The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1912-11-16
PACIFIC BRANCH
NOW FAIRLY ASSURED
Survey Through Smoky, Grass
and Pine Valleys From Tono-
pah to PalisadeB Being Made

baaA1Ans "a y OI1uCu llU6 Oh
the Southern Pacific Railroad from
Palisade, in Eureka County, to Mil
ler's Junction in Nye County, to make
q short connection with Southern Cali
fornia. IL now appears that this project
is being pushed with the characteristic
energy Of Southern Pacific Railroad,
building. and it is probable that the new
line will be in operation before the close
Of 1918. TX.
This route has many advantages ove,es
any other route that can be selected. IT,
passes through a chain of valleys Wilhelm
open into zach other over low passel 60.
and which are well supplied with tteen
natural resources most attractive had
railroad builders. All along the roupan.
the territory is highly mineralized, anand
the development of several of the camrely
already indicates a remarkable tonnag
OF shipping ores. Mineral Hill, Buck,.a.
horn. Cortez, Keystone. Kingston
Round Mountain and Manhattan WIKI
all be within easy reach of this routed.
none Of them being more than five DER.
six miles from the line that will probnd.
ably be selected for the road. There ibid
also an abundance of highly mineralizeone-
territory undeveloped along this route go
which Is fast becoming the favorite rely
sort for prospectors. ~
Leaving the main line at Palisade. an
Pine Valley. Grass Valley and Smoky ~
Valley are all rich in agricultural lands,oe
capable of maintaining thousands OF I'd
prosperous farmers. The water supply y
all along the route is unusually large, Id
and will be sufficient to irrigate all of he
the arabic land 10 these valleys. The e
climate is excellent for agricultural \
and resident purposes, and there is an
extensive range for stock raising. 80
1t is claimed that this route will
shorten the mileage Of transportation r
for Southern California products to v
Eastern markets about 500 miles. The Y
cost of construction over this line will t.
be very much less than that along any It
of the other lines that have been sur t
veyed, and there now seems to be no l.
question but that the Palisade-Tonopah .
route offers the greatest advantages. =
There has been considerable speoula-
ton on the part of residents of this =
county as to the feasibility of passing n
from Pine Valley through Grass Valley 10
without going through a territory which s
would require a large expenditure of |
capital in building a railroad. p
Deputy State Supt. A. B. Lightfoot r
returned to Eureka Monday night OF z
this week after spending a month in in
specting the schools of Lander County p
and the north end of Eureka County. D.
He traversed the probable route of the 7
new railroad from where it will leave
the main line at Palisade as far south as d
Kingston in Smoky Valley. and states r
that there is no part OF this route which
will require extensive excavations or tun- II
neling. Thewagon road from Palisade to l.
Grass Valley is direct and passes through y
a country in which the grade is almost y
imp~ercepti6le for team travel. He es- /
Inmates that no part of the grade for a !
railroad need be over one-half OF one
per cent, and states that the opening Il
from Pine Valley to Grass Valley is en-. q
tirely free from any ridge or summit
which would be expensive for building h.
a railroad. The pass is about four h
miles on an air line south of Cortez, at d
which point there is a spring which fur. e
uishes an abundant water supply. \
Mr.. Lightfoot also states that the ,
Southern Pacific engineers have been
investigating the water supply OF Grass
Valley during the past month and have
found an abundance of water from two
to eight feet below the surface. 1t is
probable that a division point will be To- +
Gated in Grass Valley, in which case a :,
substantial new town may be expected to l
be built.
The passing from Grass Valley to r
Smoky Valley will be an easy matter,
which can be accomplished without
making extensive cuts or running any |
tunnels. There is a narrow gorge lead
ing from the upper valley to the lower
one through which a railroad can be I
built without entailing any considerable l
cost. FROM the upper end OF Smoky s
| Valley to Millers' Junction, IL miles :
from Tonopah. where the new line will
| connect with the Tonopah road. the
country is said to be comparatively level.
without any ridges or SUBMITS to be v
crossed. The distance to be traversed
by the new branch is abont $50 miles.
Mr.. Lightfoot also states that a corps
of engineers is now engaged in making d
the survey of Smoky Valley. and that
it is generally felt throughout that sec
tim of the State that this railroad has \