The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1913-06-20
MORE SHORT LINE
RAILROAD DOPE
Talk Of Building From Twin
Falls to Boise
WILL THEN CONNECT UP WITH S.
p. AT ELkO.
Understood That Work Has Been
Authorized by General Manager
Bancroft

San Francisco.-A short railroad
line from Boise and interior Idaho to
San Francisco and other California
points will shortly be constructed, op-
ening up for San Francisco merchants
a vast and valuable trade area
The new gateway to this city from
interior Idaho is to be constructed by
the Southern Pacific and the Oregon
Short Line The latter will extend its
line from Boise via Twin Falls, to
point on the Southern Pacific's Cen
trail Pacific main line near Winnie
mucca, New, in all probability estab-
ing the connection at Elko. From
Elko, the Central Pacific will consti-
tute the remainder of the route here.
Advices were received in the Flood
building yesterday to the effect that
Vice President Bancroft of the Ore
gon Short Line had announced the au-
thorization of the work. These advices
were verified by Southern Pacific Of
ficials.
With the authorization of the work
and the acceptance of surveys, both
railroads consider that they have stol-
en- a march on the Western Pacific.
The latter planned to extend from
Winnemucca to Boise. Exacting fin
ancial conditions-conditions that
have blocked much progress of the
Western Pacific since it has opened
its main line-prevented the Gould
| road from carrying out its plans" with
the dispatch intended.
The Western Pacific reaches Elko
But the Central Pacific line will be
branched north far enough to give the
two roads, formerly known as Harri-
man lines, connection that the West
ern Pacific cannot hope to profit by,
with any reasonable certainty, it was
declared yesterday.
The new line-the line from Boise
to the Central Pacific tracks--is to
cost, it is understood in the neighbor-
hood of $6,900,000.
The minute plans for the extension
have not been announced here, South
ern Pacific officials declaring that as
the Oregon Short Line is, in reality,
building the extension to Southern
Pacific's Central Pacific line, details
of the work must come from the Ore
gon Short Line, which is controlled
by the Union Pacific. Southern Pa
cific officials, however, do scout the
idea that the unmerging of Southern
Pacific and Union Pacific could have
any possible effect on the projected
line or any effect upon Southern Pa
cific and the Oregon Short Line ex-
changing San Francisco and Idaho
traffic to the practical exclusion of
other roads.
At the present time San Francisco
and Boise are separated by 1882 miles
by the Southern Pacific's Ogden line,
the shortest route. Over the Western
Pacific, via Salt Lake, they are 1920
miles apart and over the Southern
Pacific via Portland and the Short
Line, 1867 miles apart. The new line,
however, will cut noticeable hole in
this milage, about 80 per cent, and
will give to San Francisco and Cali
fornia, say railroad men, great pro-
portion of wholesale trade, valued at
many millions annually-a trade that
at present, for the most part, Is divid-
ed up between Ogden, Salt Lake and
Portland.
That these three cities have for a
long time controlled the trade has
been an open secret for years. The
opening up of the trade to San Fran
cisco, it is believed, will make this
port gateway for the expectation of
the products Of southwestern Idaho
and southeastern Oregon.
The Western Pacific, In planning
entry to Boise, figured principally on
its own ability to finance the project.
This plan was succeeded by another in
which merchants and others planned
to build to Boise from Winnemucca,
connecting at the latter point with the
Western Pacific. The Oregon Short
Line, however. was decidedly anxious
to cinch the possible trade from San
Francisco into Idaho for itself, realiz-
ing the value OF such line as propos-
ed because of its own numerous lines
in Oregon.
It was authoritatively stated last
that the Oregon Short Lines plans for
the new line consist Of an extension
Of its Twin Fails branch to Boise.
north, and from Twin Falls to Elko.
south This routa, while little long
Ter than the proposed line from Winnie
mucca to Boise. Ii considered the most
feasible, enabling the Oregon Short
Line to open up direct service between
here and Boise before the Twin Falls
Boise extension II completed " or
Grating trains from Nllo to Twin
Fails. thence to Bnrley It AppArt md
len to the compAAy'a 1A IlMN 1Or 4
short distance to Mam N&nre =
would take the HoiDe oen-
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