The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-07-20
REMOVES OBSTACLE
TO bURLEY CUTOFF
Telegram Indicates Work on
Short Line Will Soon
Be Resumed.
LOOK FOR AGREEMENT
Construction May Proceed
Pending Judicial Determine
ton OF Points Involved.

telegram received from Senator
Reed Smoot Yesterday by Secretary Jo-
seph E. Calne of the Commercial CLUB
conveys the information that the in
junction proceedings recently brought
by the government reclamation service
against the Oregon Short Line, pre-
venting the railroad company from
constructing its proposed branch line
from Saline, on the Lucin cutoff, to
Burley, Idaho, may now be satisfactor-
lily settled by stipulation. If this is
done, which seems likely, work On the
important road will be renewed and
completed as soon as possible.
The railroad company planned the
line and started grading IN the fall OF
1910. This work is now complete from
Burley to Kelton Summit, distance
OF 59la miles. While no rails have
been laid, all the material necessary
for the road is at hand. Surveys for
the rest of the road, from kelton sum
NIT to Saline, distance of about 10
miles, have been completed.
Traverses Rich Section.
The course of the road is from Sa-
line along the west shore of the Great
Salt lake promontory, passes through
the rich Raft river country, cuts 100
miles of the trip from Salt Lake to
Portland, makes the Twin Falls country
tributary to Salt Lake, brings vast
and rich area within Salt Lake Job.
ment of northwestern Utah, besides
hOl0lnO
After The railroad had started work
officers of the reclamation service filed
the injunction proceedings, bringing
the project to a standstill. 1t was held
that the right of way would pass
through areas included in what are
known as the Minidoka and Twin
rails -Raft river reclamation projects.
1t Is declared that the purpose OF the
injunction was to bring the railroad
company into an agreement to con-
struct at its own cost all necessary
crossings, bridges, canals and culverts
on lands through which it's line would
pass. and which would be included in
or affected by the reclamation projects.
To Avoid Precedent.
The railroad company has held that
oy years of custom transportation lines
construct crossings, bridges, culverts or
other similar work found necessary as
a natural course, but that it did not
desire to establish a precedent that
might prove too costly in the end by
agreeing to carry out such work at
its own expense on account of some
future outside undertaking.
WIN the important project at
ss,tandstlli, the matter came before the
commercial club. which investigated tho
carefully. On July ii the
board Of governors passed a resolution
requesting Utah. congressional deleCa-
ton to use ITS influence to raise tbe
embargo. Copies of the resolution were
sent to Senators Smoot and Sutherland
and to Congressman Howell with ac
letters. At the same time.
petition, setting forth all the cir.
connected with the contro.
versy, was forwarded TO the interior
department. and to Utah s delegation.
Appeal to Washington.
The letter written bv Secretary Caine
% Senator Smoot, duplicates Of which
we're also sent to Senator Sutherland
md Representative Howell, follows:
Hon. Reed Smoot, United States Son
ate. Washington, d, c.
My Dear SeDa tor-At q meeting of
the board OF governors of the Com
n,sio nm,eLoIaI cIuo held on July II reso-
gressioDal delegation to use it's in
iluence 10 raise the embargo which
IA, has been placed upon the building OF
railway from Saline station on tbe
Lucin cutoff to Burey. Ida
1t appears that an Injunction suit
was brought against the railroad com
service and this important work has
been brought TO standstill The new
ROAD VIII decrease the distance be-
wv Imeen SAT- Lake City and Portland.
large and rich district into our
jobbing territory. Our Investigation
shows that the settlers along the line
are unanimous In their desire TO have
the railroad built and that the obfec-
lions raised by the reclamation sery-
Ice are not well founded and have re-
suited In serious detriment TO the
district affected.
! am inclosing herewith a cony of
the petition. which states ali tho cir
cumstances connected with this mat
ter and which has received the in
dorsement Of the Commercial club
Your efforts in this matter will he
highly Appreciated
Senator Smoot's reply. received YES.
erday. is as follows:
Washington. D. c.. July 10. 1917
Mr.. Joseph 2 Caine. Secretary salt
Lake Commercial club. Salt Lake,
Utah:
The secretary Of the interior as
sures me that be now stands ready
and always stood ready 10 perroit
the railroad TO finish Its construc
zion as soon as n proper stipulation
was made agreeing To bear tho cost
of any canals or other crossing and
pay the building charges TO be as
scssed against the irrlgable land Of
the project taken up by the right
Of way amounting 10 about fffeen
thoueano dollars. II this Is not done
II VIII be necessary 20 make n bivi, N
or charge per acre for the lands In
the project n there Is any doubt as II
10 legal authority for the secretarv n
10 impose this charge. he Is wIIIjrS II