The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1894-12-06
ENGINEERS REPORT
E. H. Mix Makes Official State
ment to the Road Magnates.
CONSTRUCTION OF W. & |. N.
The Amount of Work Necessary TO Reach
the Seven Devils by
Rail.

Weiser, Idaho, Sept II. 1s94.-To the
President and Board of Directors Of
the Weiser and Idaho Northern Rail-
way Company Limited Gentlemen
In accordance with instructions re-
ceived from the president l herewith
submit the following report of survey.
from Weiser to the Seven Devils mining
district, together with maps. profile and
approximate estimate of cost of road
THE LINE.
The total distance is one hundred and
two Q02) miles. / have completed very
good preliminary location for a distance
from Weser of forty-four (44) miles.
The remaining fifty-eight (5S) miles
only have a preliminary angular line,
but having personally superintendent
the running of the line and made care
full examinations / was enabled to make
a very close and reliable approximate
estimate of the cost
Beginning at the depot grounds of the
Oregon Short Line Railway Company,
at Weiser, the line takes an easterly
course, through the town and farming
country, for distance of ten Q0) miles
to where it enters the Weiser river can
yon. Thence through the canyon dis
lance of eighteen Q9 miles. | found it
absolutely necessary to cross the Weiser
river three times in this canyon, both
to avoid excessive heavy and expensive
rock work and sharp curves. The river
is very crooked, which will be readily
seen by reference to the map--also some
very large cuts and fills. which are
shown on the profile.
After leaving the canyon the line
passes through Middle valley, for dis
tance of six 60 miles. The line through
the valley is straight all the way and
the work is very light
Thence through a small canyon of
the Weiser for a distance of three (S)
miles. which. considering it to be can
yon, is very light work, although some
what crooked.
AT this point we enter Salubria valley
and pass within half (12) a mile of the
town Of Saiubria Through this valley
distance of five and one half (51O
miles the work is also very light and
the line straight most Of the way. We
then enter the third canyon of the Wei
ser. This canyon is more open, and
most of the way the fats next to the
cipal crop. The river. however, is very
crooked and necessitates many cross
ings. eight in a distance of sixteen and
one-half Q61s) miles, otherwise the work
through the canyon is not very heavy.
At this point we leave the river going
up Cottonwood creek for a short dis
lance, passing over a low, fiat country
parallel with the river for a distance OF
two (2) miles to the lower end of Council
valley This is the point where the
junction of the main line and the branch
10 the Seven Devils will be located.
The line here turns abruptly to the west
crosses the Weiser river the twelfth and
last time and follows up the Hornet
creek valley for a distance of thirteen
I3) miles The grading on this thirteen
413) miles is very light At this point
we commence climbing the mountain
TO make the Hornet creek and Crooked
river summit This, of course, necessi-
tates heavy work and some high tres
ties (see profile Sec. 70 to7S), distance
of eight (S) miles.
Thence down the eastern slope OF
Crooked river to the divide between
Crooked river and Lick creek, distance
of four "a miles. This work is made
heavy on account of the necessity OF
keeping high on the side hill to avoio
steep descending and ascending grades
10 pass the divide above mentioned
Thence down to the crossing OF Licf
creek. a distance of four az miles. This
creek lies low and it is very difficult t'
get a satisfactory line; the work is no
so heavy, but the fall is most too steel
TO use a 1 per cent grade. but by taking
time and trying several lines the Difficult
ty can be overcome From this poin
to Bear river, a distance of five an'
one-half (51a) miles the work. is ign
with the exception of the summit cut
and fills in section 80. This line can b.
improved and the work lightened.
From Bear river to Indian creek, TN
terminus a distance of ten QW miles
we have to pass over very light oil
vide. and in order to get the distance Il
reduce the grade to three CD per cen
we are obliged to make distance D.
winding up Bear river and making
very crooked line. (See map.)
At the terminus on Indian creek ther
IS but very little fiat ground ana SINAI
facilities for sidings, depots' etc. ,hele
fore it may become necessary 10 man
the line from Bear river TO lndiah cree
a branch, and locate the prlhcipal $40
sngs. etc. at Bear river by uoihs I'M
ana using a steep grade.say four ana on
half 41s) or five(O per cent. grade an
use special engines for that part oil IN
road. il would shorten the distance lroi
two (2) TO four (D miles and make IN
work much lighter.
GRADES.
rrave kent the grades as low as poss
,,ias Tor the first sixty-four niles III
maximum ascending grade IS one an
one-ha1f per cent, and the maximum ~
scanding one-half of one per cent
,his noint: the total rise in that dlstah'
,a,, hundred and forty feet, or an ave
81 ahout sixteen feet to the NH
-. Tho next three and one hair mll
the grade varies, but is all steep 4 70
mis- noint the grade is three per cent
10 divide between Hornet creek al
sr.+,, Hornet creek. distance of abo
,d one-half miles. Thence TO Ma
uornet Summit. two miles, part lev
balance one per cent The eleVau'
Of this summit is 4,7oO feet above ;
tevel. and $500 feet above Weisef. IN
do,vn TO Lick creek 1t is lmpossipie
ia come one per cent. descenul
Trades. but not all the way, IN a u
sance of nine and one-half miles the
" oes faet-an average of 81 rect TO
nile but it cannot be maze uniio IN
nccount of having to pass over 'ne