Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1884-03-20
THE RUMORS OF RAILWAY Elk.
TENSION.


Since the announcement made bv
the TINES, week ago. that a patent
for the townsite OF HALEY would UNI
doubtedly be issued within 30 days,
this town has been full of rumors.
Nay, it was to be expected, when the
announcement referred to was made,
that the enemies of this town, having
no longer any hope of preventing its
growth, would strive to delay it by
every means in their power.
The only MEANS left them to favor
ably impress the timid land capitalists
are ever SOY was to renew the rumors
OF the removal of the railway terminus.
In furtherance of their object it was
stated that the bookkeepcr Of Collins
Il Co., railway contractors, who has
been in Haley since Monday, had
shown letter instructing him to make
immediate preparations for putting II
large force on the extension of the
road between HaiIey and Ketchum.
This seemed to DO positive enough.
Nell, this gentleman was met last
evening by a TIMES reporter, and
asked about the letter.
He said that he had received word
that work would be begun soon on
both the Boise and Ketchum extern
sions.
"Are you sure that this work is to
be begun" asked the reporter.
SWELL" the gentleman replied, 81
know that they have been preparing
for it all winter, and that the right of
way for the Boise line is already Sc
cured"
Reporter -" Undoubtedly. But
Boise is not ketchum; and the road
to the latter place is not even sur
veycd."
SIS that sop
Reporter.-"Yes. The survey was
stopped at Bullion street, in this city,
and no one connected with the rail
way company has ever said one word
about the right Of way north of that
point. Before the road could be ex.
tended it would bc necessary to make
two or three surveys, to secure the
right Of way, etc. All this work
would require time, and as the work.
lng season is very short, that Of 1884
would be over before it could be ac.
complished."
81 don't know anything about that
But | do know that everything is ready
for the Boise road"
That is evidently all that there is to
the rumor. To be sure, there are
other reports in circulation. For in
stance, one report represents the di-
rectors of the Oregon Short Line (who
are said to be equally divided on the
proposition of extending the road to
ketchum as being in Philadelphia,
engaged in sort of rough land tumble
fight with the directors of the Phila.
delphia company. This report IS cir
culated without the least hesitation,
those who advance it being evidently
ignorant of the fact that the head
quarters Of the Union Pacific and Or
egon Short Line are in Boston and
not in Philadelphia, ana that any bus
mess looking to the extension of the
road would therefore have to be tran
sacted in Boston.
Bat, aside from the evident film
siness Of the rumors, there are
very good business reasons why the
road should not be extended to
ketchum at present, With the ter
minus at Haley, all of 1000 head of
animals are kept on the road TO
ketchum during the busy season.
These animals require hay, grain, etc,
not to mention the wagons needed in
transportation, the requirements of the
teamsters, etc. All this has to be
brought in by rail to Haley, at pay
ing rates for the railway. Should the
road be extended to ketchum, all this
traffic would be swept away.
But, would not the railway company
Re compensated, in some way, for this
'eavy loss? BY no means. 1t would
get no more for carrying freight to or
rom ketchum than it receives for