Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 25.djvu/251

This page needs to be proofread.

cision. E. D. Shattuck was asked to settle the matter and his verdict, which included an award of $21,862.50 to Bradford & Co., was given in January, 1865. This indicates that Shattuck, whose decision has not been preserved and its full terms therefore are not known, decided that Bradford & Co. were entitled to a share in the Oregon Portage Railroad's earnings up to the close of its operations, April 20, 1863. Part of the dispute was concerned with the right of way of the new Cascades Railroad on the Washington side of the Cascades portage.

The new railroad on the Washington side was com- pleted ready for operation in time to begin its use on Monday, April 20, 1863, and on the preceding Friday the following letter was sent to the superintendent of the Oregon Portage Railroad at the Cascades:

Oregon Steam Navigation Company

Portland, Ore., April 17,1863.

D. H. Olmstead.

Dear Sir:

I send you $3,000 in coin to pay employees on Oregon side up to Monday night next. Keep one good man on lower wharfboat (at low price) and enough to take eare of the mules and take over lumber, 'till further orders. Lay up the "Pony" and pay off engineer.

The passengers by Hunt Monday will go up on Washington side, the down passengers by Idaho will go down on your side. The Idaho will take her freight on Monday and then tow the [upper landing] wharfboat to the Washington side. Try and have it arranged so that she can land at the head of the incline to take animals on board as all the animals will have to go on the Oregon side.

Let me know how many men it will be necessary to keep, in your judgment. We are running opposition and must reduce expenses as much as possible.

Yours truly,

J. C. Ainsworth, Pres't.