Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-11-23
THE UTAH SOUTHERN.
Result of the Surveyors
Investigations.
A NEW MAIN LINE CHOSEN
The Route it is Proposed to Follow.
Prospects for Early
Construction.

When General Passenger Agent ]. S.
Tebbetts, of the Union Pacific railroad,
was in Los Angeles few months ago, he
informed HERALD reporter that the ex-
tention of the Utah Southern to this city
was an assured fact. He stated that a
corps of surveyors was in the field, and
that when they had decided on route
the Union Pacific would commence active
operations. The following article, which
is taken from the Salt Lake Tribune
gives the result of the investigations Of
the engineers:
In talk yesterday with Engineer j.
Fewson Smith, of the Union Pacific, the
following facts relative to the Utah
Southern extension survey were ELECTED.
There have been two parties out since
February last, under the direction OF Il.
w. Snow and J. A. West respectively,
with Mr.. Smith as supervising engineer,
and they have given the entire country
on the line to Mojave and Barstow such
a thorough going over that the route
finally selected by them will no doubt be
approved by the powers that be at
Omaha without any quibbling. The line
of the preliminary survey made a year
ago started from Black Rock, twenty
two miles this side of Milford, and ended
at Ash Meadows, Lincoln county,
Nevada. The present survey begins at
Milford Station and extends to Mojave
and Isarstow. The main line laid out
this trip is shorter than that selected as
probable in the preliminary survey by
fifty miles, the grades nowhere exceed
100 feet, with the curves at maximum
of 6 degrees. The length of the lines
surveyed aggregate nearly 1,500 miles,
the main line being only about third
of this, and the rest representing
auxiliary lines, a plan that gives the
Omaha big guns abundant choice in max
ing a selection of routes. And it may be
said here that the choice will be open for
selection of a line approaching more
nearly the mining camps with sleeper
gradients and shorter cut across the
country, or of little longer line farther
from the principal mining camps and
with much easier grades and curves. The
main line now designated by the engi-
neers as the most feasible, on leaving
Milford bears across the Escalente Val
lev, and goes over the rim of the Great
Salt Lake basin opposite Phoebe. Thence
the general course is northwest to Bristol
Pass in the Ely range, near Bristol min
ing camp, where great quantities of me-
dium grade ores are mined. From there
the line strikes into the White River
watershed, and thence through Coal
Valley over the Freiburg Pass into the
Pennoyer Valley and on to Kane Springs.
Beyond that the line runs to the head
waters of the Armagosa river, which is
followed TO Ash Meadows where the
course is to Death Valley, and on cross
ing the plateau between Death and Pan
amint Valleys, the main line runs over
into the Moiave desert, and straight on
TO Barstow. From there to Los Angeles
is but short run.
OF THE AUXILIARY LINES,
Part of which may be used as the main
line, and which are run to strike the
mining camps more direct, the principal
one defects from the main line in the
White River district, and runs through
the Paranagat, TImpahute, Groom and
Southeastern districts. joining the main
line again at Kane Springs, after detour
of about $50 miles, and striking valuable
mining properties. The second auxiliary
line penetrates Pahrampt Valley, be-
tween Kingston Mountain and Resting
Springs, and across the Tecopah range
country, and continuing right through to
Mojave Sink, or near Death Valley
There are a number of other auxiliary or
trial lines, whose object and aggregate
length have been already referred to.
Every available pass has been examined
between the Colorado river on the south,
and the lines developed on the north.
The heavy caflons were easily avoided,
thus avoiding also work of an excessive
character. The cost of building this road
will be moderate, about $4,000 to $780,
GOO per mile; the route is entirely FEAST
BILE, and though there must be consider
BILE culvert building, the items of
bridges and trestles will be very light.
Moreover, the character of the country
admits of rapid construction, so that
when President Adams once gives the
word, care you ready?" Co." con-
struction can be pushed at the highest
rate of speed. Mr., Smith says his state
ments made in the report on the prelim-
mary survey as to the mineral wealth of
the country traversed by the extension
must be enlarged, as they prove to be
entirely beneath what the outlook would
justify him in stating now. Not only he
but other railroad men who have been
through there recently are very enthusi-
astic over the mineral outlook. Ali that
has been said before can be doubled and
said over again. and Mr.. Smith is certain
that local traffic will abundantly sup
port the road when once put through.
The pass elevations remain practically
unchanged from the figures given in the
preliminary survey. The distance be-
tween Salt Lake and Los Angeles via
Barstow will be 800 miles, saving of
500 miles over the present route. Mr..
Smith and the surveyors are now getting
out their MAPS and the report, which will
be ready in few days for transmission
to Omaha.
LA EANnA,S SENTENNE