The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1905-03-28
COPPER EMPIRE
AWAITS RAILWAY
Baker City People Expecting -Four
Lines into the Snake River
BaSin.

hoth general bushes interests and
mining men. Mine owners are most
reenly aroused, as the real outlet Of
tho Seven Devils, Panhandle district Of
paker country and Cornucopia mines
10 on the Oregon side of the Snake
But the business men Of Baker have
done everything they could to promote
a local railway, and especially to have
the outer terminus at this city, rather
than at some other point, on the Oregon
Railroad & Navigation line.
W. l.. Wilson's project has taken
bore tangible form than at any time
since he began promoting this line. as
surveyors have been put at work. and
an effort is being made to have con-
struction follow this summer.
While Vinson is laboring to have the
line connect with Baker City, the in
.terests back of the Iron Dixie and the
old Northwestern Railway company
are understood to be shaping for the
recommencement of work on the route
down Snake river. When the property
of the railway company and mine is
sold. which will be at an early date.
there is assurance that the new in
terests will take up the railway enter
prse Immediately. Local rumor, which
is vague yet and apparently without
definite authority, Is spreading the
news that Standard Oil interests are
figuring on both the Iron Dixie mine
and the Snake route for the railway.
This is probably due to the fact that H.
H. Rogers. of the Standard Oil. alleged
that he had 100000 mortgage on
the Cornucopia mine. and is supposed
to have been the person in whose be-
half the redemption was made at the
recent execution sale. A railway down
the Snake would be of great value to
must haul concentrates 65 to 20 miles,
over rough roads, crossing the drain
age system of the country, whereas II
a road was built down the Snake the
wagon haul would be cut down to 80
or IS miles, on a water level grade.
The Iron Dixie mine, now about 80
miles from railway depot. has a great
body Of copper in sight, Of sufficient
promise to induce the Ladd Metals
company to commence erecting a
smelter there. This property. and that
Of J. B. McDougal have an inviting
tonnage
A railroad running down the Snake
to Billiards. Landing would be the ma
tural shipping route for the entire
Seven Devils country. where the
Landore smelter is treating ore stead
lily, and high grade shipping copper is
to be had from several hfoperties. The
haul from the South Peacock. Gid Pea
cock, Helena, pecora, Blue Jacket 'and
other copper mines OF the Seven Dew
ils, which have been opened te-any ex-
tent is from six to ten miles. all dowr
hill to Billiards.. The altitude Of tht
1900 feet. and snow is practically un.
known there, giving the section the
best climatic conditions for rail line
whereas railway reaching the Sever
Devils from Idaho will have to eros.
divides 1000 to 5000 feet high. where
S''o" 10 oCCp NHC W4utCI.
Assurance has been given by thu
management of the Pacific & Idaho
Northern that this line Is to be ex.
tended beyond Council. Idaho. the pres
emit year, but the line will probably b
toward the Meadows. and not towart
Council to the Seven Devils mines, bu
this way is across three or four deel
basins which makes railroad worl
costly and give steep grades. +
The open season is heralding an un
usual lot Of railroad plans. some o
which will probably take more positive
form this year than ever before. TIL
ultimate purpose of the Oregon Rail
road & Navigation company to bulk
down the Snake from Huntington t
hiparia, for at least a freight line. i
not doubted by the far-seeing men o
the district and when the company wa
organized last year. with A. L. Mohler
70 build this line. the people general,
thought that the o. r.. & N. woul'
sreak ground at the Riparia end thi
II spring. But since Mr.. Mohler severe'
MS connections with the O. r. & n
there has been nothing said or don
publicly in regard to this enterprise
and people think that the big Harrima1
system has no purpose of immediat
construction. II the o. r. & I'M. ha
mis- line complete. it would have
wafer level haul for its trains from IA
oeyond the middle Of Idaho to Port
and' and would avoid three bad di
woes which the cars now climb be
.~een Huntington and Baker City
maker City and Union, and La Grand
and Pendleton.
from some of these numerous pro
'ec's the people of Baker City feel tina
''nething will develop this year. The
are hoping to see the commencement
work. and this interest is stron
@hohs the mining men. who believe
upper empire will be opened when tn
snake basin is tapped.