The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1910-01-29
BRISTOL PASS FOR TRAFFIC.

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1t was conceded that the Bristol Pass
route would be the cheapest to con-
struct but preference was suggest
I'd for the st. George Route because
l. would run through an agricultural
country. while the traffic over the
former route would consist of train
loads Of ore out and train loads of
empties In.
The preconceived theories of the
reporter are SO likely to creep into
q report Of this nature, that, no mat
ter how sincere the effort to report
accurately. we are always likely to
miss the exact statement made, and
still more likely to miss the real ar
gument In the speakers mind.
Preliminary to discussion Of the
question Of traffic we repeat what
we claim for the Modena- Panaca- Bris-
toll Pass route. We contend that it
would be the route of least expense
to construct, maintain and operate;
be in easy reach of Ely, would de-
velop the territory Of largest poten-
tial tonnage, stimulate the develop
ment Of vastly more agricultural coun
try than any other now prominently
mentioned, and that in traffic to
the Salt Lake Route the advantage
is so overwhelmingly with this route
that ii the full facts can be compre-
h-nded the St. George route will
have brief consideration.
The relation of agriculture to traf-
&c is not always clearly understood.
The states most productive in traffic
to railroads are New York. Pennsyl
vxnia and Illinois, while Butte ex-
cet Dis any other town Of its size in
the world In the revenue it yields to
'ailrt ads~As{t Is not the surplus
grain from the valleys of the Mohawk
and SuseQuehanna, nor the surplus
corn from the fertile parties of H.
inois, which fill railway treasures
and fatten dividends for stockholders.
II the great railway systems of those
states had been Obliged to depend
upon agriculture for support they
would never have been built Agri-
culture plays its part, and very i'm.
portant part. in the traffic situation
but its main function is in feeding
people who are in no way connect
ed with the tillage of the soil. Cen
tiers of trade, commerce, manufact
rres and mining produce the demands
which railroads are built to minis
ter to, and of these demands food
Is but an incident. The railroads bes,
Iatron IL the man with the most mon
~ to spend on necessities and lux
wies. The metal miner in Nevada
II the highest paid unskilled labor
er In the world. Everything that he
eats and wears, the lumber to built
his house. the furniture in 1t, the
coal to warm 1t, the toys for his
children and the grain for his horse
= with few exceptions, come in by
rail. His tastes are luxurious. HI
makes money rapidly and spends Il
freely. Nomadic in disposition, h,
travels much and pays, his money
literally for railroad fare. Othe
things being equal, one miner pay
lie railroad as much as three farm
ers. for the reason that the farmer
produces the great bulk Of his owl
necessities.
On the other hand, the miner ii
producing mine produces tonnag
which goes to swell traffic. II Their
II local smelter in the region,
furnishes q wonderful stimulus to dc
velopment. 1t employs large fore
OF men with necessities to b
met. Dhe profit on the coal and fue
In, offsets big tonnage in loves
grade ore out, upon which the trai
TIC rfodr margin is extremely light
The bullion out pays high rate
the higher grade ores largely go t
outside smelters. As any industria
situation expands it calls in new pee
pie. Wherever there is money i
circulation men are scheming in al
sorts Of waye to get portion Ey
cry newcomer becomes a patron o
the railroad from the day he buy
hts ticket in.
Ely promises to be second Butte
Surely the Salt Lake line wants t
participate in Ely traffic. With tn
Salt Lake line through Bristol Pass
the agricultural land in Lake valley
Coal valley. Pahranagat valley, an
+ the upper Muddy valley, would cal
In whole colonies of farmers, anxiou
to Benefit by the splendid marke
3 which the mines would afford.
That the St. George route ought t
have Z railroad there is no doubt
A branch to St. George could be Il
nanced without much difficulty Il
the good times ahead Of us. 1t woul
\ feed the Salt Lake line. There i
no need Of abandoning to anothe
i railroad the immense opportunitie
which this region affords should tn
main line 60 through Bristol Pass
The railroad wants traffic Of course
IN II can get The way to get It wit