Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1904-02-06
The Logical Route
TO Thunder Mountain

Now that the Postoffce Department has definitely abandoned
the southern mail route into Thunder mountain, it might be well
for the people of Idaho county and the northern part of the state
to mite the interest OF business economy and common sense, IN
an effort to bring before the department the fact that the only ra-
tional and practical route to that promising camp is by way of
Dixie, which point is less than 70 miles distant from Roosevelt.
years ago, had the public spirited efforts of the people of this Sec
ton, as well as those along the projected route, received the sup
port of other communities which from the view point of the COM
munity of interest idea, we had a right to expect, if from no other.
Believing the intolerant spirit, as we'll as the leaders of
thought, so-caIed, of those days have been relegated to the back
ground, we will refrain from discussion of the why's and where
fore's and start anew, resuming the discussion of those points at
some future time, should the same spirit and same leaders of
thought, so-caled, again become zen evidence"
With mail routes already established, or about to be instituted,
this paper has no concern. We hold that the importance of Thun-
der mountain a S a mining camp entities it to better mail service
than it is receiving, or in the very nature of conditions, can re-
celve by any other route so far discovered, save by Sites, Elk City
and Dixie. This statement we are prepared to prove by every in
teligent disinterested man who has traversed both or all routes
projected thus far. At no point along this route does the altitude
exceed 5000 feet as against the Elk summit, with an altitude Of
5000 feet over which the mail is now carried, via Warrens, and at
an expense probably twice as great as it could be carried for by
the Dixie route. This estimate is based upon the rate paid on the
now abandoned southern route from Placerviie, which was $500
per year for a distance of 125 miles.
1t is therefore proper to assume, that in the light of the fact
that the distance from Dixie to Roosevelt is less than half as great
as from PlacerviDe to Roosevelt, the cost for transportating the
mails under similar conditions would be upon the same ratio, hence
less than half of $500. But when we take into consideration the
5000 feet-as a matter of fact it is less-3OOO feet less than the highest point
crossedb by the present route it is proper to assume that it may be done for
still less. Norris the altitude the only important consideration in discussing the
natural advantages OF the Dixie route. The absolute absence o. snowsides, the
uniform and comparatively shallow snowfall, the esy grade after n reaches
the Salmon river twelve miles below Dixie, the comparatively popuous sur
roundings Of much of the route, would make the mail carriers lot a compare
lively easy one
1t will be readily seen, therefore, that eve though the department paid
$4,000 per year overt the Dixie out it still would be winner in a considerable
amount ant the miners in Thunder mountain, Big ereek, Beaver creek, Smith
creek and ssveraO other localities would receives much better service.