Show FIGHTING FOR ORIENTAL TRADE RAILROADS IN NORTHWEST TO BUILD CUTOFFS CUT OFFS lewiston idaho dec 22 the six months truce between tho northern pacific and the oregon railway and navigation company expires feb 3 promptly on its expiration the northern pacific will resume active building operations while the oregon railway and navigation company does not seem so anxious to the con for the clearwater territory the prize for which the transcontinental roads aro striving are for tho oriental trade and the northern pacific Is attempting to overcome tho handicap of the great al llamo with the oregon railway and alon and the japan steamship company by shortening its line and reducing the grades it plans to build a cutoff cut off leaving the main line at alls soula mont through the bitter root mountains by way 0 lola pass down tho middle fork ot the clearwater ta tho main stream this would save allos and heavy grades by building down tho snake and columbia rivers to portland another miles would bo saved abo new clearwater branch extends up that riven from the mouth ot the pot latch 63 miles being under construction of which thirty allea is now operating the remaining 33 miles will be ready january 15 |