The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1871-06-08
TO COMMENCE WORK.

TO COMMENCE WORK.
The Salt Lake Herald of May 31st contains
the following paragraph:
Surveys for the new Overland Railroad from Davis
vile, California, northward. win be commenced Inn
mediately.
If o surveying party is to commence work
at once on the California end, there will in oil
probability be another party started at an early
day from the Ogden terminus, to survey the
route westerly from that point, and it is only
question as to where the road will strike the
valley of Snake river There can be but little
doubt of the new road being located down the
Snake river valley; and the survey made by
Col Hudnutt, some three or four years ago,
fully demonstrated that it was the most feast
BILE route to be found through Southern Idaho
Our people are deeply interested in this new
railroad project; in fact it is matter of vital
Importance to Southern Idaho, as the early
completion of the road will do more towards
building up our Territory than all the new min
ing discoveries that may be made for half
century.
We have mines enough already, as rich as
any that have been discovered in our neighbor-
ing States or Territories, that require only the
necessary capital to assist in their develop
nlent. That capital will never find its way to
Idaho until railroad communication is estab-
lished 80 that the expense attending the trans
portat,on of machinery will not amount to
more than its original cost. The mines in
Utah were almost unknown. but little pros
pecting even having ever been done in that
section, until after the completion of the Over
land road, and now the mines of Utah are at
tracing more attention and more capital is be-
ing invested in them than those of any other
section of the country. The base bullion trade
from the Utah mines has assumed immense
proportions and is constantly increasing as new
furnaces are being erected and new mines de-
veloped. The smelling and reduction works
at Omaha are overrun with business, and i'm
mense quantities of ore and crude bullion are
shipped daily from points in Utah to Newark,
New Jersey and Swansea, in Wales. for reduc-
ton. Similar shipments are also made on the
Central Pacific at various points in Eastern
Nevada, to San Francisco. The proximity of
the mines to the railroad, by which the ore can
be transported at reasonable rates 10 reduc-
ton works, has induced capitalists to invest
their means in mines which otherwise would
have remained for years undeveloped. A rail-
road down the Snake river valley would in
augurate new era in quartz mining in South.
ern Idaho, and the rich gold and silver quartz
lodges of Alturas and Boise counties would at
once attract the attention of capitalists seeking
new fields wherein to invest their surplus
means. Without such road these mines will
remain dormant for years to come. 1t is use.
less to attempt to disguise the fact that the
placer mines are fast being exhausted, and
that the only salvation for our future prosperity
as mining region lies in the early completion
Of the proposed railroad. and the influx OF cap
tai to be used in the development Of our rich,
neglected and inexhaustible quartz mines
That the road should not run South of Snake |
river is fact patent to all who are acquainted
With the nature and resources of the country |
Ind in view of such contingency it behooyes
Is, even as n matter Of selEinterest, to take |
'ome steps towards securing its location thro' |
Boise Valley. The people of Boise City should
make some effort in that direction, by holding |
, mass meeting and appointing committee of
prominent citizens, who are identified with the |
interests of our Territory, to correspond with |
he proper officers of the new Company, and
Use every exertion to bring this matter prop
,rly to the attention of the Directors of the |
lew Company. No stone should be left un-
urned, and we only throw out this suggestion
n the hope that we may hear from our cotem-
'oraries in the valley upon this matter. An
of ideas and suggestions might re-
ult in the adoption of some plan of action
which possibly might benefit US ALL
-+ 60
TIGHT PAPERs.-The newspaper war be-
ween the Oregon Herald and Portland Balle-
in is becoming quite lively affair. The Her.
Id recently published papers received from
honolulu, Sandwich Islands, dated November
3, 1854, from which it appears that James