The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1906-11-30

1000 miles. For convenience in compar
ison let us call our proposed new smelt
ling city on the Snake River Plains
"Lavado. " Shipping ores from Centra
Idaho to Butte requires a haul lof 5O(
miles; to Salt Lake 450 miles; Denver
1000 miles, and to Lavado $50 miles
Hauling coal and coke from the coal
mines to Butte requires haul Of more
than 500 miles over two high ranges Of
mountains, and some small divides. Tc
Salt Lake more than 200 miles, over a
high range. To'Lavado, 800 miles.
Hauling ores from Salt Lake to La.
vado requires haul Of something like
230 miles with no high divides to cross.
A comparison Of distances and elevation
shows decided advantages in favor Of
smelling at Lavado, both for short hauls
and for down grade with the loaded
trains, while the indications are that
the distance to~the coal supply will be
reduced to less than 200 miles from
Lavado by the building Of Northwest
ern Road and the opening Of the coal
mines on the Upper Snake River in
Wyoming, with the additional advant-
age Of having that road intersect the
Salmon River Railroad in the locality Of
Lavodo. So much for location and
transportation, in favor of our new
smelter site. Now as to that other item
THE FUMES
The waste lands we mention, lie in a
long belt, with a northeast and south
west trend, varying in width from ten
to forty miles. The prevailing winds in
the valley are from southwest to north
east, SO the fumes could be depended
upon to soar away and do no injury.
Even the city that would build up about
the smelters would be comparatively
free from smoke, for the complaining
ones say the wind always blows and al
ways from the same direction, which in
itself would be a great advantage and
source Of security to the inhabitants Of
Lavado and the distant agricultural
districts adjacent.
The matter Of water, and even the ell
evations for the gravity system have
been provided by nature, for the Big
Butte, a lone mountain left standing in
the middle Of the plain when the valley
was carved out, has great springs far up
on its slopes, which have been filed up |
and choked in every way possible, rath-
Or than developed, and the whole plain
Tor great distance teens with subter-
ranean rivers that burst out upon the |
surface far to the southwark, and might
be tapped at Lavado to supply . city |
and it's smelters.
Such q settlement Of the smelter
troubles Of the great plateau would be
II inestimable advantage in developing
he mineral and agricultural resources
u Idaho, and quickening all her other
Industries. Itwould relieve Salt Lake
i her poisonous fumes, and leave the
way open for that city to build up by
'eason Of her other natural advantages.
She has an unexcelled climate to be
'endered well nigh perfect by the re-
noval Of the smelters, and is the natural
;enter Of business for many stateF,
Besides, it is getting to be the Mecca
or millionaire mine owners focking in
rom neighboring states, and especially
Nevada, where men are getting rich SO
ast they are unable to spend their
wealth, and want to invest in palatial
in the city by the great in
and sea. Let them do it, and let Idaho
lave thesmelters, because nature pro-