Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1882-06-22
THE IDAHO CLEARWATER AMI
MONTANA To APPROPRIATION
COMPANY.

many Peisoi'o ''"
hopes up the esertions Of this com
pauy, as proving successful in the CON
struc,ion Of railroad up the Clear
water river and through the Bitter
Roo. mountains at an early day. No
zone expected that the incorporators
could do this with their own means,
-tut hopes were entertained th8t they
could on a proper showing of the prac
ticahility CT the route, induce some
company to assist them. They in the
first. place with their own means
placed surveyors in the field to view
out with approximate accuracy, the
i practicabiity OF a railroad pass over
the summit of the Bitter Root ,noun-
tains. These surveyors devoted sew
en- weeks time in exploring that range
Of mountains, south Of the Lo Lo
pass; the result of which was they
found three passes, which were lower
than the Lo Lo, each by several hun
dred leet, the approaches to the most
southerly of which were excellent
from either side, and the maximum
& altitude of which was less than 4,b0Q,
. and no grade on the whole route ex-
; cecding 60 feet per mile. and the pass
| found to be almost in direct line
!. between Lewiston and the point W! ere
the Utah Northern crosses the Big
i Hole river. This survey "as entirely
/. satisfactory to the company. The
company then sent two agents east
to present the claims of this route
to capitalists and succeeded in
obtaining the assurances that the iron
and railing stock for this road would
Le furnished at any rate by eastern
men, il we here could manage to
grade and tie the road, and the ell
couragement That more assistance
would be furnished il needed in due
time. Applications wa then made
to the Secretary of the Interior for q
right-of, way across the Nez Perez
Indian reservation, with assurances
from the Indian Agent and numerous
Indians that they would not object
This application though made in Jan
uary last was not answered till late in
May, when the secretary on the rec
concentration Of the commissioner
granted an order that the Indian
agent assemble the Indians il coun
ell and present tho question te
them and obtain their assent for tn.
company to make preliminary sur
vey OF the. route across the reservation
With survey of grounds needed fol
sections, &c, so that the whole coulc
be plated, and improvements Of th'
Indians that would be molested b,
the road, to To noted on the plats
and all returned to the department t,
form the basis Of an estimate tina
would lie required Of the company a
compensation to the Indians, Thi
council was held June Sth at Laowai
and contra to all expectations of tn
Agent and others who had Intervene,
the Indians upon the subject, larg
number of the Indians refused thei
assent TO the survey at present. VIVA
induced this refusal it is difficult t
determine, in the face Of pre-exis'in
assurances of the Indians to the con
'pany ct their readiness, and even DE-
sire to have them build a railroac
But the fact Of refusal exists at tn
present, and until that is overcome, n
permission can be given by the sger
to make surve, on any part of tn
reservation. The company had mad
oil arrangements. to commence TIL
survey about the 25th of this nontl
engaging their surveyor and procurin
their instruments but this refuss
presents on unexpected check to plan
and consequent delay is inevitable ii
this objection is overcome, or the d
partment gives orders to make tn
survey without the consent of the Il
dams, which the department. is NJ
likely to do, although both the con
missioner of Indian affairs and Il
Secretary Of the Interior say that the
are Of the the opinion that "a riqh
of,edy across the Me- Perez reserr
ton for The purpose Of a rail roa
is sufficiently provided for byth tire
ties 0f 1855 ard jS63n Rnt IN maj;