The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1912-10-10
WAHA
ROUTE in 1888
Line Surveyed and Cross Sec
toned; Electric Line Up
in 1908.

Concerning the popular desire for
ne Tammany-Waha railroad route
"a its feasibility, the following from
| ne Tribune Of Aug. Z, 1903 date, is of
amely interest:
The increasing comment regarding
|he necessity Of an electric line to
| |Mye the extensive prairie and Craig
mountain country extending east from
through the Waha and res
|eyatiou sections to Grangeville, has
recalled the fact that a number of
| years ago railroad company was or
anized to serve that territory on the
| plan suggested by the electric line
projects.
"This company was the Idaho
Transit and was organized in the sum
mer Of 1883 under the laws of the
sate of Washington by John p. Voll-
nsr Of this city as president, and E.
Banmeister, G.. w. Bailey and others
h Of Asotin as officers and directors.
The purpose of the company was to
build standard guage railroad from
lewiston to Grangeville, under a joint
agreement between Mr.. Robert Har-
ne. president of the Northern Pacific,
and Mr.. Vollmer entered into May 10,
1883. Ample means were provided
70 build the first 25 miles, reaching
as far as Lake Waha. On October
Is authority to begin work was issued
On November 5 Engineer Richard
Nevis left Tacoma with a party of
surveyors to take charge of the work,
and November 10, 1888, the surveying
operations were commenced and con-
tinued for several weeks, when Mr..
Nevis was succeeded as chief engin-
eer by Mr.. M. H. Dedolphs, also of
Tacoma. Mr.. Vollmer pushed the
survey to successful finish all the
route having been cross-sectional and
made ready for the grades during the
month of January, 1889. Shortly
thereafter the Northern Pacific for
muiated and announced it plans to
have the Spokane & Palouse branch
extend its line from Pullman to Lew
lsson also to absorb the Idaho Trans
Il company'e franchise, rights of way,
plats and surveys to the Northern Pa
cific on condition that the latter road
should carry out Mr.. Vollmer's plans
% grade. build and operate said pro-
ected and surveyed line from Lewis
ION to Grangeville, via Lake Waha
and make Lewiston the end of the
faaroad division. The Northern Pa
cinc at once entered upon the work
vigorously and In good faith and ex-
pended in the neighborhood of $780,
oVO In construction work along Snake
NNer above Lewiston and Tammany
hollow towards Lake Waha About
ln's time a period of general cessa-
''on OF railroad building developed
And work stopped all over the north
vest. 1t was Mr.. Vollmer's original
pan to rush this line to completion
hereby securing the most feasible
oute and reaching the most profita
'le sections of territory for traffic
'nd Tor all time making Lewiston the
and distributing point
or the Clearwater and Salmon river
ountry; also making a division here
VHh machine shops and other ad-
wages following the creation of a
abroad center.
unfortunately the revival of rail
oad construction came too late for
ue consummation of Mr. Vollmer's
sans. In the meantime, the Nez |
cree Indian reservation was opened |
y settlement and the then chief en-
ineer of the Northern Pacific, Mr..
lcHenry, was in favor of the Clear
ater route as against the Waha |
oute. Mr.. Vollmer's powers at tina.
ne being only of an advisory nature
Is recommendations were overruled |
: Mr.. McHenry and the Clearwater
mort line was born at the expense |
the death of the Idaho Transit
ompany.
Mr.. Vollmer claims yet that Mr..
'cnenry made a great mistake in t
" building on the Waha route. Had |
done SO. the great Nez Perce |
hd Waha prairies, capable of grow
y 100000 bushels of grain annually,
ould today haze every acre in cul
'atlon and would furnish six car
Ads of traffic to where the Clear
aoer Short line receives but one to-
~. Besides the immense timber
y Of Craig mountain would be fur
hed thousands of carloads of lum-
~. logs and cordwood, of which the
'earwater Short line is not receiving
car today. James ]. HIN, the king
traffic information. once stat