The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1899-02-16

San Francisco or Sacramento to some
Montana point Such road would
have the dignity of trans s-continental
line, as we shall here show in connec-
ton with the merits of the road up
the Weiser river which is now under
consideration in New York, and
which, if built, will become Sec
ton of the greater vertebrae. The
following which appeared in the SIG
NAL Oct 28, 1897, will bear repeti-
ton. 1t then caused considerable
comment by San Francisco papers,
but then the business interests we're
too foolishly chasing after Klondike
trade to look after bigger things at
home:
A great deal has been written and
talked regarding the railroad situation in |
this immed ate locality, and the SIGNAL
has been foremost in advocating the only |
honest aud possible measure that will ul-
timately obtain and bring out the final
great possibilities OF the country, and In
doiug so has not confined its views to the
narrow borders Of local benefit While
we fully realize the fact that The town of
Weiser and the country contiguous will
reap immense benefits and advance rap
idly if the road is constructed up the nat-
ural highway Of the Weiser river and
through the fertile valleys of the north,
there is beyond all, the great fact of a
general benefit that is Of far greater mo-
ment and one that is in no way apprecia-
ted by the localities most deeply interes-
ted. We say this, judging from the lack
OF interest taken by those who have rs
much at stake as has the town of Weis
and the constituency that the SIGNAL is
supposed to represent; that is the bus-
ness man, farmer, miner and mechanic
of Washington County. The construc-
ton of the road means the opening Of the
immense territory embraced in the bound
aries of Washington, Idaho and Boise
counties, aud the eventual opening OF this
now sealed domain TO the commerce Of
the world. More than this, and requr
ing no stretch of imagination, is the north
ern connection with the great transconti-
mental lines, the Northern Pacific and
Great Northern, and the extension south
and west to Sacramento which latter can
be made from Weiser with not noun
tain range intervening and distance of
less than four hundred and forty miles.
This means to say that the Weser man
can, with the road constructed. reach Sac
ramento us soon as he can Portland OF
|. Salt Lake, aud in a trade and transporta'
tion point of view, what does this mean
We are bold to say it means revolution
in the commerce OF this coast, and ONT
that interests California as much as il
does Idaho. Again, let us consider the
matter of distance The distance from
, Weiser to its nearest northern railwa,
, connection is two hundred miles, an6
I this two hundred miles is through tn,
greatest agricultural, grazing, mineral
and timber district of the north west, anc
the extension south from Weiser woulC
pass through the greatest and most per
r manent stock country of Eastern Oregon
Y and the southeast part Of California
o without railroad facilities, giving lin
six hundred and forty miles, two hun
dred OF which would develop and con
meet North and South Idaho. From Wei
e ser to Butte the connection can be mad
Y in three hundred and forty miles, an
# this line, if adopted, would open the sam
6 immense domain and shorten the throug
line from Sacramento to the east and Tn
% final result of the construction Of tn
q north and south line would result in tn
e release of two great states from rallroa
r bondage that has made few millionaire
: and has kept the majority OF the peopl
in condition OF docile poverty. All th
7, nothing to in any way compare with thi
N The surveys have been made, all the el
n gineering facts are known and earnin
resources calculated, and we feel conf
dent that the preliminaries are all settle
ie aud work can commence soon. The shor
Is est line in operation between Sacramen
8, and Chicago is 2,277 miles. Oyer u
q. proposed line the distance would be I
more, mountain grades avoided and u
" route would be through country Of pa
le ing resources for the whole six hundr'
cd and forty miles needed to make the mort
ern connection and cross the G. P. & o..
no L. line, and the new line 10 occupy te
Z. ritory at present unoccupied by any rs
way lines for five hundred miles at leas
From Butte TO Chicago is l,644 mile
n, added to the $40 miles Of new line wou
N make 1884. or only 81 miles longer tn