The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1915-11-25
N. p. Acquired Pittsburg &
Gilmore for Water
Grade Route.
ROAD OF MYSTERY"
From Nowhere to Nowhere
VIII Probably Extend
West to Lewiston.

"a
the Northern Pacific railway company
Of the short piece OF railroad extend
ing from Armstead. Montana, to
Salmon City, Idaho. with a branch to
the Gilmore mines. has always seemed
good bit of a, mystery.
As it stands at present, as an inde-
pendent railroad corporation. this road
reaches from nowhere to nowhere and
could not hope to prosper The advant-
age that it poss Sssed over other lines
age that 1t possessed over other and
more ambitious roads is it possessed
what no other road does, a water grade
from the summit of the Rocky noun
tains to the Pacific ocean. The road
over this route has been built from
Armstead to Salmon CITY largely down
the valley of the Lemhi to a junction
with the Salmon river. From that point
the road could easily be constructed
down the Salmon river. Snake river and
the Columbia to Lewiston. Portland and
Astoria
The Butte Miner in a recent issue
called attention to the better business
recently being done by the railroads,
and said that with the prospects for
1916 very pleasing 1t is expected that
the Northern Pacific company win start
construction on the northeast ex-
tension of the Pittsburg & Gilmore
Speaking of the prospect the Miner
quotes from the Twin Bridges Monitor,
Twin Bridges being the point on the
Northern Pacific nearest to Armstead:
1.-THE Northern Pacific Railway COM
pany purchased the Pittsburg & GIL
more-the road Of mystery-last Decem-
has been much local speculation as to
when the proposed northeast exten-
sion Of the @. & p. would be construct
ed from Armstead to Twin Bridges to
q connection with the N. P.'s Alder
branch. which runs north from Twin
Bridges and connects with the Main
Tine of the N. p. Recently rumora have
been numerous, with occasional indf-
be long delayed
1.-THE most reliable signs have oc-
CURED very recently. Agents presum-
ably of the N. p. company. no later
than last week, interviewed certain
farmers in the vicinity of Point OF
Rocks with regard to a willingness to
dispose of portions Of their farms that
were desired for townsite, depot and
that Point of Rocks is equi-distani
from Twin Bridges and Dillon = II
miles from each-andsa "a proper place tc
establish a permanent railway station
the negotiations of the agents referred
to are entitld to more credence thar
mere rumors that have previously beer
given more or less circulation. Wher
men begin negotiations for station ant
fc
believing that the projected railroad
has been financed and Will be construc
ted. This is particularly true wher
and when great transcontinental sys
TENS are concered. as the Northern Pa
cific Is In this instance beyond an,
question of doubt
THE continued rising and setting o
the sun is not more certain than tina
the Gilmore & Pittsburg road win b
extended from Armstead. its presen
eastern terminus, to Twin Bridges an
west from Salmon City. Idaho, it's west
ern terminus, to a connection with In
N. p. main line at Pasco. Wash. Fo
no other purpose did the N. p. compan
purchase the alleged road Of mystery
which at present is an isolated piec
of road, but possessing through a noun
tainous region q valuable water grad
router--the only one that the Almight
has seen fit to provide. 1t is logics
conclusion that when both extension
OF the Gilmore Il Pittsburg are ccmplet
ed the majority Cf the N. P.'s coast
bound freight trains win be diverte
over the new line via Twin Bridges an
Salmon CITY. This win be the waite
grade route and much shorter than tn
present main line to the coast
cit is a reasonable assumption tina
the proposed extension Of the Gilmor
& Pittsburg from Armstead to Twi
Bridges viii be constructed orior to tn
west extension for the former is nc
only much shorter-scarcely 80 miles,
but would afford q means OF gettin
In material, rails, etc. for the lon
western link without the necessity {
patronizing a rival railroad These ar
two reasons why the extension froz
Armstead will be constructed frs
Wurar win start early next spring,
ail probability. The distance is q trif
less than 50 miles. and contractors est