Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1901-08-15
AN ELECTRIC ROAD,
A Company is Being Organized and Pre-
liminary Work Commenced.

confer with the Grangeville Board
of Trade relative to the proposed
Grangeville- Lewiston Electric rail-
road. The committee comprised
Mr.. f. II. Libby, president of the
Lewiston Water & Power Co., Mr..
FL. Adams, son Of Chas. Francis
Adams, of Boston, who is very
largely interested in the develop
ment of the Lewiston Co., and
Hon A. II. Afford of the Lewiston
Tribune. Monday evening the
committee discussed the matter
informally with a number of the
Board of Trade representatives at
the Jersey house. The matter of
tratlic was brought up and argued.
The amount Of gross earnings such
a road could depend upon at this
time would be the principal! prob
lem to solve and if this could be
shown to allow a net profit for the
road with which tn meet taxes and
fixed charges, the committee were
of the opinion that money could be
found to push the road to compile
ton. A meeting was called at
$3.50 Tuesday morning at the Bank
of Camas Prairie. At the request
Of the committees Mr.. Walter
Hovey Hill, a member of American
Society of Civil Engineers, was
asked to show map Of the coun-
try through which the road would
pass, together with some estimates
of cost. Considerable time has
been put into the project by
Eugene Hill, and the maps and
estimates have been of much value
to the different committees.
After thoroughly discussing the
matter Of road, and power, it was
unanimously decided that the
proper course to pursue would be
for both Lewiston and Grangeville,
Denver, Cottonwood and Nez
Perez and all the towns along the
proposed route to join in the en-
terprise by organizing develop
ment company and raise sufficient
money to make careful recon-
noissance, and get accurate and
complete statistics of the present
traffic of the region through which
this road is proposed.
1t was decided that company
be organized with capital stock
Of $4,000, of $40 shares, and di-
sectors be elected by stockholders
ut the first meeting to be called by
the Grangeville Board of Trade.
The representatives ON the Board
of Directors to be as follows:
Three each from Lewiston and
Grangeville, and one each in the
Gowns of Denver, Cottonwood and
Nez Perez. 1t is estimated that
for present needs $500 will be. re-
qnired to secure the necessary sur
veys, estimates, together with statis-
tics and this has been apportioned as
follows. Lewiston and Grange
Vile to raise $500 each and the
balance of $500 to be divided up in
tho other towns along the proposed
route. Subscription papers have
been prepared by the Grangeville
Board of Trade, setting forth the
project, and are being rapidly
filled. The enterprise is receiving
the hearty support of the entire
country. The power proposition
is not an expensive one. Mr..
Libby is Interested in company
that proposes to develop 5000
horse power on the Grande Ronnde
River.
1t will only require a five mile
transmission line from this pro-
posed main line, from power plant
to Charleston, to deliver power
right to the proposed railroad. At
least one-half of the power neces-
sary could be had here-within I
miles nt Grangeville is an excellent
power. Oh the Southlork OF Clear
water. Eugene Hill has investi-
gated this power, and 5000 horse
power and can be developed at q
very cheap cost. Mr.. Libby hes
had a great deal of experienced
in such matters and has asked that
Engine Hill go will him and look
over that power. The estimate Of
cost Of proposed road as prepared
by Mr.. Hill show the entire
road which will be 100 miles in
lensth will cost 5000, 900, exclu-
sive OF power, power plants, elec-
trio equipments and rolling stock
The road will be laid oat on a
good grade with gradients not ex-
ceeding 9 2se cent. and will be
able t9 handle all the business tA<
country can produce. The popu.
lation affected by this road will b<
about $4,000. The total agricul
tnral acreage 100000 and timber
acreage 5000.
IT has been expyessed by some o.
our most conservative business
men thar the question is not th,
amount OF traffic in sight for thi
road, but how much power can b
generated to haul the business, in
ferring the road will not be over
looked from the start.
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Died.
Mrs. 7. w. Gestaa died at he
home near this city on Tuesday