[or-roots] Railroad in Summerville OR

[JNCRIDGE at aol.com]

A google search of Oregon railroad land grants Summerville leads to much information about the railroads in the 19th century in Oregon, including the information below: 

http://www.oregongenealogy.com/union/railroads.htm
"A more expanded railroad project in Union County was that known generally as the "Hunt Railroad". The promoter of this proposed line, G.W. Hunt, was an early wagon freighter over the Blue Mountains. Later he engaged in building grades for the Villard interests. Mr. Hunt, at the time his holdings were absorbed by the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, had some 160 miles of line in Umatilla County and southeastern Washington.
     In 1889 he announced his plans to construct a railroad from the vicinity of Walla Walla across the Blue Mountains by way of Toll Gate to the Grande Ronde valley. By way of Summerville and Union, the line was to go up Catherine Creek to Eagle and Pine Valleys and from there by the Snake River valley to the Boise region. This proposed railroad was of course designed to offer competition to the Union Pacific interests.
     Mr. Hunt offered to build the line through Union if he were given a right of way at Summerville and Union and a cash subsidy of $180,000."