The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-08
LINE THROUGH
CENTRAL IDAHO
Big Extension Planned by Ore
gon Short Line.
SURVEYORS IN THE FIELD
WILL TRAVERSE RICH AND UN-
DEVELOPED SECTION.

A party Of Oregon Short Line engi-
neers has started upon the work Of
surveying an extension of the new
branch running from Blackfoot to
AIackay. The ultimate objective point
of the Short Line in this extension is
neither Challis, Salmon City nor Thun-
der Mountain. If a feasible route can
be found, the road win be built clear
through to Lewiston, Ida. on the west
eTn border of the state, and there It
will connect with a proposed branch
of the Oregon Railroad & Navigation
company. or it may itself build further
to a connection with that part Of the
Hartman system, probably at Grange
City Junction. Ore.
The Hartman system has in con-
temptation a plan involving the ex-
penditure Of millions of dollars and the
construction of a line, with feeders,
traversing the entire central part of
Idaho and opening up probably the
richest mineral, agricultural and tim
Der section of the west that is at pres
ent without a railroad,
The party of surveyors now in the
field is not expected to do much for the
present beyond relocating the former
survey TO Challis, The or inal sur
vey Of the Mackay branch extended
to Challis, but the field notes and maps
were lost in the fire which destroyed
the Short Line building. The party now
in the field will replace these notes and
maps, going as far as Bay Horse and
Challis, weather permitting. If the
weather conditions and snow viii allow
they viii go beyond Challis and en-
deavOr TO locate a Uncover the divide
probably over Morgan pass, but it is
considered doubtful that they viii be
able to get beyond Challis before
spring.
Route to Thunder Mountain.
In the spring the engineers will again
take the field, and win endeavOr to 10
cate a practicable route TO Thunder
Mountain Unless present plans are
changed, they will first try a route over
Morgan pass, down Panther cheek a
short distance. crossing over to Silver
creek, down this stream to Camas
creek, and down Camas creek to the
Middle fork of the Salmon river To
reach Thunder Mountain with a rail-
road from this point it would be nee
essary TO build up the Middle fork a
short distance and then up Marble
creek.
Beyond Thunder mountain the route
to be taken is somewhat vague, and it
may be two or three years or even
more before the road is built beyond
that point. In fact, unless Thunder
mountain should realize the fondest
hopes of its friends, il is doubtful that
he 4
except as an incident of the big scheme
of traversing diagonally the state of
Idaho. A mining camp where the
values are in free milling gold ore fur
nish comparatively little tonnage for
railroad, and Thunder mountain
would have to prove to be a tremen-
dOus camp to justify in itself any rail-
road building.
The present plan, however, would
place only partial dependence on this
camp. All along the line suggested are
developed or partially developed, with
copper, gold, silver and lead mines
a rich mineral belt which has never
been thoroughly respected. all to add
prospective tonnage. There is splen-
did timber also. Beyond Thunder
mountain there is both timber and
mineral
Proceeding from this point the prob
abilities are that if a direct route
northwest across the mountains to the
Salmon river could not be located. the
Middle fork would be followed north
TO the main stream, and then the
course Of the stream generally fol-
lowed, with such misunderstanding varf-
ations as the country would permit.
It is possible that the Salmon would be
followed to the Snake, and that stream
taken down TO Lewiston.
Another Route.
Another route which is said to be
feasible is to leave the course of the
Salmon near the Buffalo Hump noun
Jains, striking nOrthWard across the
range at its most appr0a enable point.
probably near American creek. and
following that stream and the south
fork Of the Clearwater to Mt. Idaho
From Mt. Idaho to Lewiston and
thence % Grange City Junction. Ore.
on the Spokane line of the Oregon
Railroad d Navigation company. that
road las survey made during the
Buffalo Hump excitement. This sur
Vey could be followed. or a divergence
could be made from Lewiston north to
MOSCOW, the latter route, if found
practicable, giving a more direct line
TO Spokane. In either event, cOnnec-
ton would be made with the o. r. &
y. and the Northern Pacific.
While much of this construction
would be expensive, it is the opinion
of the railroad officials that it would
result in wonderful development in the
natural resources of the region tapped
with a consequent traffic which would
more than justify the expenditure.
The entire project will not be carried
out IN year-it is too big. The ex
tension to Challis will probably be the
next step, and further construction
will be authorized from time to fine
as the development of the country to
be tapped and the financial conditions
make the various steps advisable. II
may be three or four years before the
line IS completed as outlined. but the
statements as to the plans are made
on authority.
z. Mehesv- If.