The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1909-12-30

derman, and not MartZ, did the first
4O miles of this location work, it is |
presumed that the latter wishes to
check up on the work of his prede-
cessor.
But 1t looks as if this extension of
the road beyond Salmon city. as well
as the one to ascend the Salmon riv-
er, will very soon be building. and
that next season will witness the
grading outfits working both up and
down the Salmon river. Trains will
be running into Salmon city before
the first of March, and the grading
crews will simply continue the work
by moving through the city. The
Salmon river will be spanned by
bridge above the mouth of the Lem
hi, and the road will follow the left
bank of the stream as far as dead
water, or about twenty-five miles
below Salmon city. when it will re-
CT oss to the right bank
| Between Salmon and Challis the
river is tortuous, and in places quite
canyonous. The survey runs as near
| ly straight as possible and the road
will cut out the numerous ox-bows to
the extremity of bridging the stream
twelve times between Salmon city
and Challis. 1t will miss the town
of Challis by about two miles.
There will be a railroad town estab-
lished at some point in Custer coun-
ty, but at this writing nobody here
about seems to know a whole lot
about where it will be.
Whether the Custer county branch
will ultimately be continued to Boise
city and the coast is only remotely
conjectural- 1t is mapped now as a
feeder to the main trunk at Salmon
city, in which capacity it will be a
most valuable piece of property. And
you can bet your very last dollar
that it will beat the Short Line
railroad to the cream of Custer coun-
ty business. 1t will carry the ores of
mon city, and will transport the ma
chinery and other supplies to the
upper country. If it succeeds in
awakening the stupendous industrial
and commercial possibilities of Gus
ter county, as it surely will. there
will be revival in that field fal
exceeding the finite contemplation.
There is hint that at some point
near Salmon City an immense smell
ter will be- erected. 1t will be suf
ficiently capacious to take care Of
the ores Of both Lemhi and Custer
counties, and the railroad tapping
the districts will serve every mine
by bringing it's ores to local mar
ket. The Ramshorn mine at Bay
Horse is known to have reserves O
lead-silver ore approximating $4,000,
600 In value already blocked out fol
such a market as this, and numerous
other mines in that country will tak'
on life and activity when quickenet
by the iron horse.
Speaking of this famous lead-silve
belt of Custer county recalls mem
cries of days almost sad in thei
histronic fatalism Twenty years
ago, when silver was dollar al
ounce, hopes were buOyant In thu
breasts of a hundred prospectors il
that district The whole country ex
tending from the head of Gardel
creek. above Challis as far as Slat'
creek, beyond Salmon river, was riff
with the hum of industry. Bay Hors'
and Clayton were lively camps ant
all the creeks and mountains for 3
miles were dotted by the prospec
hole where tunnel and shaft wer
delving into veins of rich argenti
ferrous ore. Even at the distance o
200 miles from a railroad thes
mines We're worked, many of then
profitably, until came the demoneti
zation of silyer-and the slump
Since that day Is years ago, littl
has been done, except the annua
representation, and hosts OF the on
guard of prospectors nave quit Tn
district. But the mines are SUI
there. and the coming of spring will
see many lodges and mining group
retaken, and the ola dumps VII
simmer with the signs OF new eAca
walton. The old ledges will be re
opened and preparations made in
hundred places to ship the ore whe
the railroad comes
, These mines Will give the ROAD