The record. [volume] (St. Maries, Idaho) 1913-1918, 1916-02-04

The commission appointed by
Governor Alexander to inquire in
to the feasibility of building a
north and south railroad has
made its report to the governor.
1t recommends the construction
by the state of a roadbed between
New Meadows (the northern ter
minus of the Pacific & Idaho
Northern railroad) via the Little
Salmon and main Salmon rivers
to Whitebird, and thence ascend
ing via Whitebird and Chapman
creeks to a connection with the
Camas Prairie railroad which
serves the great productive re-
gions between Grangeville and
Lewiston. 1t is the idea of the
commission that the state should
lease the roadbed.
In support of its proposition.
the report in part says:
The first great necessity for
growth and development is rail-
road communication connecting
the north and south, linking up
each with the other, the great
transcOntinental railroad systems
which traverse the state in the
north and in the south. Our past
political history shows repeated
attempts to disintegrate the state
of Idaho, and there is no true Sc
curity for future unity and sta
bility but in the easy and direct
communication with different
parts of the state. We must so
live that we can see and know
each other, and the sections must
be knit and ligatured by the ties
of material friendship and in
terests, which comes from ac-
quaintance, association and col
lective interests, thus forming a
triple chain which the blows of
faction cannot sever. In such a
condition the feeling Of unity and
state pride form an impenetrab!e
hield which cannot be broken by
MISUNDERSTANDING and estrange-
nents. Under existing condi-
ions those who frame the laws of
the state to meet the actual con-
iition and character in every part
of the state cannot inform and
qualify themselves for the duties
Of their position by actual and
personal knowledge and herein
arises one of the great sources
of discomfort in the northern
counties.
Moreover, owing to the lack of
intercourse and unity under ex-
sting conditions, the state of Ida
no is subjected to extraordinary
expenses Of maintaining duplicate
charitable, penal and educational
institutions in the north and
south, the maintaining of which
would more than suffice to pay
interest upon such bond issues as
nay be needed to build the north
and south railroad.
From every standpoint, the
state has much to gain and moth
J ng to lose by providing a means
If rapid transit which shall uni
!. the people of its two diverse
,ections into one harmonious and
1 patriotic entity.
The report urges the governor
: to call a special session Of tho
= legislature at once for the pur-
pose of inaugurating surveys
etc. It says:
Realizing to the fullest extent
, the responsibility thereby en-
tailed, we urgently recommend
o and advise that you convene the
I legislature in special session
+ speedily, for the purpose of in
augurating surveys, procuring
right Of way and devising way'
and means for the construction
@ Of a standard grade railroad BET
r between New Meadows and tn
n Camas Prairie, and further au
Y thorize the available convict la
n Dor of the state to be utilized il
s the immediate construction ant
- completion of the state highwa
q between New Meadows and Lew
liston over the route adopted b