Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1905-02-16
RAILROAD NEWS.
Spofford Would Build North
and South Road.


Spofford Would Build North
and South Road.
"Col. Spofford, president OF thu
Lewiston & Southeastern road, is
in the city for few days on busi-
ness," says the Boise Statesman.
"He now has his railroad PROPOSE
ton in excellent shape, with only
the details regarding the bonds to
close up preparatory to beginning
the initial work Of construction
next spring. This road will extend
from Lewiston to Grangeville, with
. branch from the main line to Nez
Perce, and after it's completion will
be operated by electric power, al
though during the construction
period, steam motive power will be
used.
The country which the Lewiston
& Southern will traverse is probab-
| ly the finest in the northwest, COM
prising as it does the famous Nez
Perce and Camas prairies, famous
for their production Of cereals,
while vast stock ranges, timber
areas and mineral districts lie ad-
iacent. Colonel Spoff'ord has had
this territory completely mapped
and plated, showing its topogra-
ply in evey detail, in addition to
detailed reports giving the acreage
and output Of every farm and ranch
tributary to his road. The show.
ling Of traffic, now handled exclu-
sively by wagons, was go great that
the eastern capitalists to whom it
was submitted were astonished.
After their engineer had gone over
the ground, however, and made
his report, they informed Col. Spot
ford that not only had he not ex-
sggerated, but the "half had not
been told." With the showing he
was able to make, and the system.
attic manner in which he went about
lit, little difficulty was encountered
in securing favorable considera-
tions from the Independents finan-
ciers OF the east who are eager to
invest in good propositions, rail-
roads or otherwise. One Of the
best features of this division is the
lack of engineering difficulties, the
steepest grade encountered being
but 24 per cent.
Col. Spofford, after getting the
lewiston Grangeville section well
under way, concluded that il
would be an entirely feasible under.
taking to extend the Lewiston &
Southeastern as steam road south.
ward to Boise, giving the people Of
this state q realization of their
dearest dream of the futures
railroad that would bond in indis.
soluble union north q d south
Idaho. OF the 1lO miles OF the
lewiston Grangeville division, st
miles extend in the Boise direction
and by q practical route not much
over 200 miles more would bring
it to the capital city Of the state
A tiresome, circuitous 800 or 10O(
miles ride. now necessary between
Boise and Lewiston or Moscow
would give place to one of only
800 miles that might be made il
q single day or night.
Col. Spoford has submitted thi
matter Of completing q north ant
south railroad to his eastern back
ers, and they have been favorabl,
Impressed with it. A REASONABLY
exhibition of local interest and CO
operation he believes i 8 all tha
would be necessary to carry tn
: project through to successful ter
mination in the very near future
, especially since the administration
is pronounced favorable to such q
undertaking and will extend to
every possible encouragement an
assistance.
Colonel Spofford is enthusiast
over the possibilities of develop
ment with which q north and sout
Idaho railroad is fraught. I'll
Payette lakes, he thinks, would b.
come one Of the famous SUNNI,
resorts of the west, and Long vale
with proper transportation faciliti'
would be capable of supporting
population, with an area as extel
sive and soil rs fertile as Cam,
or Nezperce prairies in north Idah
Rich mineral districts and vast 10
ests of the finest timber would ad
in making the proposed railroad
dividend payer, while the increa
in population and wealth wou
put Idaho at once in the fore fro
among the states Of the Pacil
slope.
keutherville.