The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-09-08
Oregon Short Line Viii Make Good
Its Promise.
ATTORNEY PIERCE TALKS
WORK OF SURVEYORS rs ABOUT
FINISHED.
Canvassers Are Now at Work Collect
ing the 100000 Guarantee Fund
of Which Subscriptions to the
Amount of $4,000 Have AL
ready Been Secured.

The report that the Oregon Short
Line has withdrawn it's corps of sur
veyors from the proposed Owyhee-
Boise extension is true; but, as Presi-
dent Cornish stated when in Salt Lake
ten days ago, their recall meant that
they had finished the work with which
they were entrusted, and should in no
wise be construed to mean that the
Short Line had repudiated the agree
ment to place Boise on the main line,
which agreement was practically con-
summated at the time Mr. Hartman
and the Boise committee INDUCED in
conferences with local Short Line Of
ficials in this city, about three weeks
ago.
The reputation of promises made by
the Short Line was stated to be due
to the additional tax levied on railroad
construction and right of way by the
Idaho state assessor. President Cor
nish stated at the time the rumor be-
came current that the railroad COM
pany had no intention of doing other
wise than fulfilling whatever agreement
they had had with the Boise commit
tee, and the additional tax would not
interfere with the progress of the work
as planned.
MIR. P1erce'S Views.
w. Il. Pierce, representing the people
of Boise in regard to the question at
issue, arrived in town yesterday. Mr.
Pierce was interviewed at the Knuts-
ford last night and said:
The tax assessors of Idaho met in
convention last year and agreed unan-
In all towns throughout the state about
25 or 80 per cent, or from one-fifth to
one-fourth the assessed value of the
property, and the residents of the
towns accepted the change without pro-
test. OF course, this means an increase
of taxation on the land that the Short
Line would require to complete the pro-
posed extension, but it also means that
the railroad company will have to pay
about $4,000 less in taxes by COMPARE
son with the enhanced real estate val
uation than they would had the ex-
tension been completed while the for
mer rate of taxation was in force.
Main Line for Boise.
THE Short Line will undoubtedly
place Boise on the main line as soon
as the plans can be worked out in de-
tail and the construction work COM
pleted. OF course that will take some
time, say about a. year | have positive
assurance from the highest Short Line
officials that the extension will be be-
gun as soon as the necessary bonus is
raised. Solicitation has been going on
actively in Boise, and we have al
ready secured signatures that represent
nearly $3.50, 000-this from the big men
of the town. We haven't approached
the general public as yet.
1T is true that Captains J. R. De
Lamar has subscribed 1000 towards
the required 100000. He has large
business interests in Boise and vicin-
ity and has extensive real estate hold
ings. Captain De Lamar considers that
his interests are large enough to war
rant that amount and generously sub
Scribed it. / wish to state that Boise
has no intentions whatever of injuring
in any way the prospects Of Nampa
or any other town benefited by the
Short Line traffic. All we ask is that
Boise be placed upon the main line The
railroad company can go to any town
it sees fit after that, Nampa and all
the rest included"