The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-04-08
Railroads and Reclamation

! The Boisc & western, destined to follow
| The Willamette Valley d cascade Wagon
road right of way into the Pacific coast
| country in western Oregon.
Railroad men consider that the location
! of this pass clears away the last cngi-
necring problem which bafhed this road
! upon It's entrance 10 eastern Idaho. and
| gives TN" Bill line right Of way ,nrough
vast empire which has heretofore been
untapped by transportation facilities.
| The facts surrounding the discovery
were brought in by surveyors, who nave
! been working along tho headwaters OF lne
| Boise river. Forming the boundary line
OF Boise, Custer and Idaho counties. the
Sawtooih range, one of the steepest
which divides the interior OF Idaho, forms
what is known the "hogbaCk, on III"
cast and west sides of which the Payctte.
Boise and Salmon rivers find their source.
So steep is the easiest ascent on either
side Of the divide that the Gilmore g.
Pittsburg engineers found 2 per cent
grade. which they decioed must In some
manner bc overcome, Leaving the pres
ent constructed section OF this new trans
continental line at Junction. IN Lcmhl
county. eastern Idaho. tho surveyors had
followed the Salmon river as far 1s
Challis and later pushed on 10 Clay
TON. whore the ascent TO the Sawtooth
was taken up. Surveying Ia the vicinity
OF what Is known as Reddish lake. the
walls OF rhe 'hogback prevented further
progress. The engineers were hurried TO
this point and decided that the only pos
siblc way TO reach the western side Of
the divide would he 10 drive tunnel
tains, The steep grade on the oppOsi' @
side would. they claimed, have to be di-
yided. although the CANYON OF the Pay
cite river could bc reached and passage
secured TO Emmett and Ontario.
Engineers and surveyors were ordered
I to run lines over the entire eastern slope
OF the "hogback" In an attempt to find
some easier pass. one party reached
GeImania. some miles below. and there
discovered the easy pass. Engineers cS-
Inmates showed that n tunnel but few
thousand feet long would bring the road
10 the western side OF the divide. con-
meet II with the hcadwaters of Smoky
creek and the Boise river and allow
latter to Boise and on west TO Ontario.
The survey ont OF Clayton was therefore
swung 10 the south and west in order 10
make the pass.
In reaching this city it is quite posi-
BILE that The Gilmore Il PittsburG VIII
follow what Is known as Mores creek into
the Snake River canyon. At the head
waters oc this creek and over Grimes
pass is located Garden valley. where Scott
Neal one OF the largest money loaners
Of this city, recently sold 10 the Gilmore ~
Pittsburg agents the townSitc of Garden
VALLEY. consisting OF go acres, for a CON
S.dera ton Of $50 per acre. lie pald H-O
an acre for the land but Few years
ago. When seen Mr.. Neal refused slthcr
TO confirm or deny the sale.
II has been announced in the Emmett
country by the Gilmore & Pittsbure
agents that actual railroad construction
wuI start near there during the month OF
June From reliable information received
moth steam shovels are already en- route
tC this city TO prepare for grade work
up the Boise River canyon. 1t ls now
believed here that Hin VIII have q large
the present summer. working east and
west.