The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1900-05-19
CALDWELL IN RAILROAD CIRCLES
The Midland North ard South Road
May Begin at this Point-'t'e
Promoters Here to Canvas
the Situation-Ehey
Appear to Mean
Business.

During the last year VI wv
ser, Nampa, Boise and other small
towns have agitated themselves
considerably over railroad PROPOSE
tons, while Caldwell has looked
calmly Oh and attended TO business
Our fnanciers have not been asleep
though, but have been on the alert
ready to take up any proposition
that had a substantial appearance
and was of sufficient Importance to
Justify activity. Caldwell has
passed the bubble and froth stage
and therefore troubles itself not at
all over the boom propositions that
are the life blood of less substantial
communities. Mr.. Howard Sebree,
President of the First National
Bank, has been keeping his eye Oh
the various railroad projects float
ing about and has been more or
less in touch with the promoters.
Last Wednesday he was invited to
meet the Midland people at Boise,
and discuss t!;c situation with them.
1t appears that werE on the Mid
land has actually begun and that
some two or three hundred men are
on the grade. Messrs. Bates and
Watson, who have the enterprise Ill
hand, state emphatica1ly that the
road is to go; that they have the
capital and propose to invest it.
The Boise chamber of commerce
had entered upon an agreement to
furnish certain right of way and
take up $4,000 Of the Midland S
bonds in consideration of the road
being started from that point. 1t
appears that the chamber of COM
merCe is unable to carry out its
agreement, and without some such
inducement the railroad company
cannot afford to 80 down into TIC
capital city. Under these circum.
stances Mr.. Sebree met the Mid,
land promoters, when the following
facts were disclosed. The complete
surveys and plans Of the Midland
contemplate a north and south road
from the month of the Boise river
to some point in Montana. This
would tap the immense stock ranges
OF eastern Oregon and northern Ne
vada, pass through the great fruit
and agricultural region of south
western Idaho and the vast minera
belts of Boise, Custer and Lemh
counties. The natural point from
which constructive operations
would begin is Caldwell, but il
view of the inducements offered By
Boise, the Midland people were dis
posed to ignore the advantages O
location. When Boise failed t.
meet her obligations, the MIDLAND
people determined to proceed &C
cordlng to original plans; that is
build the road north from a point
on the bench several miles south O
Boise. Here came CaldWelIs op
portunity. Ultimately the road was
to go west to the mouth of til,
Boise River, passing, in any event
very close to this town, then why
not begin at this point and extenc
northWard from here? Whether Of
not this shall be done is to be de
termined in the next few DAYS
Messrs. Bates and Watson are here
III consultation with the people O.
Caldwell, and if there is real bust
ness in the Midland proposition,
Caldwell will do the right thing
We want this road if it is to be
built, and propose to have it if any,
thing can be done to secure it
Thursday night an informal meet,
ing of the business men and prop
erty holders of Caldwell was held,
and committees appointed to take
the matter up with Messrs. Bates
and Watson. Full reports of con-
clusions reached will be published
next week.
RAILROAD PROJECT.