The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1910-02-12
RAILROAD TO PIocHE.

uC 6ChCI a. puOhC Hos UuL q ldlnt
and feeble idea Of the overwhelming
castTopLe which recently wiped out
nearly 100 miles Of the road and road
bed of the San Pedro, Los Angeles
and Salt Lake railroad. This wiping
out o. existence of big link in
great trunk line road occurred in
the Meadow Valley Wash in Lincoln
county, Nevada, and resulted In the
complete isolation of Caliente, rail-
road division point, and the splen-
did mining camp of Phoebe, the ter
minal point on the Caiiente and Pr
oche branch; mineral district re-
nowned for nearly half century for
its big mines, its wonderfully large
and rich ore deposits, and its bril-
liant prospects for the future.
In looking over the field of devas-
tation one cannot but feel that a
serious blow has been struck at in
terests OF the most vital character.
and yet the stricken will revive and
begin to build anew. The railroad
company will not give up because
OF this check to its business and ex-
lstence; neither will Phoebe supine-
ly surrender, for there is too much
at stake for both, and, year or
two from now, this calamity will
hardly call forth passing thought,
30 soon will 1t have been forgotten.
But the burning question of the
hour sizzeles around the ultimate de.
cision of the railroad company re.
garding the route to be selected in
the rebuilding Of its destroyed line.
II Is foregone conclusion that Mea.
COW Valley Wash will not be consid
cred In the rehabilitation Of the road
and that the new line will seek high,
e and safer ground. Two routes
have been suggested, one Of which Is
to build around the wash by the way
or Phoebe, and the other Is to 90 by
the way OF the St. George country
Both routes have strong adherents
and tug Of war game is being siren
uously played. The advantages O
both lines Of travel are being vigor
ously advanced, and the decision O
the railroad company will not be rem
dered until 4 strict and careful in
vestigation mas been made into tn,
merits and advantages Of both of tn
proposed routes This Is hardly
question that the public will be call
ed upon to dtc;d: Az matter o
fact. other thirgs being equal, tn
Question OF rattle. Ct heavy freights
will eventually decide the matter
for railroad Conlpnniess do not cor
struct expensive lines for mere pleas
urc. AMI this leads to the belief tina
Phoebe will yet witness the day whe
II will be on. or very near. the mai
line of the Salt Lake Route; and fo
the reason that Phoebe will offer tn
tonnage. the traffic, that tho railroa
company cannot well overlook or 1,
more In arriving at definite deci,
on regarding the route to be chosen
For the past four or five years tn
, grand old camp of Phoebe has bee
) on the upgrade. Its mines have bee
! developed to such an extent that
could send out a trainload of or
) daily II given the opportunity. Bi
! companies by the score are operatin
there and this number will be double
, within the next few years. Then, tc
one must consider the in-going freig
the machinery, coal, merchandise an
supplies demanded by camp of tn
: size and Importance; a tonnae
amounting to more, in one mont
than would go into the st. Geore
1 region in a year. And this volum
OF freight going into Phoebe, and &,
: ing out, is evidently destined [
: eventually assume vast proportion
3 This is condition that Is unassai
I able, unansewerable; conditions WIFI
! the railroad company must recognize
and when considered, lead to one r.
, suit, and this is that Phoebe will nj
!. be left out In the cold, that the gres
, mining industry of the Phoebe di
3 trict must not be checked, must ne
J be destroyed.-Salt Lake Mining R,
s view.