The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1915-11-05

people Of Idaho had NOS long ago
mAnded that this north and south
railroad should be built TO connect
these tEo sections but that a spur
should he built to the tremendously
rich sections around Warren. which
ne declared MS investigation led iim
TO believe is far richer mineral
'untFy than the Coeur d'AisneS. He
thinks It's development is being re-
tarded only by lack Of proper trans
portation facilities which can be
provided at reasonable cost 10 the
people Of toe state
In report submitted 70 Governor
Alexander by E. A. Paddock OF Wsis-
ef a member OF the north ana south
railroad commission, the statement is
made that this rood Is entirely prac-
ticable IS far as the work OF constFuc-
ton 10 concerned, and that the cost
per mile Will not be excessive; that
such road will open 20 settleme I a
large tract OF good ranch and grazing
land, AS @ell as develop mineral lands
and result la building ny the lum'
beriRg industry. A further recon
mendation Is made tiiat the north
and south state road DO put in the
best possible condition as prellmin.
arV TO the building Of the highway
The report is in full as follows:
ITO His Honor, Gov. VI Alexander,
"Boise, Idaho.
"DeaI Governor: Your north n d
south railroad cOlA III AsiOn having
CONS over the route OF the propo. ed
north and south railroad from Ne"
Meadows to GraDgpviIle, down the
Little Salmon and Salmon rivers,
with yourself and others, have tue
honor OF making the following report
1.-THE distance from New Meadows
to Grangeville Is about 80 miles b'
the present WAGON road over whlcl
your commission travelled. The hrs'
10 uiles-from New Meadows 10 Lit
tia Salu on falls-a railIoad can h
constructed at very small cost, a
there Is little to do but put down Tia
ties and attach the rails. From Lit
tie Salmon falls to Higgins the roa'
runs along the west bank OF the LII
tie SALMON. In the neighborhood O
Little Salmon falls, some expensiy
rock work will be required for two
three miles then the valley become
wider and railroad construction wi
he less difficult. All the way froI
Little Salmon falls to higgins, theI
is an abundance of timbec for tie
bridges, etc. A short distance belo
higgins the road crosses to the ca
hank OF the Salmon river Fro
| RipVius to Whitebird, distsnce
| 80 miles, perhaps FIVE or six miles
heavy rock work will be require
| The average fall Of the river fr1
] New Meadows to Whitebird Is aboI
l6 feet to tie mile.
Il at is tile opinion OF your commi
sion that the construction Of RAJ
road from New Meadows TO Whit
bird would not be mere expensive =
mile, than the cost Of the Pacific
Idaho Northern railroad up thrgu
the Weiser river valley from Weis
to New Meadows.
1.-The route traveTsed by youI CO.
mission leaves the Salmon river
Whitebird and Gro sses over the diVi
to GrangevIIle. To reach the top
the divide from Whitebird, a rise
about 5000 feet must be made
then a descent OF about 1000 feet II
Grangeylle TIE distance by wsE
road Is about % miles. The co
mission travelled over the wagon n
aud did not folio" the proposed ro
for the railroad up WhItebird Gre
AT WhAebird, one member OF
commission, with State Engin
smith ann an old timer OF VIII
bird, aalked down from WbitebirI
the mouth Of WhiteolId creek,
the odd timer remarked that
keeping ON q level or on = slight
grade from the mouth Of Whitel
creek down the river until ho
CANYON Is reached, an easy grade
1 the canyon n Fem would be fou
Fem is on the Northern Pacific
rod about eight miles west
Grangeville, aud Is go feet 10
tEan Grangeville. We would rec
mend that this route be carefully
yestigated before making a ina
cation.
"In conclusion, your commits
would respectfully report TN
north and south railroad Is ent
i, practicable as far As the work OF
strucrion is concerned, and that
! cost per mile will not oe excess
that such raiIrodad ~ill open for
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