The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-03-27
Railroad Routes.

mere is 1und of interesting
speculation concerning railroad
building in this portion of Idaho
in the following, which was re-,
Gently printed in the Butte Min.
er, as an interview with a citizen
OF that place who was discussing
a Butte-Boise railroad.
"Fhe route which would prove
OF the most benefit to both Butte
and Boise is line that would
start from this city crossing the
divide near Feeley and turn up
the Big Hole river near the sta.
tion of Divide and follow very
closely the Big Hole river to a
point very nearly opposite the
town of Gibbonsville. 1t would
be necessary here to tunnel the
hill and get over to the Salmon
river. Then follow up the Sal
mon, striking near Challis, and
thence across to the headwaters
of Middle Boise. 1t is then a
simple matter to get to Boise and
then on west to any point that
the road might wish to go. In
this connection it can be said that
the people at the other end of the
line are alive to the merits of
proposition and they have in
corporated under the name of the
Idaho Midland railway company
and have party of surveyors in
the field locating a line.
''The other proposed line is
west via. Anaconda, using the B.
A. & P. track that far and then
on west via. Silver lake and to
the headwaters of the Bitter
Root and through Crows Pass
to the south fork of the Clear
water, thence down to a connec-
ton with the line that is now be-
ing built from Weiser.
"There is more to the Weiser
road project than appears at first
glance. The line is now built
and in operation for a distance
of 40 miles from Weiser up a
river of the same name. The
grading is practically completed
for 30 miles farther and is locat-
ed and will be built the coming
season 27 miles beyond that
point. That will leave a very
short distance between the ter
minus of the Pacific & Idaho
Northern and the terminus of the
; Northern Pacific at Kamai, out
froncLewiston toward Missoula.
The Boise Statesman of the
: 10Th inst, says :
John Beatty, the well known
( travelling man, is in the city
! again. Mr.. Beatty's home is in
: Butte and he says he has hearC
: more railroad talk there since
y the Idaho Midland project has
{ become public property than IL
! a long time.
"All classes of people in Butte
are interested in the project,
: said Mr.. Beatty in the course o
an interview last evening. IN
J fact, I might say there is tullN
( as much if not more interest IN
) the matter at that end of the
I line than there is here so far as
: have been able to observe, al
!, though it is possible | am wrong
( in that conclusion. The peopl'
! in Butte want the fruit and othe-
: products from this section an'
5 thew want them brought over
: short route. The smelters wan
: the ore that will be developed
) along the route of the road. Bu
= above all Butte wants a connec
: tion southwark to the coast
: Thev see in the Idaho Midland
s prospective realization OF tnel
= dreams. aoo,
( cit is my opinion tnaO S;r Son,
+ big railroad company is PENN
Z the Idaho Midland. 1t is not 10 IL
s we common mortals to know a
: these things. I hear a good aes 4s
< of talk that emanates from III Vi
) burlington and Great Nort1er 1
& sonrces-that is, believe 1t doe @
s and it all convinces me tina
: 1he Idaho Midland is to be out
: section in some big system 10 I'll
= coast. e,,,1v O.,
( "Boise people may tully tay a. II
s preciate just what a boon 90 a, u !
{ Idaho Midland would be TO ene, IN e
s city. I hope they do. ;i;oe IL Lne"n' u
= in nv opinion, the building 7"
& Of Of a a. Very large city here
< Mr.. D. T. Miller, one Of Ut, t.
\ field ID reporters of the Idaho M, M,,
Y land Land departed last week ITO. .,