Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1909-09-10
Shoshone on the Most Feasible
Railroad Route of any in the
Gem State of Idaho
WATER GRADE, TWO TUNNELS
Would Connect With Trunk Lines, Both
North and South and Open Ter
ritory of Vast Resources

When it comes to a showdown it will
be found that Shoshone is on the best
and most feasible route for north and
south railroad that the state of Idaho
affords.
The Oregon Short Line already has an
air line north and south across the east
ern part of the rectangle forming south
ern Idaho-that from Ogden to
Butte.
Owing to mountain formations and
the absence of water grades 1t is hardly
likely that railroad will be built north
and south across the western side of
the state-at least not for many years.
But Shoshone, located in the center
of Southern Idaho. is on an air line,
water grade route, giving north and
south line across the rectangle and con-
Meeting on the south with the Southern
and Western Pacific systems and on
the north with Northern Pacific sys-
tens crossing the panhandle of Idaho.
Part of the line is already in opera
tion and part is building. The part
already built is from Shoshone to
Ketchum-the Wood River branch of
the o. S. L.. The part under construc-
tion is the line from Twin Falls south
to Cobre, Nevada, and line from Sal
mon City, in Lemhi county south to
Challis in Custer county is already pro-
vided for
Two connections would fill the gaps
and make continuous line from Cobre
Nevada, to Salmon City, almost across
the state The fist gap is from Sho-
shone to Twin Falls, by the way of Jer-
ONE and the Great Shoshone falls.
Here would be located the highest
bridge in the world, just below the
falls, and from it could be seen one of
the scenic wonders of the world. There
is no reasonable doubt that this gap
will be filled.
The next gap is from Ketchum north
over the Sawtooth divide. Here a tun-
mel would be necessary through the
Galena summit or some point east of
it. A water grade leads up to the di-
vide and just over on the northern side
tributary of the Salmon river is
struck leading down the South fork of
the river.
A road is already building from Arm
stead, Montana, on the Ogden to Butte
route of the Oregon Short Line, west to
Salmon City. From that point one line
branches to Challis and the other goes
on down the Salmon to Lewiston.
Now many believe the Salmon river
line is Hill road but it starts from
Armstead on the Oregon Short Line
and that doesn't look ike Hill road.
The filling Of the Ketchum and Chal-
lis gap wouldconneet Shoshone with the
panhandle of Idaho by the way Of Lew
iston and the railways Of eastern Wash
lngton.
But by filing another gap a direct
line would be made north from Salmon
City to Hamilton and Missouls, Mon
tana, and from the latter city a direct
air line connection is made with the PAN
handle country.
This third gap IS north from Salmon
City to Gibbonsville ana overthe Glib
bon pass where it is possible q tun-
mel would be necessary. Otherwise it
is a water grade all the way.
Shosbone is half way between Poca-
tello and Caldwell and Haley is half
way between Idaho Falls and Boise.
This Indicated railroad would cut Ida
no in two in the middle byahne orth
and south straight as the crow flies, it
would connectwith every trancontnen-
tai rainosdin America either directly
or indirectly. and to cap the climax it
would follow q water grade all the way
except two new tunnels. The valleys
on the route are the richest in the state
and the mountains crossed are riep in
timber and mineral wealth.
It is hardly likely that route pos
sesing such advantages over all others
will long remain unused, especially as
the 0. S. /. is carefully covering this
part OF Idaho to keep out competing
.inss.