Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1890-12-06
THE SALT LAKE AND ROCKY
BAR RAILROAD.


of men interested in the building OF
the Utah & Idaho railroad was held
at the Chamber of Commerce last
night. Among those present were
Texas Angel, J. V. Bryan of HALEY,
F. NJ. Washburne Of Minnesota. and
II. K. Miller of Bellevue, Idaho,
and a number Of citizens and MEM
bers of the Chamber of Commerce.
The meeting was called to order
by Ex-Governor West, who stated
that the object Of this meeting was
to build a railroad TO the State of
Idaho to connect with road for
HALEY to Junction Bar, and that
the gentlemen who had organized
the Idaho road were present and
would explain the situation. He
said that from what he had learned
of the resources Of the country he
thought no road would rebound 10
the interests Of Salt Lake more than
this. He then requested Governor
Thomas TO preside over the meet
ing.
Governor Thomas said he had
come to the meeting in response to
an invitation and that he was there
for the purpose of organizing and
incorporating the Salt Lake & Idaho
Railroad Company. He felt more
confident that this enterprise would
be successfully carried ont than any
similar one ever proposed.
Mr.. Washburn was called and
said: "In the month Of August /
received letter from Mr.. Angel
concerning the building of a railroad
between HALEY and Junction Bar,
distance of 80 miles. At first |
entertained some doubts as to
whether tho road would pay, end
ing rs it did in the mountains. ]
met Major Wilkes and he suggested
and urged that the line be extended
to Salt Lake City, which would he
Of great benefit TO the road. / came
to Idaho a month ago and went
over the route" The speaker then
infinitely described the journey up
Croy gulch TO the Gold Belt, across
Big Camas prairie, down the Little
Smokey and Big Smokey to South
Boise river and to Junction Bar
, describing the rich res ourccs Of the
country. The timber interests o.
this country were simply immense
Thirty-fve miles from HALEY tn,
first timber contiguous TO tho lins
was found. The trees were very
tall and straight, each one making
from four to ten ties. There wal
enough timber in this one place IL
furnish ties enough to build q rail
road around the world, counting
$500 ties 10 the mile. This is prin
cipally FIR balsam, but further or
are mammoth forcsss of yellow pine
as fine as ever seen in Michigan
Wisconsin or Minnesota, the trees
being "a to 48 inches in diameter
and Of great heighth, and he meas
ured some that were % feet in cir.
conference. The forest extended
az far a. the eye could reach, and
he was informed that it went on
through Oregon and Washington
The mines in all the districts to be-
reached were visited and found to
be surprising in number and rich
ness. In one camp was 250. 600 tons
of ore lying on the dumps which
was worth $50 per ton and more
but as ore had TO be packed out on
the backs of bronchos, ore that wen,
less than $3.50 per ton did not pay
In the South Boise country 10C
mines were open; mp Big Smokey
the same amount of work had been
done. In the Little Smokey were
5000 tons Of ore waiting railroad
large amount of work had beer
done on the different mines, and
thousands Of tons of low grade ore
was on the dump. He then spoke
of the vast tracts of agricultural
land and the abundant water supply
and closed by saying that whatevc,
railroad got there would have bo
nanza. There was ore sufficien,
there to supply all the smelters that
could be put up in Salt Lake fol
100 years. There was sufficien,
timber at junction Bar alone Il
supply Salt Lake with lumber fol
five years.
Col. Bryan said that the citizen,
of HALEY had decided to build tn,
road, and n survey had been made
and the right of way secured
through Idaho at an expense o.
$4,000. He stated that few year,
ago it cost $34 per ton to ship ore
but when the rate was reduced lasl