Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1907-11-08
Electric Assured
Engineer BickIe Now at
GOOding to Lay Out
the Final Route.

Paul S. A. Bickle, the chief engineer
of the Twin Falls canal systems, and
one Of the best informed men in his
line Of work in the whole country, was
in town Tuesday on his way to Good
ir1g to begin the work Of laying out the
electric line from Wendell to that
point. The lire has got far beyond the
maybe stage, and is as definitely as
sured between Miner, Jerome, Wen
dell and Gooding as the canals to carry
the water.
Surveys had been heretofore made TO
Gooding, but the best route had not
been definitely located. 1t is up to Mr.
Bickle now to decide what is the best
route into Gooding, and to say that the
road is to be built just there.
The electric line is one Of the stron
cards in the development of the Twin
Falls North Side tract, as we'll as of
the Idaho Irrigation company project
near Gooding. The Idaho Irrigation
has land to be opened on the l4th, ex-
tending down several miles south Of
Gooding, which viii be immensely ben
efted by the electric road.
Gooding, however, is but temporary
terminus for the chain Of electric roads
contemplated by the prompter Of the
enterprise. 1t is expected that the
rad viii be extended on into the Ca
mas Prairie country, and on towards If
not directly into Boise, opening up
vast, fertile country that is now iso-
lated from all railroad transportation,
then on the south; the line is to go
from Miner to Twin Falls, and on
through that tract and the Salmon
{ver project, into Nevada, where it
will reach the great mining centers,
giving a direct outlet for the Idaho
farm and orchard products, for coun-
try that is bound to become a steady
mineral producing center when the
question of supplies is settled Branch
lines to Albion. Oakley. and wherever
else there is business to warrant It, are
projected. The great Snake river, and
its tributaries, will supply power for
all this system of affiliated roads. 1t
is dream of empire, but one that the
conditions seem to make as feasible as
the grading of a street or the plowing
of a new field
D. C. McWatters. treasurer OF the
Twin Falls North Side company, gave
to the Statesman the following inter-
view few days ago:
Yesterday President Kuhn wired
that it has been definitely and positive
" decided to construct the electric line
between Miner and GOoding. W. L.
Moore. the railroad expert of Plttsburg
completed an inspection OF the survey
md returned east early this week.
f4is report ought to be received IN the
next few DAYS, and anticipating this we
now have contractors at work on the
grading east and west from Jerome.
The line of the survey runs almost dl-
rectlv west from jerome to Wendell,
thence in a westerly or northWesterly
direction to Gooding, where the road
will connect with the main line OF the
Oregon Short Line; the other line VIII
run southeast from Jerome to Miner,
crossing the Snake river on q steel
bridge at Miner.
"The survey of the line cOntemplates
a road of high standard. 1t provides
less than a one per cent grade through .
out. the maximum curvature being less .
than ten degrees. Mr.. Kuhn 5 plans
also provide the use of T5-pound steel
rails. standard roadbed, IA feet VIDE as
a rule. and 20 feet in the cuts.
.sThe equipment will be OF course OF
the most modern and up-tO-date pat
tern.
line. 65 miles from GOoding to Miner,
the work on which is to be pushed rap
idlv to completion, crosses the Twin
Falls north side tract OF lS0, QUO acres
and will undoubtedly De tne
means of settling up that va i tract
rapidlv. The road viii be great con-
venience in connection with the con-
strgctiOn work on the canals.
..The canals. including the laterals
on the first north side segregation OF
81. 600 acres will be completed by Jan
uarv l. 1903. For the completion OF
the work by that time the contractors,
Faris & Kesl of Boise. are to receive
a bonus of SIT, 500
When the road is completed up into
the Camas Prairie country, it will have
a mileage in Lincoln county of about
1e0 niles With the possible extension
of the system out into the Big Wood
siver tract. towards Alberta, it would
add considerably to the mileage and
give this county one of the most com
prehensiVe electrical road systems IN
the United States.