing, a force of men was thrown into the field below Cascade Locks with an effort to block the work of their northern competitor.  The O.R. & N. owns a short piece of track at the Cascade Locks, which in early days was operated as a portage road.  Efforts will be made now to prevent the Northern Pacific from paralleling this point of the river.
     C. M. Levey, vice president of the Northern Pacific, is reported to be directing the movement in person.  He arrived at Vancouver Saturday, but kept well out of sight.  He was accompanied by Constructing Engineer Bethel and A.G. Avery of Tacoma, chief counsel for the Pacific division.  The men avoided hotels and their presence was not generally known.  Mr. Levey has given the strictest orders to all agents of the Northern Pacific and the Regulator line that nothing shall be given out concerning the movements of the company's men.