American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1910-04-09
Mr.. Harry Young and Associates,
North Pacific Steam Ship Co.,
Portland, Oregon.


a Portland, Oregon.
$Gentlemen:
I At your request l herewith submit to
tyou my report upon the advisability of
placing steamer on the upper Snake
'Fiver with American Falls as the south
5ern terminal point, nature of waters to
De nayigated, style of boat required,
*cost of construction, etc.
Il | find upon investigation that the
BSnake river at low water will carry at
its most shallow points, which would be
3over the bars and rifles, Is inches of
!Ewater. The distance between here and
@Blackfoot by river is 65 miles. There
&are few rapids, possibly 20 to 30 rods,
over which the current runs possibly
seven miles an hour, which would not
trouble boat to stem, such as | shall
Recommend. There are few, if any
marrow chanels, the river being approx
1&mately four hundred feet wide. There
are no rocks or other Instructions. The
&greater portion of the river may be
&termed a sluggish stream.
I Regarding style of boat required |
herewith enclose you drawings. 1t
would not under any circumstances be
wise to construct boat over 65 feet
zlong, owing to the bends in the stream.
81 advise a boat from 60 to 65 feet in
&ength, with beam of about IA feet,
44and depth from rail to keel of 8 feet.
IAN open hull surrounded with comb
Ing. Would recommend two twenty
#five horse power gasoline engines and
five horse power hoist. Search lights,
electric lights, ten foot boom, etc.
2With boat of such construction your
Rvailable freight space would be 533
8fons and 20 passengers, and would
Draw with said load Is inches of water
Pnd would make a speed of miles an
hour, with the exception of climbing
fiffies.
In connection with the boat you
should have three barges with dead
|oad capabity of 80 tons each.
I Regarding traffic my mind is not eX-
netly clear and must repeat what l am
9old. Within four miles up the river
fhere are very good banks of sand and
gravel. At the present time teamsters
re receiving S1.5O per load, which may
Pc safely estimated as yard. Should
MS town grow as it seems to me it is
pestined to do, the carrying of this
raVel would be great source of profit
nd would much more than insure your
INVESTMENT. You would require hoppers
The landing where the sand and
raVel could be elevated and from there
PehVered to wagons by chutes. 1t is
because of this feature of the business
nat recommend the barges. Last
ear the top price for hay was $500
er ton. AS near as can figure the
osc to farmer to draw his produce to
fis point was approximately $500 per
oh' Regarding amount of tonnage | am
maple to give any definate idea ex-
ept to say am informed that a great
ed al OF produce comes to this point each
~ii' and it would seem to me shippers
souid gladly pay $500 per ton for
Felghtage.
mere is another point to be consider
u There is railroad building from
iackfoot to Aberdeen, which is about
miles up the river, and that may di-
GU some traffic. However, at a place
Aiied Otis, the road is some distance
0iil The river and much trade might
urawn from there. Otis is about
miles up the river.
naVlng your telegram before me re-
aiuihg Eastern Standard engines, am
.pared to say that you would be able
Duild your boat fully equipped with
acc oarges for the sum of $500 in