The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-01-23

W. - 49,
and expects to remain in Custer
and Lemhi counties for a number
of months, in fact nearly all of
next spring and summer. He
expects TO depart for Salmon in
q few days. He is more conf.
dent than ever relative to the
building of the Midland, and is
very sanguine that work of grad
ing for the proposed line will be
commenced as early in the spring
as possible, and that the road
will be pushed to a speedy com
pletion. The surveyors have
already commenced the survey
on the Boise end of the proposed
route, and will work this way as
rapidly as possible. 1t is believ-
ed by many that if the road is
built, that it will follow close to
the river, thereby leaving Chal-
lis to the west of the line some
three miles, and that a new town
will spring up at some point
close to the river, and on the
line of the railroad. This may
be true, but to construct a rail
road along the river bottom
through this valley would be no
small item of expense. In the
first place they would have to
secure right-of-way through
ranches the entire length of the
valley, or keep on this side of
the ranches, and that would
throw the road upon the bar, and
while doing this, they could with
a little additional distance come
within one mile of the eastern
portion of town. The bar route
would appear to be the most
feasible one, as they could secure
a solid and excellent road bed
through the entire valley with
out much difficulty. about the
only trouble would be to clear
away the s%agebrush, and then
they would have a fine road bed
with but little if any grading for
several miles. OF course they
would have to bridge Garden
creek with a small bridge, but
that would have to be done
werever they crossed they val
ley, as the creek in question runs
eastward across the entire valley
on this, west side, and puts into
Salmon river, while the railroad
would cross Round valley from
northeast to southwest. There
is no question that if the Mid
land is built, it will pass through
the valley on the west side of
Salmon river, as on the east side
they would encounter for miles
one continuous chain of noun
tains of steep cliffs. The only
advantage there would be in
following close to the river
would be the immense water
supply for a town, but there
would be many disadvantage to
encounter. In the first place to
build a road there would require
no small outlay to secure a solid
road bed owing to the marshy
condition of the land in many
places and the numerous bottom
less sloughs, besides owing to
the fiat country and low banks
of Salmon river through this
valley, every spring of the year
the river overiows its banks
and cuts new channels. and from
the immense volume of water
and debris that comes down
some years might prove disaster
Gus to lives and property, while
on the bar there would be no
chances in this line to take. The
present location of the town is
a very desirable one-no mud.
high, dry and healthy; good
water, pleasant summers and
mild winters with little snow;
fine scenery and pure mountain
atmosphere; protected as it is by
mountains and foothills from
cold northerly and western winds
and storms, makes Challis an
ideal and favored spot, and the
first locators and builders locat-
ed and builded better than thew
knew, and with the coming of
the iron ''hoss" it would be a
shame to put the old town on
wheels and haul it down to the
river. But we suppose the Mid.
land will build its road and depot
where it pleases. regardless of
what we may say or think, but
we hope they will consider the
matter and come as near Chal-
lis as convenient. but come where
they may, we will take off our
hat and say with good grace /:
WELCOME, Idaho Midland -
You r the advance agent of
prosperity, and we greet you .