The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-05-01
W. RI EiEIEIVB
Tn0 RnNInnnc 1T n Din
ITS PRINCIPAL FIRMS
How the Town Started and How
it Progressed.
THE RAILROAD METROPOLIS

rived its name from an old Indian chief,
Pocatellc, who presided over q band of
Shoshones, once located in Bannock Creek.
The name was given by Colonel Sanders,
an agent sent out by the government in
1899. Pocatello means rushing water, and,
no Doubt the suggestion was prompted by
the location Of the town on the Portneuf
river, which is quite rapid at this point.
The seed OF this town was planted in the
year 1850, when the Utah q Northern ran
through the Indian Reservation and left an
old box car for q depot at what is now the
centre of Pocatello. The only citizens
were few Indians and the only houses
few "tee- pees,n or Indian tents. In 1882
the Oregon Short Line people made Poca-
tello their junction, with the Utah & North
ern. This was the signal for an era of great
prosperity. Even with all the reservation
restrictions placed on the town by the gov
ernment the determined efforts of few
enterprising men caused the swaddiing
clothes Of aboriginal childhood to be thrown
OF, and Ia August of last year TOWNSHIP
was secured and a town council organized.
with Mr.. Dan Swinehart as chairman and
Charles DeVinney as marshal These gen.
b4N4Aiohh VIII buOlE CO-lAUUTeTS, QlQ uOSI
excellent work, and have left behind them
record that they may well be proud Of
The place has thrived most wonderfully,
and is to-day one of the most lively towns
in the west 1t bios fair to be one of the
coming strong cities OF the west ere many
years have past.
As evidence Of the permanency of the
town, we may briefly review what the rail
road has done in Pocatello just recently.
In February, 1891, $4,000 were expended
for fine, new, twenty-stall round house
the old one of 1888 being now used as a re-
pair shop. The new one has all the latest
conveniences for the care of the "iron
horse" such as steam heating fuxing. tools
for temporary work, etc. They have re-
pairing accommodations for AS locomotives
and have an average assignment of from
thirty 20 forty cars daily that come in
Tor repairs. Cars come in whose damages
range from hot box to mass of spliuters
The shops carry a stock of fixtures of
So2 OOO-this includes parts for cars and en-
glnes for all western railroad systems
and many Of the eastern cars that are dam
aged on this division are run in for repairs
The immense amount of work done at this
point necessitates the machine and black
u.
employ $50 men in the shops and round
house, besides the train men, officers of the
division, ETC., making a total of about 500
employees and monthly disbursement of
over S65,OO0 per month for wages alone
these are besides other heavy operating ex-
penses, which lift the total much higher.
Pocetello Is the central point for the
Idaho division Of the Union Pacific. which
lncludes the road from Granger to Hunt
lhgson, and Ogden TO Butte, embracing
the Preston, Ketchum and Boise branches,
and making total of 1,03S1l miles of road
10 be operated. Mr.. j. K. Dunn is the
master mechanic for this division He is q
thorough railroad man, who has progressed
from the lower rounds of the machinist an
prentice TO the high and responsible posi-
ton now attained Under his supervision
all work is thoroughly done, as the condi-
ton and appearance Of the rolling stock
Will certainly attest.
The shops are as complete as any in the
intermountain region, and are stocked with
the latest improved lathes. planners. bolt
machines, drill presses, boring machines.
etc. In the WOOD working department the
same rules are adopted-nothing but the
best with plenty Of it. They are now en-
larging the capacity Of the machine shon.
adding new machinery and will soon light
by electricity.
We found locomotives in all stages of re
pair, showing evidences of the ability and
facilities for the entire construction of en-.
glnes and cars, including the finest of gid
ing aud lettering; In these shops we were
enabled 10 see several improye ments made
in re building engines, chiefly in the con
structlon Of the engine, tender, trucks and
frames, which combine the most possible
tensile and 'anti- wreck" strength with
lghtness IN weight.
This division of the Union Pacific epiovs
the distinction Of being the only one which
liant tho cNhndr1la irno III
severe winter storms-not a late trail was
recorded during the entire winter They
have two steam rotary snow plows which
wereN-and are yet-Bept steamed UP ready
TO rush out on minutes notice and attack
the snow banks, no matter how formidable;
they merrily throw the snow thirty feet
out OF the way, blowing their way through
the bank, leaving q passage for the trains.
The railroad company have built about
fifty houses, which are models of neatness
in their appearance; besides this they are
planting lawns, parks and other beautify.
ing features. all OF which 80 to show the
permsnency OF their location.
The residents. prior to the settlement OF
/ the townsite complications, were 10th to
make any expensive improvements in view
of the question as to title, but since this
matter has been settled we see fine brick
stores being erected, residences repainted
and solid foundations for elegant brick
is a large irrigating canal from the Snake
river southwark, which embraces all the
townsite property not under irrigation.
thereby furnishing water for irrigating and
culinary purposes.
IL is known that the soil in aud contic
uous to Pocatello is well adapted to agri.
cultural pursuits and it is thought that
mineral in vast quantities exists in the
hills surrounding this mountainous me.
tropolis. The conditions existing for
water power and sewerage all tend TO give
positive evidence of great prosperity in
the near future. At present the town is
lighted by electricity, has a fire depart
ment comprising two hose companies and 8
chemical engine. The railroad company
have put in about 1000 feet OF pine line
which conveys water to all their proper.
ties with laterals running through their
principal streets. This pipe line is from :
fine spring that at present furnishes
plenty of pure water ami has so far been
ample for all fires. The railroad company
also have fire brigade of their own tna-
always responds to any fire alarm. They
contemplate putting in an electric fire
alarm as we'll
Two weekly newspapers, one Demo-
cratic ard one Republican, six church
organizations, viz, Mormon, Episcopalian
Congregational, Catholic and Methodist
the first five having nice buildings for their
services, and are also stable features of The
town.
A public school is prominent institution