Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-11-28
RoIsE-BUrrE RAILIsoals,

with the advantages that would nc
crue from the building Of the pro-
posed Boise Butte railroad. IL
may need no argument 10 impress
the importance Of the subject upon
the minds of the people but THE
STATESMAN would beg leave to urge
that there must be no lukewarm-
ness when the time for action shall
arrive. And in calling attention to
the matter. we would briefly refer
to some of the benefits that will
be secured to Boise by the construc-
ton Of the line.
| The preliminary survey Of the
road has been completed; the plans
will be out in three or four weeks,
when a meeting of citizens will he
called AID the matter laid before
them in detail. Boise will be asked
to contribute TO the undertaking.
II is not proposed to ask that any
thing be paid or made over to the
company in advance, but the people
will be asked TO subscribe some
amount in land or money TO be
made over when the entire road
from Boise to Butte shall have been
completed. That is the proposition,
and in considering it, business men
and property owners here need to
keep the important features of the
subject in mind.
| The Statesman has heretofore
pointed out the necessity for rail
roads to develope Idaho's resources
This line is just such an one as the
state needs aud we hope that moth
ing will be left'undone that would
contribute to securing it. The road
will be AIS miles in length. 1t will
follow the South fork Of the Boise
river, cross the Sawtooth mountains
to the headwaters of the Salmon
river and follow that stream to the
North fork. Running up the North
fork of the Salmon river, it will
cross the Continental divide, strik
ing the Big Hole and following that
stream to a point some twenty-five
miles from Butte, thence across
country to that city. On the first
100 miles of road out Of Boise there
will be no grade of more than fifty
feet TO the mile. Crossing the Saw
tooth the grade will range from one
and one-half to two and one half
On the Salmon river for 10 miles
there will be no grade Of more than
forty feet, while the crossing of the
Continental divide will be made
with gradients of from 2 to q per
cent. These figures show the prac-
ticability of the route.
The capacity of the country to
supply road with freight is ua-
questioned; but to show the resources
of the region reached we make the
following list of camps that will con-
tribute to the business of the road.
Twenty five miles from Boise the
Neil district will he tapped; next
Pine Grove district; then Rocky Bar,
and then the mines of Big and Lit
tie Smokey. Ross creek will be
contributor, also the mines about
Atlanta. On the Sawtooth there
are a great many mines with two
camps, Vienna and Sawtooth City.
These minesin many cases are large
and rich, and extensive mills have
been in operation there. Stanley
Basin, Sheep Mountain, Sea Foam
and Cape Horn will be opened up
by the road; also the mines of Bo-
nanza. Custer and Estes Mountain.
Clayton will also be reached. Here
there is smelter that has turned
out 500 tons of bullion this year
The mines of Squaw Greek will be
tributary, also those of Slate Greek.
all Of which run heavy in lead.
Bay Horse will be on the line of
the road Another smelter ia in OPP
Grafton there. The mines of Poverty
Flat and those on the east fork of
the Salmon will be feeders for the
road. while Washington, Germania
Basin, Yellow Jacket, Prairie Basin
and the Blue Wing district will all
be within reach. Salmon City will
be on the line, and a great number
of surrounding mines will find
shipping point there for gold bearing
iron sulphuret ores, while the lead
ores from the head of the Lemhi
will also reach the road there. Glib
louisville is another iron sulphuret
country, noted for its mineral wealth.
1t will be reached by the road, while
I.eesburg and shoup, the latter be-
ing spoken ofas a mineral mountain,
will be tributary to it.
This array of mineral districts
will give some idea Of the amout of
freight that may be expected. On
the dump Of the Silver Rule mine,
at the head of Slate creek, there is
1900 tons of ore awaiting shipment.
The great gold mines along the line |
are running into base ores that
must be shipped out TO large smelt-
ing works, while there are number
less properties that could be worked
to advantage 18th railroad trans
pOrtatiun. At least 500 tons. and