The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-12-10
WINNEMUCCA RAILROAD
IS PRACTICAL SPITE
STRAHORN VIEWS

While Robert E. Shtrahorn was at
Boise he took occasion to say that
the proposed Winnecummca North
ern railway between Caldwell and
Winnemucca was impractical. Mr..
Strahorn has a little scheme of his
own which he wants to put through
and consequently will discourage any
project not a part of his own.
The Boise committee which has
charge of the promotion of this rail-
way enterprise, the members of which
are familiar with the route, country
and possibilities of the territory, sew
erely critic Mr.. Strahorn for making
the assertions he made at Boise. This
committee consists of such men as
Ex-Governor John M. Haines. Messrs.
Frank R. Coffin, George Fletcher, c.
R. Shaw, R. w. Faris and others much
more familiar with the proposed rail-
way enterprise than Mr.. Strahorn
can possibly be.
The committee has made public
statement and reply to the criticisms
of Strahorn They follow:
Strahorn's Contention.
"Mr. Strahorn declared he was
familiar with and knows every foot
of tn proposed BoiseWinnemucca
railfead route and that it was not
feasible; that the cost of construction
would be great; that the territory
does not offer inducement for the
building of such a road; that there is
not tonnage to support railroad to
connect at Winnemucca with the
Western Pacific. In the next breath,
however, he said connection with the
Oregon Short Line out of Vale, Ore,
to Bend, Ore, would give a direct
route to San Francisco, not shorter,
perhaps, than the Winnemucca con-
<nection, but through an immensely
rich territory.
Southern Idaho will throw no
bricks at Mr.. Strahorn, who declares
that a railroad from Winnemucca to
Boise is not practicable; that he
knows the country between those
points is a desert, but that from Vale
to Bend, Oregon, is a great fertile re-
gion, awaiting to be developed by a
railroad.
Not Bourne Out by Facts.
an the light of what was disclosed
by a most thorough and careful sur
vey of the Winnemucca route by Mr..
Shelton, one of the ablest railroad en-
gineers on the Pacific coast, Mr.. Stra
horns statement is remarkable. This
survey demonstrated with facts and
figures that the route was perfectly
practicable and the construction
would not be expensive. Statistical
facts, carefully assembled, covering
the present and prospective tonnage
tributary to the road disclosed an i'm
mensely rich country.
Whence Comes the Money?
From the stations Of Winnemucca
and Jungo there was shipped the year
these statistics were taken. 5000 cars
of cattle and sheep, and the same
year there was found at the town of
McDermitt, lis miles this way from
Winnemucca, on deposit in its bank
$480,O00; and at the town of Jordan
Valley, 1875 miles this side of Winnie
mucca, there was found on deposit in
its bank $356,0O0. Will Mr.. Strahorn
explain how in the desert those won
derful bank deposits were built up?
Are These Men Wrong?
President Bush of the Western
Pacific, after trip over the proposed
route between Winnemucca and Boise.
expressed the belief that ITO miles of
the road from the south end could be
graded for $1,000 mile.
81. M. Stevens, the eminent engin-
eer whom President Taft placed in
charge of the Panama canal construc-
ton at salary of fifty thousand dol
lars year, made a careful examina-
ton of the route and recommended
the construction of the road.
Chief Engineer Guin of the Den
yer & Rio Grande, spent three weeks
inspecting the route and reported fav-
orably on the road.
"Chief Engineer Wiche of the West
ern Pacific, who also went over the
route, made favorable recommends
ton.
"Surely all these reputable engin-
GERS cannot be wrong Mr.. Strahorn,
whose information was obtained 80
years ago, is better informed.
Soil experts from several of the
leading agricultural colleges of the
middle west went over the ground
and took samples of soil for test. They
pronounced the soil equal to the best
lava ash in the west
There are a quarter of a million
acres of excellent dry farming land
around Jordan Valley, Oregon. On
less than half that acreage around
American Falls, Idaho, this year two
and one-half million bushels of wheat
were grown by dry farmers. And Ior-