The Shadow of the Railroad Kings
Speculation mounts as E.H. Harriman moves to secure terminal grounds in Tacoma's tide lands, signaling a coming battle with the Hill lines.
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Railroad men who know E.H. Harriman best say he is not one to leave a desirable and valuable field open to his competitors. For this reason, many believe the recent flurry in Tacoma tide lands is due to his plan to gain terminal grounds in the city before starting work on new lines from Portland to Puget Sound. For years, Mr. Harriman has realized that better harbor facilities in the Pacific Northwest are necessary to accommodate the big ocean liners he intends to add to his transportation system. Since the Columbia River bar limits Portland's capacity, he must look north. Rumors also persist that the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, in concert with Standard Oil, may be aligning with Harriman to create a complete transcontinental circuit, threatening the dominance of the Northern Pacific and Great Northern lines.
“The destruction of the monopoly now held by the Northern Pacific would be of immense benefit to passengers and shippers.”
Tacoma’s industrial identity was fundamentally shaped by the desperate, high-stakes maneuvering of railroad barons competing for port access. Today, the Port of Tacoma remains the city's economic anchor, still navigating the complex interests of global shipping conglomerates and rail infrastructure.
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