The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1870-02-24
THE BRANCH RAILROAD.

great credit for the interest he has taken IL
| the Branch railroad from Salt Lake to the GO
lrmbia river. We observe that he has beer
pressing the matter before the House Com
mittee on the Pacific Railroad, and hope he
may be able to induce them to take some nc
ton on the subject ut an early day, and while
we are opposed on principle to the further
grant Of public lands or Government subsidies
in aid of railroad enterprises or internal im'
provements of any kind, we still think that il
the policy of granting such aid is pursued to
any extent in the future, Idaho certainly has
just claims that should not be passed over in
silence. We think the new line or branch
road down the Snake River Valley to some
point on the Columbia river is of greater im-
portance and will be of more benefit to the
whole country than the Northern Pacific route,
which is located through country traversable
only on snow shoes for several months in the
year. And outside of the mere question as to
the choice of routes, the branch road through
Idaho is becoming necessity to the people,
not only of Idaho, but of Washington Territory
and Oregon Montana has direct communi-
cation by water with all the Western States,
and the Missouri river is nayigable sufficient
length of time each year to answer the COM
merca necessities of the people of that Terri
tory, for some years at least while Idaho,
Eastern Oregon aud Washington Territory is
almost entirely cut of from n market of any
kind, either for export or import. We hope the
Congressional delegation from the Pacific coast
will be unit on the question of our Branch
road. 1t would give new impetus to the in.
dustries of our Territory, and be the means of
securing to US proportionate share of the im-
migration which is tending westward, and the
hardy sons of toll, men OF our own race and
kindred, would find i'll our rich and fertile val
leys aud our nexhaus.ble mines a new field
of labor in which they would learn that the
"laborer was not only worthy of his hire" but
that he would receive il "eYen 10 the utter
most farthing," not in the deprecated rag
currency Of the eountry. but in that Demo
cratic money which regulates the values of all
currency aud commodities, gold itself The
benefits derived would be mutual The poorly.
paid aud eyerworkrd laborers of the older
States would fnd new homes where. by ord.
nary industry, they could support themselves
aud families and "lay up something Tor a rainy
day" without working ten hours u day and
prcmaturely wearing on; the machinery of the
human system. The benefits 10 be derived
by our Tenr:tory are incxtimablc The influx
VI white lsbor would. 10 Z certain extent, neu
iralixe the Monaghan poison in our midst, and
in few years we would have population sutii. |
cient 10 entitIe US 81 admission as one of the |
States Of the Union, n contamination devouily |
10 be wished for" rs il is only through the |
medium Of n State organization that we will |
ever be enabled to RI ourselves Of such off. |
,ials rs Noggle and bis fellow missionaries |
Grant may appoint an honest and capable Off
FER occasionally or semioccasionaly, but the |
instances are few and far between. aud We are
Inclined TO think that when be does. it is mis-
AXE on his part which he is willing 10 rec;iiy
1t the earliest opportunity. We can only truth.
ully exclaim de profaHdis. and give thanks TO
Tod when this Branch road is completed.