The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1915-02-04
SALMON THE ONLY FEASIBLE
ROUTE FOR PROPOSED ROAD
TO Build Road North from Boise in Effort to Open Up Central
Idaho would be Waste Of Money Only feasible Route
is One West from this city.

Valley, than by the longer route and
over the prohibitiye grades from
Boise.
The next failure VAS the Thunder
Mountain wagon road from Long
Valley. That road was passable for
three weeks in July, all OF August,
and generally all OF September
though there was always danger that
the September equinoctisl storms
would Drecipitate sufficient snow on
the SUBMITS 1t crosses g. close IL 20
such traffic before the end OF that
month. 1t was invariably closed for
freight teams, and useless as wagon
road for the balance OF the year, over
9 months Ina few years, washouts,
winter storms, and the spreading for
estS will have obliterated the last
sign Of many portions OF that road
and we shall have forgotten the s40,-
600 1t originally cost.
Later another attempt was made to
open up portion OF the mineral
wealth OF central Idaho hy wagon
road Indirectly connecting with
southern Idaho; this ime from War
rem across the South Fork OF ths Sal.
mo and to Copper City on the head
waters of Big Greek This VAS also
summer road, and even then imprac.
ticable-because of it's grades--foI
heavy lreighting. This road las been
out Of commission, for the uses in.
tended, for many wears.
The reason for these failures is no
hard to understand. Tie climat c
conditions in centrtl Idaho will not
permit that wagon roads crossing the
high divides between the water
courses he kept open throup hout the
inter months. The road over one
such mountain nay be ketp open un-
der exceptional conditions, AS when
1t is close 70 sone town and the use
Of the road constant and heavy; but
not when there are a number Of such
divides to be negotiated
There is, however, pressing need
OF a wagon road to open central Ida
no. Even though such convenience
cannot be built and used II it crosses
the mountain divides that outline
aud denfe the watersheds Of the
Boise, the Payette and its forks, and
the Salmon rivers Considering the
proposition of the location Of such a
road solely from the view point OF
the best interests OF the prospectors,
sci tiers, and investors in that poT-
tion Of Idaho, there are hut two
routes, eIther Of which would result
In wagon road open for wheel travel
for practically twelve months in tine
year.
The first route, IL to connect the
state wagon road now extending forty
miles westerly down tile salmon river
from Salmon CITY with the wagon
roads now extending up the same
river from Grangeyile or Sites (:
branches from tile main thorough
fare extending up the South Fork
and up the Middle Fork, could he ex-
tended to the remotest districts
within that general watershed This
route would connect salmon city and
, Ed ~ardsburgh, without a single hill
every day Ia the year by auto OF
, team. incidentally, this road would
pass through the center OF Wilson
. creek mining district. apOye men
, toned.
J The second route, rather more la
direct, but very much less costly to
b construct, Is from Salmon city by
say Of kn.ney u Three Forks. from
! thence q wagon road down Camss
? creek to the Middle FORK T. miles
thence down tue Middle Fork 10 Big
J Creek, y miles: thence Up Big Creek
? To EdwardsburRh, approximately 80
; miles more. On this route there Is
: but one divide, the LeesbuTg divide
: vest OF salmon. and that a stage ne
gOtiates every day IN the year; ex-
4 cept for that one divide the rest 81
= The road il practicable for wheei
. trafic every month IN the year, ex.
. cspt on occasions OF eXceptionaI
p storms
e II the legislature should contem'
n plate this assistance 10 the mining
- interests and settlers OF central Ida
4 hn, either or both these routes woul,
I accomplish the purpose just ss Ger
j. talDly a. any proposed route from
4 southern Idaho would not do 50. i
b is undoubtedly one Of the hiEhss