[or-roots] MM Melvin and the O & C RR

Kith-n-Kin Kith-n-Kin at cox.net
Wed Feb 25 17:24:14 PST 2009


Les

Interesting. Austin and Dill *the Southern Pacific in Oregon* have:

In 1851 a railroad was proposed by Mr. H. M. Knighton to run from St. Helens
on the Columbia River, across Cornelieus Pass, to Lafayette which was then a
principal city in the Willamette Valley. Nothing developed of this proposal,
although, in 1906, James Hill's Oregon Electric Railway would use a similar
route. . . 

Legislative session 1853-54:

1. The Willamette Valley Railroad Company, which proposed a line from
Portland to the head of the Willamette Valley.
2. The Oregon and California Railroad Company, which proposed a line from
Eugene City to "some point in the Willamette Valley below Oregon City"
3. The Cincinnati Railroad Company, which planned to build from the town of
Cincinnati in Polk County to the "Polk County Coal Mines."
4. The Clackamas Railroad Company, proposing a line around the Willamette
River Falls at Oregon City. 


"On November 21, 1866, Gaston incorporated the Oregon Central Railroad
Company with offices in Portland, Oregon. The Legislature in 1866 designated
the Oregon Central Railroad as the company to construct theline in oregon,
thereby giving Gaston's line the needed land grant. . . ." This was
essentially by "reincorporating" the "California and Columbia River" group.
Confused yet?

Then, along comes S. G. Elliott, (California) who, acting on behalf of the
interests that controlled the "Oregon and California Railroad" offered to
"buyout" the Oregon Central Railroad. Gaston was opposed, and won, more or
less. Some of the incorporators split and joined Elliott. Elliott then
started his own company, calling it the Oregon Central Rail Road Company.
(note the "rail" "road" instead of "railroad")

So, they fought, and eventually, Gaston's westside (the original) company
became the Southern Pacific Railroad lines in Oregon.  

Ben Holladay a transportation "magnate" took over the eastside lines,
eventually gaining control (1870s) and sold $10.5 mil in bonds to complete
the "Oregon and California" Railroad. 

So, you want to know whether Melvin stuck with Gaston, or swung over to
Elliott and Holladay. Unfortunately, Melvin isn't mentioned, so you have
some more work cut out for you.

This is a fascinating story. Sometime hard to follow, but fun none-the-less.

Whew!

Pat 
Tucson, AZ






-----Original Message-----
From: or-roots-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
[mailto:or-roots-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf Of Leslie
Chapman
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 7:34 PM
To: Oregon List
Subject: [or-roots] MM Melvin and the O & C RR

At last I have found hard evidence linking my great grandfather and the O &
C Railroad;

Oregon Historical Quarterly Vol VII

ariticle on; The Genesis of the Oregon Railway System by Joseph Gaston which
starts on page 105. On page 111-112; The Oregon Lesgislature met in
September, 1866, six weeks after Congress granted the lands in aid of the
road. It was decided to abandon the orininal organization which had so far
promoted the enterprise, and accordingly the writer of this paper prepared
articles for the incorporation of "The Oregon Central Railroad Comapny,"
[why have I always thought it was 'Oregon and Califonria"?]the office and
headquarters of which should be at Portland, Oregon. These articles were
signed by J.S. Smith [etc, etc] M. M. Melvin, [etc etc].

Gaston goes on to apparently defend the actions of the company and claim
credit for himself as well as give his authority to write the history as he
being at the time [1902] the only surviving founder. The article is followed
by another one on the subject of the Oregon Central by S. A. Clarke which
begs to differ with Gaston on some pertinent facts.

I haven't read it in it's entirety, but it looks to be very interesting. The
two article together run to page 144 and I  notice in one othe evidentiary
documents grampa's name is spelled Melvine??

Les C

PS there are several Oregon Quarterly editions available on google books to
download.

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