Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1882-12-01
THE OREGON sHorr LINE.
Standard.

rum II. Il. OtraDOrn, treasurer OF
the Oregon Short Limo road, who has
just arrived, it ia learned that the iron
is laid to within 40 miles Of Shoshone
Wood river crossing) total distance
OF 300 miles west Of Granger, where
the track leaves the main line. From
the end Of the track to Shoshone the
grading is practically completed, and
for SO miles west to Bennett creek, a
point 90 miles southeast of Boise. The
line is covered with men and the heav-
lest werk well under way. Track
will be laid to Shoshone by Christ.
mas, to Bennett creek by March LIST,
and if the weather remains unusually
mild, to point near Boise by June
10Th or July lst. From Shoshone
north along Little Wood river grad
ing is almost finished on the Wood
river branch to HALEY, a distance of
60 miles. Track laying will be pushed
on this branch as rapidly as possible,
and HALEY will be reached early in
1888. HALEY is to be the terminus
Of this branch, and as the railroad
company is taking hold to make it the
metropolis of the entire Wood river,
Salmon river and Sawtooth region, a
great future seems assured it.
In speaking Of the country Mr.. Stra.
horn says that the bullion prodnct for
this year, of the coantry tributary to
HALEY, will be about So, 100000, and
thousands of tons of ore are held by
mine owners for the cheap freight rates
promise when the railroad arrives
few months hence.
From Granger to American Falls, a
distance of some $50 miles, the main
line passes through a region rich in
coal and other minerals, and having
good timber, grazing and agricultural
resources. From American Falls to
Shoshone, IS miles, is the worst lava
field in America country present
ing almost insuperable obstacles to
railroad building. From Shoshone
north to Haley and west to Baker
City, there is a good asricultural and
stock country, with vast mineral
belt days drive to the north. The
new mineral discovery along the Wei
ser and near the mouth of Burnt river,
along the Snake, and showing up
splendidly. 1t is expected that the
Short Line will reach the mouth of
Burnt river next season. 1t is Mr..
Strahorn's belief that the company
will insist on carrying out it's original
contract of meeting the 0. r. & n. Co.
at Baker City. He says there is room
in the Burnt river canyon for both
roads, and il the 0. R. & n. Co. refus-
es to abide by the original agreement
the Oregon Short Line will build along
side the other road to Baker City. The
Oregon Short Line has overcome its
greatest natural obstacles in the lava
beds, and will progress hereafter with
greater speed. several thousand men
and teams are employed in eenstruc-
ton, and will be kept at work when
ever the weather will permit. w. B.
Dodridge. Superintendent of the Ore
gon Short Line, who has recently been
over the road, says: The grading is
progressing well, and is so far ahead
of the track layers that good prog
ress can now be made in putting down
the track. 1t takes a vast amount of
supplies for the thousands of men and
hundreds of teams engaged in the
work of constructing this important
railway. Most of these supplies come
from the east, the grain for animals
being furnished from Nebraska, while
Utah is drawn upon for many articles.