The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-18

New Maps Show That Another Line
Is Now in Operation to Lewiston
Via POtIach-TwO New Lines Will
Make Saving of Three Hundred
Miles, Cutting OFF Two Long
HauIs.
Considerable 3ignifcance is attributed
IN railroad circles to recent movements
of Northern Pacific engineers and to the
statement officially made yesterday that
the engineers. of the road have completed
preliminary surveys Of a new route
through the Bitter Root mountains, from
Missoula to Cataract, few miles east of
Potlach, where connections are made by
an east and west line with the main line
again.
When the new Northern Pacific maps
came out this year the route surveyed
was marked with a, red dotted line cir
cumstance which indicates that the con-
struction of the new branch is assured.
Engineers of the road have been in the
new territory for months, and frequent
reports have been received Of their prog
ress. Yesterday afternoon, while con-
versing with another railroad official, one
of the executive officers 1of the Northern
Pacific made the statement!
Watch for. a new line from Mfssoula
vest We aim tossave 200 miles on our
coast line.'
''How about the continuance of the
truce in the Clearwater"
There is no assurance now that it will
be continued. Our road will probably be-
gin work as soon as the limit Of the truce
expires"
Chief Engineer McHenrys Is West at
present, and from his. office 1t Ia learned
that he has spent some time insthe new
district. The most reliable information
obtainable seems to indicate that the
Northern Pacific Will cross the Bitter
Root mountains through Lolo pass, where
the engineers report that it is possible
to construct a line which will encounter
few obstacles and will remain compare
lively free from snow and ice in the win
ter, The topography aof the pass is said
to be somewhat peculiar and admirably
adapted to railroad construction.
From Cataract, a line is now in opera
ton to Lewiston via Potlach, and from
Lewiston the new maps show that a sec
ondI new line is projected due west to
Pleasant View, from which point there
are direct connections again with the
main line ana all North Pac1hc coast
points This Lewiston-Pleasant View
line will, save a long sweep via Cheney
to Pasce, and a, run of more than 100
miles, go
The construction of the. two new lines
makes a total saving Of 300 miles and
cuts off two long hau1s, with heavy
grades and Observation-Disclosures, culverts
and snow ssheds to- nladntain. Through
the; Clearwater valley the new line from
Missoula VIII traverse q rich agricultural
prairie country, where construction ex-
pensesl 5WiIlGb at q ,mipimHm and cost of
maintenance small The Lewiston-Pleas-
ant Yiewe1fne will cross a 'section of coun-
try. possessing like advantages.
From the fact that the construction
mentioned could. not -be carried out with
out adiscontinuance aof the truce with
the Oregon Railway and Navigation COM
pany, and from the fact that official con
hrmadon Of the reported object of the
Northern Pacific has been received, there
Is little. doubt that President, MelIen has
decided to forego the pleasure ofafurtlaer
agreements with President Mohler and
viii do business according to his own
pleasure after the truce expires, On
Feb. 5.