, 1879-06-14
Our Route.

II NAV he conceded that the ttah North-
ern will pass through the Boise Valley, and
cross the Snake river either at Odds Ferry
ar Farewell Bend. Very few know 1t, but
there is a ford at the latter place which can
no ridden over on horseback without wet
ting the feet This is the only place we
tpow of on the lower Snake where bridge
can he built without enormous expenses be-
mo attached to it. Some kind Of a termI-
ms near the Weiser will in the near future
be an absolute necessity. In another col
umn in this issue will be found letter from
gentleman of very practical nature and
who speaks whereof he knows, regarding the
immense amount OF uuoccapled fertile lands
in that section OF country. We know IRON
our own experience that 1T Is Just as des-
cribed. Besides the fertile valleys where IT.
ripation is not needed, there are miles upon
miles Of sagebrush lands unequaled IN fertli-
ity that only require water to be made to
bjossom as the rose. These lands are sItua-
ted ON the Payette. Snake and Weiser nv
ers II has been demonstrated that the best
CROPS of cereals, fruit and vegetables can be
raised there Water for irrigation Is araIia-
BILE in enormous quantities. This country
has more resources than even Utah itself,
where irrigation is an absolute necessity the
land in our adjoining territory possesses
more of the elements OF fertility than any III
Mormondom Besides this there Is known
TO be great mineral resources IN the noun
ta;ns around the Weiser and Payette, that
only require economical working to be made
immensely profitable. We are aware OF de-
posts of G ,lena and carbonates that can
easily be extracted by the hundred tons
everv day. There are silver mines now be-
ing worked to a profit, and copper ledges
Containing 30 per cent. Of pure metal we
have also seen and examined. The railroad
near the Weiser will bring all this vast ag-
ricultural and mineral region into promi-
nence AMI add largely to the expectations OF
the country. Crossing Snake river the road
will penetrate the extensive mineral region
of Eastern Oregon. The Rye Valley mines
are rich but require economy and little
capital to be legitimate business PROPOSE
tion from the start. The Burnt River coun-
try contains innumerable quartz veins that
we know can lie made to produce good
profits If worked in a business like manner.
All it requires is capital and business man
agement to put them IN proper shape Tor
working. This mining region extends Tor
~ l1un uopaaIlp fIeAa II! saHW 70 ssIoos
reaches the Grande' Ronde valley which Is
one of the most prolific agricultural sections
on the face of the earth. All through the
country population ard wealth is increasing
every day and the company cannot afford to
give it the 90 bye by even entertaining the
idea of another route The onl y other route
we know of is down the big canyon of Snake
river. 1t has very few advantages no popu
lation. no land, Is one of the roughest coun-
tries in the mountains, and is tributary to
nothing. Yet this route with all its enor-
nous expense meet with its advocates tor
the only reason that snow very seldom falls
there to any depth. This same reason may
be applied TO the whole country We have
mentioned. Except on the Blue mountains,
which must be crossed, there is not even III
the hardest winters the country has ever eX-
perienced sufficient snow to impede travel to
any extent. Altogether there is hardly the
least probability but that the Utah North
ern will reach Boise City, strike out down
the Boise Valley to Snake river, thence
across the payelic and Weiser rivers. build
bridge over the Snake at Farewell Bend,
go up Burnt River throcSh Baker City and
Union To the Grand Eonde Valley, cross the
Blue Mountains at some low pass, then take
in Pendleton and Weston, finally making It's
grand terminus at Walia Walla. By this
route all the great agricultural and mineral
sections will he taken in, and the Utah
Northern company viii have obtained the
greatest prize ever known in railroad annals.
not even excepting the Central Pacific.