Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1878-10-04
THE BEST ROUTE.
Additional Testimony.

"A correspondent of the Portland Be-
who claims to have passed over thu
route from Lewiston to Bitter Root val
Icy via the middle fork of Clearwater
and taken observations with a view tt
the route as railroad route, gives The
result Of his observations which fully
confirms what we have before affirmed
In relation to the route. We know moi
the author Of this correspondence. W.
simply know that several parties about
six Of seven weeks ago had made pre-
parations to make this trip, and had
been requested to make observations Of
the route as route for railroad. That
among them were John Eurick, Pete
King aud one or two others. Whether
or not any one of these men wrote this
correspondence we know not. But
whoever il may have been, the facts set
forth tally with all other information we
have received Of the route, and we re-
publish them to-day, and urge upon
those interested in the Northern Pacific
road that they use their best efforts to
have this pass thoroughly examined be-
fore they proceed to build their road
north Of Pende Grille lake. Especi.
ally do We urge this route upon Col.
Miner Roberts, the Chief Engineer Of
the Northern Pacific, who for some
cause unknown to US has been disposed
- ignore this route without any investi
CATION Of the matter, because the SUR
veys up the north fork of the Clear
water proved that that route was i'm
practicable for railroad, and it practi.
cable would shorten the route but very
little from that Of the Pende O'reille.
We have q high opinion of Mr.. Roberts
Judgment upon route Of which he has
any personal knowledge. but where he
has no such knowledge his opinion is No
] better than that Of thousand others
who simply speculate upon the chances
ofa route, and not as good as that ofor,
binary nountainesrs who have been
csef the route, though MT engineers
FROM some conversation he'd by gen-
tlenan with Mr.. Roberts last Winter at
Washington, and which was reported tt
Us, we are led to believe that Mr.. Rob
erts had prejudged the impracticabilit.
Of this route without any examination
either in person or by any OF his assist
ants. All we ask is that he make tn
examination such as can intelligent
Inform him Of the facts, both as to tn
grades Of tho road. the distance and tn
character of the country bordering til
road between this place and the Bite
Root valley.
The correspondent of the Bee, who'
vs suppose to be Mr.. John Euricl
makes the distance from Lewiston to tt
forks Of the river where the road wi
leave the main river to be 165 miles an
20 miles from there to the summit,
a about 200 miles from Lewiston to Il
Bitter Root or st. Mary's river nc
6tevensvilie, aad che average grade
the 165 miles of the river portion,
fast 70 the mile. This grade is too hig
The grade Of the Clearwater from Lee
istoa 70 the 6rst forks, 40 miles, is on
about 7 feet per mile, aud from the
forks to the mouth Of the middle tol
about 40 miles further. Is not over
feet per mile, and from that point to I
eastern terminus of the l65 miles it Y
not average over Is feet per mile, ms
ing the difference in elevation betwe
Lewiston and said eastern point WHIT
the road will leave the river less tn
1000 feet, aud from our previous inf
nation received it will require about
miles Of circuitous route to reach
ssmnit, upon an average grade of
q feet per mile, or an ascent Of ! 200 fl
0akiag . total elevation ADORE Lewis
0f ahsst $500 feet. Lewiston BY
Barometer is about $50 feet above
aea Jewel. SO that the highest point
the read to the Bitter Root valley ,
gcoaly b 4, $50 feet above the sea le'
We are satisfied that careful surve,
this route will prove that We have
our estimate appropriated to within
feet Of the full height Of this pass. \
for the distance: FROM the mouth
Snake river to Lewiston via the rive
about $50 miles, and thence to the f