Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1883-06-28
q. q L. PRELIMINARY SURVEY
COMPLETED.
Nad mum Grade Less than 20 Feet
BURNT River to Lewiston 1s7
Miles-Two Men Drowned 6plen-
did Railroad Route.

did Ra1lrOao 0OutS.
On Tuesday Chief EngincerClark to-
gcther with surveyors Moscript Mathcrs'
Bcall, Wells, Hardness and others OF the
two parties connected with the survey OF
the canyon of Snake river arrived at Lew
iston. They lett Canoe encampment Tues
day morning and made 81 miles that day.
The party from above connected with the
survey of Moscrip, 49, miles south OF
this point. on the Dist Making the en-
tire distance between the mouth Of Burnt
river and Lewiston 1871 miles. The Mos
cdp survey of the lower river has been
described. That portion from the mouth
Of Burnt river down to the head Of the
Twenty Four Mile canyon was generally
not difficult to survey. But from the
head of the canyon to where MoScrlP
terminated his survey up the river was
quite difficult and dangerous and required
great care. In many places, points could
not be reached to station instruments and
the work had to be done by triangulation
from distance. The water was high.
The bluff rock bordering the river on
either side made it necessary to use the
boats much in making the survey. In
some instances they found the water in
the canyon over 200 feet in depth, while
the span Of the stream would not exceed
200 feet. Some remarkable chances were
taken of life in climbing around the cliffs,
sometimes from 100 to $50 feet above
the water. The fall of the river in the
canyon was very great and the current
very rapid, with occasional rapids that
were very dangerous Of navigation with
boats They started on the Oregon side
Of the river at the mouth of Burnt river,
and crossed to the Idaho side about 100
miles above this point Mr.. Clark thinks
he shall bridge at point about ten miles
above the crossing he made. Not more
than 200 or $50 feet span will be requir-
cd in several places and there is plenty
of timber at several accessible points on
the route. The maximum grade Of any
one mile in tho survey was less than 20
feet while tho average of the whole dis
tancc will not be more than G or I feet
per mile. In one place above Pine creek
the river makes bend much like an OK
bow making distance of a miles around
through perpendicular palisades; while
half mile across brings the two opposite
points Of the river together. The sur
vey was made for tunnelling this neck.
This saves distance of four miles and
avoids short curves. No curves in the
line exceed six degrees. No appearance
of snow slides on the whole line to OBJ
struct road. Mr.. Clark expresses him
self highly pleased with the route for a
railroad, for ease of construction, excellent
grade and being far below the line of
obstructing SHOWS in winter, and having
plenty Of material for bridging where
needed, and making ties. He estimates
the cost Of constructing through the can
yon Of Snake river at ono third less than
the cost Of construction through the
Burnt river canyon and on over the Blue
mountains The other engineers who
have been with him concur in his opinion,
aud VIC arc assured that Clark s
report TO headquarters will recommend
that the route Of the o. s. L. DO located
and built down Snake river to Lewiston.
The party will larry here for few days
and take rest, and be prepared to follow
other instructions from headquarters at
Omaha. Three of the party coming down
with Clark became disheartened and
tarncd back when they came to the can
you, which left him short handed in max
ing the most difficult part of the survey.
Again when he had nearly completed the
canyon two Of his good men were acct
dentally drowned. The circumstances of
their drowning were about rs follows:
On the 18th Mr.. Clark was engaged in
cutting some brush at the mouth of n
small stream on tbs Oregon side of the
river, intending to have the boats drop
ped down by bad rapid near the shore.
The boatman claimed that they could run
the rapid with safety and he consented
they should try it. Accordingly the
three boats started. The first boat con-
tanned four men, the second two men and
the third five men. The first boat
entered and rode well till nearly through
when it turned round and soon became
flied with water and became unmanace-
able. One Of the men jumped out and
swan for the shore which he reached
a>out two miles below. A second man
sized bundle of tent poles that float.d