The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1910-01-22
GRADES OR MILEAGE, WHICH,

GRADES OR MILEAGE, WHICH,
In another part of this issue Will
be found extracts from the Washing
ton County News of St. George, Utah,
telling Of the floods in Dixie" on
January first. The Salt Lake papers
have also contained thrilling tales
OF the perils and devastation wrought
by the elements all along the route
which the Commercial club OF ST.
George Is advocating to the officers
Of the Salt Lake Line
One thing is clear from all these
accounts and that is that the FLOOD
N the Virgin river valley and those
Of its tributaries was fully as destruct
i've a. that in Meadow Valley canyon.
The Muddy, one OF the tributaries
OF the Virgin, receives all the water
from Meadow Valley besides its other
very extensive drainage. The VIZ
xn has several other tributaries. 1t
il said the flood which came down
the Fort Pearce wash Zone OF the triD
Ltaries) was 80 terrifying that Its
roar could be heard for five miles"
The Virgin has always been most
ueachepous stream. Its recent per-
formAnce was similar in kind to man
which have occurred in the past and
which always will recur with more o.
less frequency. 1t certainly illuminat
20 the present situation to understand
that the proposed st. George route
would go down the virgiA valley and
up the Muddy.
The Los Angeles Examiner Of jan
uary Is publishes an interview with
Senator Clark in which he says
"One fact has been positively deter
mined and that is-the San Pedro
Road will NEVER AGAIN BE OPER'
ATED THROUGH THE MEADOW
VALLEY WASH" 1t is an old adage
thai 1.-THE burnt child breads the
fire." 1t hardly seems likely that
! ralno1d company driven out OF one
channel by annihilating floods will
be eager to try another channel still
more uncomfortable. We do not be-
iieve that there is a ghost Of pos
sibility that the s. p. l.. A. & s. l..
Il. r. will seek divorce from Its old
flood route to embrace another OF
still more incompatible temperament
The suggestion of the St. George
route may be used as a (bogy-man)
to keep US suitably agitated for q
time, but we are convinced that wher
construction begins the line will be
found heading for Panaca
VIII the Bristol Pass route or thu
Bennett Pass route be chosen from
there? The Bennett Pass route will
be one of erosive waterways. deel
gulches and steep grades.It will b.
far more expensive to construct ant
will not develop traffic like the Bris
tol route, but 1t will be shorter. vii
mileage control?
Ip an interview published in tn
Salt Lake Tribune on January II
Vice President ]. Ross Clark says
I'm railroading today no one build
for a heavy grade" This follows
the statement: 1.-THE Virgin rive
country IL pretty badly broken u
and the grades are not inviting" 7
which we may add: Neither is tn
water"
In considering the question of To-
grades and longer mileage 1t Is hell
ful to consider some examples frol
railroad experience and practice
ether parts Of the United States. O.
er forty years ago some gentleme
imbued with the Roman plan fe
roads Gas the crow flies) built whs
they called THE Air Line" 1t wa
the connecting link on a straigl
line from New York to Boston. I'll
mileage was 212 2-3 miles. The roa
was opened by a special train wit
popping of champagne corks. mut
fervid literature about the advantat
CT shorter mileage. The road led
= sickly existence for few year
when its light went out complete
and its builders lost their investmen
Now six times each week one tral
day takes passengers in comme
coaches from New York to Bosto
via THE Air Line in six hours ar
forty-eight minutes. BY The Shol
Line" 1872 is miles, eight expires
trains week days and four on SUI
DAY. each with parlor and dining {
sleeping cars are run through fro
Now York to Boston, three Of the
making the distance in five hours.
From New York to Chicago by Il
Pennsylvania the distance is 9OS l
miles. By the New York Central IL
distance Is $50 2-10 miles. If an
one wishes q special between th
two cities to make the quickest pc
s.ble time he always selects tt
New York Central The fast trair
on each road make the same tim
but the cost per ton-mile on the Ne
York Central for freight haulage
much less than it is on the Pennsy
vsnia
From st. Paul to Seattle the di
lance on the Northern Pacific ov,
the Cascades IL 1911 miles. All Il