The Ravalli Republican., 1898-11-16
TIE NEW RAILROAD.
Shirt Cut from MiSSoula Over the Bitter
Root Range to AinsWorth.

SHIRT Cut from Nissoula Over the Bitter
Root Range to AinsWOrth.
Recent reports that the Northern
Pacific hallway company intended to
build a branch line from a point near
or at Mjssoula in Montana across the
Bitter Root mountains down the
Clearwater and Snake rivers to the
main line in southern Washington
and so reduce the mileage on through
coast business by 300 miles or more,
was given confirmation Yesterday by
the incorporation Of the Clearwater
Short Line hallway company under
the laws Of Montana. 1t was re-
ported. rs noted by the Independent
at the time, that the Northern Pa
cI'ic proposed to reduce it's time from
st. Paul to the coast on all through
passenger and freight business and to
do that it was necessary to shorten
It's line. The presumption among
railroad men is that the new line, il
completed, may become the main line
from Western Montana to suutlicast-
ern Washington. The main line uOW
extends in Il high ';cbow" from Mis-
souIa into northern Idaho and, round
ing Lake Pend d'OrciIlc on the north.
extends in a southWcsterlv direction
into southern Washington. The new
line, if built, will cut across the
"clbow," thus saving several hundred,
miles.
The new company was incorporated
bv William Wallace, jr., counsel in
Montana for the Northern Pacific
Railway company: A. y. Edgar, gen
cral agent Of the road ut this city,
and Harry \cagcr. The company
was organized with ii capital stock Of
$4,000, but that amount will doubt
less be raised before the company be-
gins work ON the line.
1t is announced in the articles Of
Incorporation Of the company that
the western terminus Of the road is
TO be located on the south side Of the
Snake river near the junction Of that
river with the Columbia river in the
vicinity Of the town Of AinsWorth.
Walla Walla county, WASHINGTON,
and the eastern terminus in Misso,lla
county, Moltana. The road is to
pass through the counties Of WaIla
WallA, Columbia, Garfield, and
Asotin, Washington: tic counties Of
Ncz Pcrccs, Shoslonc, and Idaho, in
Idaho, aud through Mi~soula county,
Montana.
The general route Of the road is
from tho most convenient point u!
connection with the main IUc Of the
road Of the Northern Pacific at or
near Ainsworth, Washington, thence
cAslerly and along the course Of the
Snake river to the Clearwater and is
tributaries, aud across the Bitter
Root range OF mountains by way Of
the Lo Lo pass or some adjacent pass
to the most convenient point of con-
ncction on the east side Of the Bitter
range and in the vicinity Of MisSuul;l
with either the main line Of the
Northern Pacific railway or the Bitter
Root or DcSmct branches. The route
Of tile proposed road IS through an
extremely rough country, but, it is
said the Snake and Clearwater ri vcrS,
with the tributaries OF the latter,
afford natural passes through the
mountains.
General Agent \. D. Edgar, one Of
the !'corporators. was asked ycSter-
| day if there WAS any probability OF
the new company commencing opera.
tiOllS next summer or at all.
II don't know" he replied. 81
can say nothing about what will b,
done, for don't know. The com
panv is Incorporated and that is all
can tell you about it. Helena Indc
pendent.