The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-10-11
THE PROPOSED SHORT CUT.

The Commercial Club is doing excel
lent work in coming to the support of
| the short cut railroad between Salt
Lake City and Twin Falls, Idaho. 1t
will be remembered that The Tribune
| had considerable discussion about this
matter last year. and that we deplored
the attitude of the Washington authori-
ties at that time, which was so pro-
nouncedly against the construction of
the railroad for no valid reason what
ever. The difficulties have been cleared
away, and it is now held to be practi-
cable 10 get on with the construction of
that railroad.
Tt will be remembered that the Ore
gon Short Line built considerable
stretch of track Salt Lakewards from
Twin Falls and has laid the rails on a
good portion Of the track as construct
ed. No great distance of grading and
track laying remains to complete this
road, which would give TO Salt Lake
City a much shorter (in distance and
time) route to that rich region IN Idaho.
AS the Commercial Clubs announce"
ment puts it, that region would be put
within six hours Of this market instead
of sixteen hours. The completion of
that road would give quick freight serv-
ice at about half the present rate. This
short cut would put this region practi.
cally on the main line to the Pacific
Northwest, as well as shorten the time
and distance.
Undoubtedly this would prove large
ly beneficial to Utah and it would bring
into this State all Of the agents of the
colonies seeking locations upon which
to build colony homes, and make them
acquainted with opportunities here.
It is stated that the right of way for
this cutoff has been fully acquired, and
that $l,250,000 has been already spent
upon the road. 1t is justly urged that
the Commercial Club should aid in every
practicable way in the completion of
this short cut. Immediate measures for
extending this aid are expected to be
developed at the Club membership meet
ing on Monday night, October 18th, at
s clock, =
At this meeting statement will be
adopted to present TO the railroad au-
thorities which will thoroughly commit
the club and the city TO vigorous sup
port Of the construction Of this cutoff.
1t is therefore important that everyone
who can possibly attend that meeting
should be there to aid in devising ways
and means whereby the club can render
effective help.
The route Of the cutoff would bring
the track to the south point OF the
Promontory in the Great Salt Lake.
Then the proposition would be to build
trestle work to Antelope Island, then
a track along the west coast of that
island, and then have a shorter bit of
trcstle work from the south point Of
that island TO the main shore, thence to
this city. This construction work would,
besides increasing the facilities, mean
shortening the distance and time and
cheapening freight charges. Tt would
also afford opportunities for at least
one new and great bathing resort, which
would excel in beauty and purity of the
water, and every other desirable quail
ity, all others heretofore at the lake.
We already have Saltair, which is very
fine, but the city is large enough now
to have two such resorts, and this new
construction would add at least one that
ought to prove Of superior attraction
to any heretofore put in.
On every account, therefore, we vel
come the construction Of this proposed
cutoff, well knowing that other and
more abundant resources will be deveI-
oped thereby than through anything
else that is now in sight. Attend the
Commercial Club meeting on Monday
night, and get in touch with this great
enterprise!
nIJC nDrrA6DT nHr m