The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-06-12
Boise Capital.

sources tributary to the proposed
route of the Idaho Midland rail
road. The data is trustworthy
because drawn from the reports
of d. II. Miller, whom the offici-
ais of the road engaged to tray
erse and study all the interven-
ing country between Boise and
Butte with a view to the warrant
it gave for the building and main
tanning of a railroad, and this
data has been sufficient to inspire
conservative eastern capital to
pledge the money for the con-
struction of such a road, which
hopes to start from and make
Boise a great division point and
which, if the city secures it, will
not only work out the CONNER
cial and industrial salvation of
Boise. but insure its supremacy
in this respect, also over all 9th
er Idaho cities for all time. The
country traversed by this survey
is Enthusiastically the most invit-
ing field left in the United States
for railroad building and the con-
sequent development, being q
stretch of some 400 miles of ter
ritory illimitable in varied re.
sources.
The survey crosses the great
mineral belts of central and east
ern Idaho, among the greatest in
the nation, and whose resources
are supplemented by timber, live
stock, general agriculture, water
powers, ETC., more than justify
ing the projected giant under
taking. There are several natur-
al health and sanitary resorts en-
route; good water grade most
of the way; few mountain roads
to cross, and accessible passes
when necessary to cross them.
Conservative authorities affirm,
indeed. that the great forests of
fine timber the road will tap
would alone warrantits building,
for their merchantable product
is practically inexhaustible.
And the great need of this vast
empire is railroad, which when
built will revive many abandon
ed mining camps, create new
ones, enlarge established towns
and give birth to others and mag
ically expand and enrich every
industry indigenous to the parts
travelled.
The survey follows the South
Fork of Boise river to Sawtooth
range of mountains, thence along
the Salmon river, and later along
the North Fork of Wisdom, or
the Big Hole river to Butte.
Towns on or near the survey are:
Neal. Pine, Sawtooth, Bonanza,
Custer, Clayton, Bayhorse, Chal-
lis, Ellis, Salmon and Gibbons
vile.
The first mines of consequence
en- route are in Neal district,
some 20 miles from Boise, of
very high grade gold ores, we'll
defined lodges uncovered, and
where two stamp mills have been
built to reduce to reduce the ores
and have paid we'll. Many loca-
tions have been made here and
several claims have been devel-
oped by shafts and tunnels. Sup
plies are wagoned in from Boise.
Its base ores are unfit to work
as except as concentrators. The
camp badly needs q railroad to
supply the mines with timber
and to ship its mineral product.
Near Neal is Smith prairie, a
great meadow land that could
supply 5000 head of cattle an
nually for market.
Next in Importance are the
Dixie mines, which will be heavy
producers and shippers, and
which need large amount of
supplies and timber, and conse-
quently railroad.
Little Camas prairie has some
264.000 sheep, but it's nearest
railroad points are from so to rs
miles. With a railroad it could
support 500, 900 sheep and be- one
of the great wool stations in
Idaho.
Near by is Fall creek, with the
finest timber belt in south Idaho,
yellow pine and red fir, whose
merchantable lumber accessible
to the projected railroad would
be $50. 900, 900 feet, and excellent
water power for sawmills is here.
There are also large lodges Of
gold bearing quartz. Here is the
Uncle Sam with its vein IA feet
wide and averaging So per tor
ore, but mostsQf which must be
concentrated and>shipped to a
smelter, but this mine<sis alone
capable of reducing 30 tons into
one and shipping a carload O.