Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1903-09-24
ELECTRICAL RAILROADS.
CamaS Prairie An Ideal Coun-
try For Their Construction,

rhe splendid openings on Cam
as Prairie for the construction and
operation OF electric roads is rap
idly becoming known to eastern
capitalists and they are beginning
to investigate conditions in way
that would indicate that they mean
business. A number Of capitalists
have recently gone, over the route
taking observations and, while the
conclusions reached have not been
made public, there is no question
but what they have been greatly
pleased with the field.
The Tribune in speaking of the
situation says:
All information received from
the rich section of country extend
ing from Lewiston to Grangeville
shows that increased interest is be-
ing manifested by the residents of
that country in the movements
now in progress which seek the
construction of an electric road to
traverse the farming country. 1t
is now learned that during the
past three months capitalists have
been carefully investigating the
field and important announce
ments may soon be made. Resi-
dents Of the Effected country re-
alize thoroughly the entire practi-
cability of the road as well as the
heavy volume of business that
would be handled and there seems
little doubt that the enterprise
would meet with the fullest sup
port of the land holders. The re-
peated heavy crops of the reserva-
ton country, demonstrating that
the fertility of the soil equals that
of the well known Camas prairie,
has finally attracted the attention
of capital to the possibilities of the
of the great stretch of prairie land.
No less than 5000, 900 bushels of
grain are now being harvested,
new orchards are coming into bear
ing and unsurpassed gardens can
be seen on every farm. 1t is such
country in the east that sustains
the electric line service and which
is making the farming district east
of the Mississippi a net work OF
trolley lines. With the present
tremendous wealth output OF the
interior country, conservative in
vestigation has resulted in the es-
innate that when the full diversi-
fed product that the soil is capable
of producing is realized, the value
of the annual crop sent out OF that
country will be doubled.
While the volume of business is
an essential feature of an electric
line project, economical power Is
also a necessity. In this latter re.
gard there is perhaps no section OF
the west better equipped. The
prairie country is practically sur
rounded by rivers tumbling down
from the mountain attitudes. The
Salmon river, the North fork anc
the South fork Of the Clearwater
provide innumerable sites for the
development of power. 1t IL
, learned that recently parties IN
terested in an electric line proJec
I inspected that section of the souti
f fork extending from Sites u
: Harpester and estimated that thu
q construction of dam at either Of
several points would develop s.,
9 Ooo-horse-power. Above Harpste
an ideal sight has already beer
appropriated for the development
I Of power for the Grangeville cleo
: trio light plant and power service
and this site, it is estimated, cal
be improved to economically de
s velop i, ooo- horse,power. At Lol
creek and Orofno falls powe