The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1914-10-15
0. S. [. AFTER NORTH
and SOUTH ROUTE
Rumored That Short Line Plans
Purchase of Pittsburg &
Gilmore

The probable purchase of the Pitts
burg & Gilmore railroad by the Ore
gon Short Line, as announced in last
weeks daily papers, will be of inter
est to Emmett people, because it
would mean the extension of the Ida
no Northern to a connection with that
road by way of the South Fork Of the
Payette, or the extension Of the P.
& G. to Lewiston and the extension of
the Idaho Northern from its present
terminus at Payette Lakes to con-
nection with the P. & G. at Lewiston.
The Capital News of Friday says:
The fact that a few days ago E. E.
Calvin, vice president and general
manager of the Short Line, accom-
panied by Carl Stradley, chief engi-
neer of that road, and other officials of
the Short Line, made a trip of inspec-
tion over the Gilmore & Pittsburg, has
given rise to the reports the Short
Line is negotiating for its purchase.
The Gilmore & Pittsburg is but one
of three railroad lines operating in
southern or eastern Idaho Independent
of the Short Line. The latter is in
control of practically all of the ter
ritory The other two independent
lines are the Southern Idaho and the
Pacific & Idaho Northern, neither of
which are paying.
The Gilmore & Pittsburg was built
at heavy cost two years ago from
Armstead to Salmon, distance of 120
miles. Surveys for an extension of
the line out of Salmon west along the
Salmon river to Lewiston were made,
but the line was never extended.
The Short Line controls the princi-
pal avenue of traffic north from Salt
Lake through eastern Idaho via Poca-
tello and Idaho Falls to Butte, or the
Salt Lake-Butte division of its line.
Armstead is a station on this line just
over the boundary in Montana from
Idaho. 1t is at this point the Gilmore
& Pittsburg taps the Short Line and
runs west over the divide into Idaho
and Salmon. The Gilmore & Pitts
burg is therefore feeder to the Short 1
Line, but is not owned by it. The
main line of the Short Line traverses
Idaho east and west from Montpelier
on the east to Weiser on the west 1t
recently acquired the Idaho Northern
railroad, known as the Dewey road
operating north from Nampa to En-
nett, and built an extension at heavy
cost to the Payette lakes, parallelling
the Pacific & Idaho Northern, the in
dependent line, just across the divide
in another valley. 1t has always been
the belief of railroad men that the
Payette lakes, rapidly becoming a
summer resort, was not intended by
the Short Line to be the terminal of
the Idaho Northern, but that the road
would be extended on into northern
Idaho to Lewiston, comparatively
short distance, giving to this state
its first north and south road.
The reports of the prospective pur-
chase of the Gilmore & Pittsburg rail
road by the Oregon Short Line is
taken by railroad men to indicate
that after acquiring this line it will ;
be extended on down the Salmon river ]
to Lewiston, traversing central Idaho
east and west, opening marvelously
rich country and by connecting with
he Idaho Northern extension from .
Payette lake, makes complete loop
If eastern, southern, western and CEN
raj Idaho territory which the Shor.
Line could control This give to that
system both central Idaho lines,
north and south line and belt line
hundreds of miles in length complete
V controlling the great horticultural,
agricultural, mineral, stock and sheep
3elts of the greater portion of the
state as well as add important feeders
'or its main line from the rich sec
ions of northern Idaho, as yet not
invaded by the Union Pacific system. 1