The teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1876-1878, 1877-01-20
N. II. r.. k. EXTENSION.

~. " =. =. a. EAIENH1ONs- u-,-
WAsH1xaros,g Jan.s.-Tbs House com.
mittee on the Pacific Railroad to-day,
| agreed to report the Senate bill to extend
The time for the completion Of the N. P. R.
+. eight years without amendment, except
ono providing that the company shall not
be required to locate its route through Id
aho before duly Ore9onian Telegram.
In another telegram it is asserted that
July 1879 10 tho limit 81 time for locating
through Idaho. II is dificnlt to comprs-
bend what is intended by . location through
ldsbo. Three routes have already been sur
vsyed through Idaho, one via Pen de Oreille,
ono Via Clearwater pass Of the Bitter Roo.
Mountains, and one via Salmonirivsr. The
map OF the company hal, been filed At Wash.
ington for the Pen de Oreills route and up.
on this filing the lands along this route
were Withdrawn from presumption and HON
stead entry and maps Of this Withdrawal
sent to the different Land offices having
Jurisdiction, We further understand tina,
tho location Of the road was made BY au.
thori'y ofths company over this route and
working grade survey made over much Of
the distance through Idaho. II 30 and no
change Of route, il contemplated by the
company, why this amendment to the bill,
extending the time to locate through Idaho 7
and why 10 two years time necessary to
make this location? We are pushed to un-
derstand the purpose of this amsndm ent.
unless itbe 10 leave open to the company
tho choice between the three routes named
above till 1879. II this bs the design of
the amendment, we shonld not be surprised
1t the selection of the Clearwater. route by
the company for several important reasons
to wit: lst. II 10 I shorter route than tho
Pen do Oreille by It least over 100 miles
and does not extend 90 far north by about
one and one.halfdegrees. I'd. IT. highest
altitude above the level of the sea il less
than $500 feet, and that only at one point
and for not moreth one mile in distance,
while tho most Of the route is along the
margin Of the Clearwater river With no
grace higher than twenty feet to tho mile
and entirely below the deep snow line.
Sd. It reaches river navigation ata poiu.
$50 miles further east than tho Pen dc Or
ellie route which will DO Of much advent
age' to the company while the road is being
constructed. 4th. I passes, through 4
portion Of Idaho where tho lands bordering
the road are worth three times o. much per
acre ~ those along the Pen de Orsille
route Il. il true that more of tho lands on
the Clearwater route are absorbed by se (.
tiers than by the other, but the residue
still vacant would Do Of mora valus 10 the
company !, than all the lands On the a ore
northsrn route When wesay the Clear.
water route We do not mean tho route sur.
veysd up the North fork Of that stream,
but the route up the South fork to the
North fork OF tie South fork, or what some
term the Middle fork, thence up the Middle
fork 70 where it takes 2 north course, thence
TO the saddle Of tho Bitter Root at tho head
Of the Lolo flowing into tho Bitter Root
river. 1857 .#' ' t7'
The land bordering the Middle folk of
the Clearwater is undulatiug for sops dis
lance back from the stream oa either side
for . distance in line Of the river of more
than forty miles and 10 covered with .
heavy growth Of cedar and white pine tim
Der, which would be OF Immense value to
the company so 5000 as, the;r, road was
built. The present Nez Perez Indian res.
ervation would interfere with some rights
tho company would otherwise acquire in
the western portion of their route through
Idaho. But this iutsrfsrsnce would be
light in comparison with the advantages of
the route. and With the road bpils and 10
operation shis istssfssaaSs would DO soon