The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1899-07-13
Lines Easily Projected, but Practical
Routes Hard to Find.
POINTERS FROM THE OUTSIDE
Natural Avenues.

We submit the following commnni
cation from Mr. Handy to the Nam
pa Leader as an item we'll worth
reading, showing as it does that rail
road lines are easily projected, but
practical routes are another thing in
country like idaho, cnvironed with,
and crossed by mountain ranges
The writerof this has known Mr.
Handy for more than 30 years and
Mr. Wolcott also, and can vouch for
the high order of professional ability
of both gentlemen, and their high
standing rs civil engineers. Such
statements go TO prove the great val
uc commercially Of such available
routes rs that up Weiser Valley,
and show that nature only pro-
vides these opportunities for man to
take advantage Of; and, by the way,
the natural avenues are not numerous
and the natural grade up and through
the Weiser valley, is one of the most
valuable privileges on the continent
and the possession of it is n positive as
surance to the bolders Of Il iranspor
tation business so immense rs to be
beyond present conjecture. This is
no idle romance The history of
Oriental commerce shows that the
line of empire follows its track across
deserts, oceans or continents:
=" 1t is an easy matter for promo
ters to draw line between two points
on map, announce a line to be con
structed between such points, then
incorporate company and behold the
railroad is built, III the promoter
= mind Mr. Blake has just built suci
l road on paper, beginning some
where North coming into Boise b,
the South Fork of the Boise, thence
down the Boise river to the Snake
u thence some where else
In 1877 the writer WAS the topog
t rapher of Union Pacific corps 0
6 engineers, starting from Blackfooi
II crossing the Snake near that place
" running west across the lava beds b
Middle Butte to Lost river, thence
le Wood River. From Wood River til
r most available route through Bois
lc City WAS sought for The only al
he proach available was by Camas cree
i and Little Camas prairie to the divic
between Boise river and the Snal
ea river in township l south range
east. The elevation of the divi,
is nearly 5000 feet. From this poi
10 the line followed tributary of Il
ly south Boise to that river in townsh
r, south range east, a distance
wv about 10 miles The difference
=. elevation of the Boise river and t
divide WAS 1000 feet. Or 400 fest p
u' mile, with no ground to develop c
rs ira distance TO work out n three +
re- cent grade The line from Blackfo
Ia to the divide was very favorable, 0
= tangent of 80 miles being practical
IL over Little Camas prairie The q
lto rupt drop, as stated above, conden
mt ed the route as not practicable.
he its return from the Dalles the pres,
Short Line route was found and {
cided on as being the line to be bul
DID AS Mr. Blake's proposed line mi
if be over the ground descbed or wor
ry- little stock can be taken in its act
inc construction. The facts as sta
ust can be obtained from the engin
get offices of the u 2. r. r. then UNI
MIR. Blaikensderfer, chief engine
The survey was made by Geo
re Wolcott, and should be looked mp
Of Boise people before putting moi
'rk. r' into a survey of Mr.. Blake's pal
,itb railroad IL. 7. HANDY
her Nampa, July 8, 1899.