Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-07-02
LARGEST PARKING
STRIP IN THE WEST.
Union Pacific 70 Beautify Its Right OF
Way Through West.

Way Through West.
Union Pacific ofIicials have inaug-
urated the most stupendous campaign
for identifying the right OF way OF
that railroad that any railroad In this
country has ever yet undertaken, says
an exchange. Briefly. the scheme is
to so embellish and adorn the right OF
way that the passenger train will
travel In continual park ali the way
from the Missouri river to the Pacific
ocean, distance Of nearly 1000
miles.
TO carry out this project will cost
hundreds OF thousands Of dollars, but
when completed the Hartman OH
cials expect the increased traflc soon
to repay the outlay. Some OF the
benefits that will accrue to passen-
gers via the overland route will be
an absolute absence Of dust and the
pleasant sensations OF riding four
days through n beautiful park---a
park in which the passenger will see,
as he 10 whirled along at rapid speed,
all gradations Of scenery from the
placid farm meadows OF eastern Ne
braska to the dark eanons Of the
Rockies and the tremendous water
falls Of the Cascades. Years will DO
required to carry out and complete
the scheme, but a great railroad sys-
tenn pays little attention to time in
matters Of this kind. Already work
on the big project has been COM
menced. Kearney. Neb.. being the
starting point, from which place the
work will be carried forward.
A recent decision of the supreme
court gave the Union Pacific a 400
foot right Of way through from the
Missouri river at Omaha to the Great
Salt lake at Ogden. The same con-
tention and claims will, when brought
way from Ogden to San Francisco. be-
fore the courts. secure for the South
ern Pacific a similar right Of way,
making total length Of almost 1900
miles. At present Union Pacific aud
Southern Pacific tracks are In the
center Of q 100-foot right of way, and
the court decision gives these roads
$50 feet additional on either side OF
the track.
This is the tract which 1t is pro-
posed to park and which will, when
completed, be the longest park in the
world, although by no means the
widest.
Along the first 600 miles OF the
park, that portion extending from
Omaha to Cheyenne. II is arranged
to SOW the ground In alfalfa. q plant
which becomes green very early In
the spring and remains until late in
the fall. This soon forms a thick
award and Is better able to withstand
dry, hot weather than any other
grass In the country.
As for trees. there will be a double
line Of bull pine. alternating with
elms. These trees win be planted
every two rods on the extreme edges
Of the 400 feet right OF way.
Down the center OF the parking
will run the double tracks. which
are ballasted with gravel from sher-
man Hill. wyO. This gravel Is dis
integrated red granite and the con-
trast OF the red band against the
background Of green grass and trees
will be a continual delight to the
eyes Of the passenger.
Through the moutains there will
be no attempt made to change the
scenery. but rather 70 preserve Il In
Its original beauty and simplicity.
Undergrowth will not be cut out ex-
eept froIh close to the tracks. and
a. far as possible the mountain sec
tons win be allowed to present itself
to the eye of the passenger Just as
though there was no railroad within
. thousand miles OF the place.
There win be a special corps of
workmen. who viii have the care Of