Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1877-08-02
A STRAIGHT RAILROAD TO TRUCKEE


river. To be sure the Virginia and Truckee
road now in operation by the way of Car
son Is very crooked road. We doubt very
much if a moro crooked road can be found
in the United States. The first section of
the road completed, was from Virginia to
Carson. 1t was built solely for the purpose
of transporting ore from the mines to the
mills on the Carson river and wood and lum-
Der and ti1nbers from the Sierras to the mills
and mines. The freight and passenger
traffic at that time was too insignificant
between these points to have had any influence
whatever in the construction of the road 1t
was but very short time after the compile
ton OF this section until the supply of wood
and lumber in the Immediate vicinity of the
Carson terminus was exhausted 1t was found
necessary then to extend the road in order to
obtain new supply. A number of fumes
had been constructed from the mountains
into Washoe valley; the freight and passenger
traffic from Reno to Virginia over the
Geiger grade, had grown to immense proper
tons, and for these reasons the second section
Of the road was built from Carson to Reno
TO connect them with the Central Pacific road
The length of the road from Virginia to
Reno is something like so miles The
distance on an air line between the two
points is not far from 20 miles 1t would
seem then to one who does not understand
the nature OF the country between Virginia |
and Reno and who has knowledge of the |
facts in regard to the building of the road by |
the way OF Carson, that in order to get the |
Truckee lumber and the freight from Reno /
to Virginia, it must be hauled over about so .
mile of superfuous road, and that, if this
trade is profitable, and doubtless it is, to the
'. & T. r. r., it would be sufficient to
induce company TO build straight railroad
% the Truckee. In building railroads the
cost of construction, the cost of equipment
he grades to be overcome and the increased
expense of running over heavy grades are
Always carefully estimated by prudent and
;spable men, and nearly always when TWO
points are connected by rail. it is by the
most practicable route. The straightness of
he road is only secondary consideration in !
with the cost of il. In all prob
bility a much shorter road can be built from
teno to Virginia than the Y. e T., but We !
re quite sure that its projectors will care '
nlly estimate its cost before undertaking to \
o it. From one of the most competent and I
areful eng ineers in the State, we learn that
ne most practicable route from Virginia to y
ny point on the Truckee river is through II
he pass between Eagle and Washoe valleys. I
etween the Mound House and this pass
istance of FIVE miles could be gained We h
re unable as yet to see the great advantage il
hlch this five miles would be in building a +
raight road from the Truckee to Virginia u
he cost of building 46 miles of new road ~
quires a considerable outlay of capital. 1t st
said that a road can be built in 20 miles n
ut we believe that it would cost great deal n
ore, and that the profits on it would be =,
UGH less than on our fortyfi mile 81
ad. 1t is possible also that some capitalist hi
s such an eye for harmony, so much of the III
TX of human kindness in his heart, 30 great
desire that crooked things should be made ~
-aight, that IN order to get rid of all this ap
of the V. & T. road, he is willing W
advance the coin to bring Mt. Davidson on
evel with Washoe Valley. We doubt it, 10
/ it seems to US that there is considerable Sc
IS and feathers about this straight road to pr
lckee. Doubtless soma advantage would IN
rue to the Truckee lumbermen, 10 the
IN of Reno and also to Virginia if an oppo-
on road were built between Virginia and Ii
no, but it would come from other reasons 90
n because the Virginia and Truckee is ~.
oked road and because just now there is sne
Mt supply of water in the Carson river for an,
ling purposes The Truckee river is a ma
utiful stream, somewhat larger than un
Carson. Both are fed from the SHOWS in g.,
Sierra and both discharge their waters scit
alkali fats The town of Reno is sup Str
d with water from the Truckee and thou oI'
Is of acres of land are irrigated from its b PT
ers, besides it supplies power to number wo,
aw mills and is convenient channel for wo1
ting saw dust We believe, though, the actt
nifty of water in the stream is liable to u
same fluctuations on account of wet and Won
seasons as the Carson, and that mills To- the
l on its banks would be quite as liable to that
ung up in adry season as though they were t .he
Gu OH SOME other strealii we oeheVe has
that FIVE times much land is irrigated SOLO