The Goldfield news. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1904-1911, 1906-06-02
RAILROADS UNNATURAL ROUTE

Railroad builders usually know their business and they do not generally con-
smptuous on or par to call intoq question the practhabfity or utility O. IN Of
their operations actual or contemplated. But we cannot refrain from express
I'M surprise and regret 1T the quite apparently chosen for the new Bulfrog and
aoldheld railroad; for it is certainly lot the route that will lend most to the
building u of the business If that road or contribute as muc al it might to te
development of that part If the country to TIL south, through which it will run
The country to the south of us between Godfed and Bulfrog, is a DESERT
side of the desert is skired by a moderately high mountain range, minerahzed
from me end to the other, where are located the thriving and promising mining
districts of Gold Mountain, Ida, Palmetto, Tokop, Tule Canon and others a
more rles active state of development
undulaing hills, which have been rospected thoroughly and found to be entirely
barren of mineral and nc a camp town or hamlet breaks its entire horizon from
1t is along this casts side If the desertth that the Bunrog and aoldheld rail-
road seems to have surveyed it. line. and where the road, presumably viii b %
built unless sufficient pressure ian be brought to bear to induce a change.
Of course there must have been some controlling motive beyond our purview
for choosing this unnatural route. It could not have been % get a better grade
for mining m ZEN and prospectors familiar with every 1901 o. te ground, say m0e
is 10 advantage in the eastern. route over the western. 1t could not have been
could lot have been to get local business, for there is absolutely none to be had
by the eastern route 1t could not have been to get wood m water for mat
v there is o n the western slopes of the desert.
That this eastern route should have been chosen is moret than surprising, and
It las been the subject of bitter comment of Goldfeld business mena and the mine
operators along thu western range, who ave these many years been eggin1
along, developing their mines in spite of the innumerabe disadvantages and dis
omra gemeuts # desert isolation. confidently looking forward /, the time when
the results Of their labor would command attention an bring a railroad to their
door, giving them an outlet for their oresso greatly needed. But tn new survey
passes by these camps at thu farthest possible point, 81 miles from Gold Noun
tain, the nearest camp, and from so to 60 miles from Ida, Palmetto and Tuie
canon. OF course, the Smith survey runs into tms. country from the south, touch
ing at Gold Mountain, and nearing the other camps mentioned B u that m
other story. The Smith road may never be built The Bunfrog and Goldfeld
railroad is % under construction, and Of course is expected to take the choice
of routes.
while the resources IF Gold Mountain, rokOp. Ida, Palmetto and other
nearb camps to the south have not been healded as have others wherein mining
conditions, due largely % railroad facilities arc better, still these camps are D
10 means to be ignored by the traffic manager. Many better known camps have
available for any railroad that comes within a days travel o. instance, there
is the Bonnie Glare at Gold Mountain, working a dozen or more men,, m now
preparing to send 40 tons daily to Thorps Mills. There is the Nevada Godfed,
working Is men; the Butte Goldfed, working a dozen; the Gold Mountain Con-
sohdated, about to Increase its force to from L to 2 CINEMA in condition to
produce heavily; the Corbett mine; he sdewinder; the Longley and Meyer, and
other mines, all in he Gold Mountain district and capable of supplying four
carloads o. ore per day. and these exclusive of the mines Of other nearby camps
such rs the Palmetto and Death Valley at Palmetto.
There is another phase of this question. which Immediately affects odhed
Al te camps m districts bow referred TO are tributary to thisc camp. They
buy their mining supplies and provisions here, and all heir BUSINESS naturally
belongs to aoldheld. aoldaed wants a railroad which will connect this camp
with its outhern neighbus direct. But according to the present survey, they
will De title nearer this camp than they are at present an Will b no more con-
venhntly reached. So,
Of course, a railroad can ignore the people, and, as a wenknown railroad
maonne is ouoteda as having said. "the people be blanked,' or words to that
effect. But why a railroad should ignore its W best interests an those OF the
people 1t he same time is beyond human comprehension.
But, 'there arr more things under heaven and earth than are dreamed OF IN
or philosophy especially in the operation Of great corporations and ombina-
lions # weath.