Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-02-26
RAILROAD TALK.
EUGENE, Boise Co, Idah

n
elevate their heels, and tar-room
stoves become the incubaters where
by are Matched that bl God Of schemes
and prophecies which only lack real
ization and ful6llment to cause the
tide Of mans adversely to evaporate
and descend upon his head in golden
showers.
ask the use OF vour columns to
say something on a subject Of weighty
Importance to great many people.
l notice IN different issues OF the
State press, both north and south, that
tho question Of uniting the two sec.
tons BY railroad is being agitated.
Any ono capable Of obstructing or de-
preciating any project or proposition
looking to this most desirable end,
should be branded as a public enc
my. But rs it Is not altogether prob
able that any railroad company will
ever select local newspaper writer
for lis President, or make his back
yard lis terminal, no harm can result
from any one discussing the subject,
provided facts and not imagination
constitute the basis OF his remarks.
The u. P. r. r. Co. has examined
two routes between North and South
Idaho, one from the O. s. l.. via
Snake river to Lewiston, and one
from Weiser city via Little Salmon,
Main Salmon river, Rocky canyon
and Camas prairie to Lewiston. The
last was made in the summer OF 1887,
and the writer was on Salmon river
when the two parties making the ex-
animation met, after completing their
work. Mr.. Arnsdale, the engineer in
charge Of the party coming from
Lewiston, told me in substance that
during period OF seven years IN the
service Of the u. P. Co. he had never
examined any place that presented
such serious distractions to railroad
construction as Rocky canyon, lead
ing from Salmon river to Camas
Prairie, that owing to the advanced
state OF proficiency attained in engi-
neering, it was possible but not .
practical route.
The report of Mr.. Clark, in charge
Of the party from Weiser, was equal
ly discouraging, ninety feet per mile
being the minimum grade obtalnable
through what is known as Little
Salmon canyon. Advocates OF THU
route are not wanting who charge
that Mr.. Clark, through personal in
terests, was predisposed in favor O
the route down Snake river, ant
hence his unfavorable report. Since
the accuracy or inaccuracy OF THU
statement would be bard to establish
1t is not worth while to hazard CUES
In regard to it; moreover, as 1t vii
have no influence in selecting III,
routes over which, ultimately, a rail
road connecting North and South Ida
no will be built. Any one at all ia
miliar with the topography of tn
Salmon River canyon will, ! think
agree that between the mouth OF thu
North Fork and the confluence Of tn,
main river with the Snake, there i
but one place along the northern wal
Of this mighty gorge that does no
present practically impossible bar
yier for a railroad. This section lie
between the two tributaries, know
ms Slate creek and White Bird, an,
embraces distance Of about twelv
miles. BY taxing the engineer
skill and company purse prett
heavily, road can be taken fror
Salmon river on to Camas prairie a
this point. Assuming that road ca
be built to Horseshoe Bend at the ay
erage cost OF western roads, let us ex
anime the country between that plac
and Slate creek, especially that SC
called impossible barrier, SO man
years the bulwark OF the annexation
list. Starting from Horseshoe Benz
road following the Main Payett
can reach the mouth of the Mort
Fork of that stream on grade nc
exceeding twelve feet per mule
From Round valley, to its junctio
with the main river, the North For
flows through canyon, but as it is
stream OF considerable dimension it
safe TO say it can be passed on a mas
imum grade of twenty-five feet pc
mile. The two road commissioner
who examined il last summer es.ims
ted wagon road could be construct
cd through it for eleven thousand do
lars. From Round valley to Squa'
Meadows, a distance of seventy.fv