The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-08-08
O. S. L. Main Line Will Go Through
That City.
BIG IDAHO DELEGATION
HOLD CONFERENCE WITH SHORT
LINE OFFICIALS.
Railroad Company Will Make the
Change as Soon as the Prelimi-
naries Can Be Arranged-Boise
People Willing to Pay Reasonable
Bonus-Railvay Notes.

A conference lasting one hour and a
half was held at the offices of the Ore
gon Short Line yesterday morning, be-
tween representative business men of
Boise, Ida, and E. H. Hartman. Vice
President Bancroft, General Traffic
Manager Eccles, Chief Engineer O'Mel-
veny and other officials of the Oregon
Short Line.
The Idaho contingent consisted of
Congressman Edgar Wilson, Hon. j. ii.
Richards. mayor of Boise; III. B. East
man, Peter Soma. C. w. Moore, w. E.
Pierce and Calvin Cobb of the Boise
Statesman At present Boise is situated
some twenty odd miles from the main
line of the Oregon Short Line and con-
nected thereto by a spur from Nampa-
Boise boasts population of 10000 and
is righteouSly indignant at being COM
PEELED 10 content itself with dead end
connection, while Mora and Kuna, with
no perceptibie population nor CONNER
cial activity, are blessed with express
trains and through connections The
present method of reaching Boise, as
compared with that of other towns of
much less Importance, is ludicrous. The
railroad doubles on its tracks; first
going northeast into Boise and then
back over the same route southwest to
Nampa.
Several Routes Surveyed.
The Oregon Short Line has had a
number of surveying parties locating
possible routes from different points on
the main lire north to the city. The
most feasible route seems to be the
project to leave the main line at Owy-
hee, on through Boise, and then over
the old tracks TO Nampa.
The twenty-five miles between Owy-
hee and Nampa now traversed by the
railroad company is little short of
dreary waste of lava beds, with no signs
of water. and has a maximum grade of
twentysiX and one-half feet to the
mile. The line surveyed from Owyhee
is, on the contrary. well supplied with
water, and in no instance does the max
imum grade exceed that between Owy
hee and Nampa. Taking everything into
consideration, the projected route is the
least expensive to construct and oper-
ate. and will probably be the one selct-
ed by the Oregon Short Line when they
conclude TO change the direction of their
main line so as to pass through Boise.
Several other surveys have been made,
but the results were not satisfactory to
the railroad authorities.
The inhabitants and shippers of
Boise have been trying to get Boise
placed on the main line for the past
sixteen years. but something or other
has always happened to wet blanket
their enthusiasm. The visit of Z. H.
Hartman to this section of the country
was their opportunity TO clinch the ar
gument, and down they came from
Boise yesterday morning to do it.
Result of Conference.
THE result of this mornings confer
ence," said Mr.. Cobb yesterday after
noon. were that the Short Line prac-
tically agreed to undertake the work
above outlined as soon as the necessary
and details could be ar
Of course, the railroad COM
pany will not undertake such an i'm
portant piece of work unless some sort
of bonus is offered; what the consid-
Grafton should be was not definitely de-
cided. Suffice it to say that the inhab- |
itants of Boisce are determined to To- !
cate Boise on the main line of the Ore |
son Short Line, and a money consider !
alton will not deter them. provided of |
ii is within reason.
The final route will be decided upon |
when the other improvements and adj |,
ditions contemplated by the Oregon |
Short Line are mapped out. but it is /
hoped that il can be rushed through at |
once and enable Boise to lose no time |
in developing into''-what Mr. Cobb |
says destiny has decreed it shall be
the biggest town between Omaha and !
Portland"