The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-01-11
DIRECT RAILROAD CONNECTION BETWEEN
WALLACE AND C0EUR OALENE THIS YEAR
EXTENSION OF MILWAUKEE LOOKS LIKE BEST BET-LocAL
COMPANY BACKED BY FRENCH CAPITAL STILL HAS
RIGHT OF WAY AND MAY BUILD.

If a part of the enthusiasm that is
forcing the construction of good wag-
on roads in this and adjoining coun-
ties could be diverted to the support
OF railroad construction, it is alto
gether probable that the year 1917
would witness not only the construc-
ton of a much desired wagon road
through Fourth of July canyon, but
also the construction of the missing
railroad link between Wallace and
Coeur d'Alene. This is certainly a
consummation greatly to be desired,
and one that should be earnestly and
intelligently advocated by the citizens
of Shoshone and Kootena counties,
The immediate and permanent benefits
are so obvious, and the business that
would be attracted by the line so Ger
tain, that the wonder is that the line
has not been constructed years ago.
When the Northern Pacific took over
the Corbin narrow gauge road between
this city and Old Mission and then
built the branch from Missoula to
Wallace, which was significantly call
ed the "Missou1a cutoff" no doubt ex-
listed that the Northern Pacific would
continue the line to Occur d'Alene to
connect with it's branch from Spo-
kane, thus making a cutoff in fact in
the sense that it would shorten its
main line. But the Northern Pacific
did nothing of the kind. On the con-
trary, it tore up the narrow gauge
tracks and actually abandoned its
right of way from Wallace to Old
Mission, thus shrouding its action in
a mystery that has never been cleared
The only explanation that seems
plausible is that in an unguarded mo-
ment the Northern Pacific entered in
to an agreement with the O.-W. R. &
n. which barred it from building the
missing link to the west, an agree
ment which If made has no doubt
been regretted by subsequent man
agement of that company.
Proposed Electric Line.
About the time the European war
broke out the building of an electric
railroad between Wallace and Occur
d'Alene seemed assured. A company
composed of local men had been or
ganized and had been successful in in
teresting a French syndicate in the
enterprise. Naturally the war upset
oil yNIa he nf large
capital in peaceful enterprises. After
the war had been on for about year.
a report became current that the pro-
moters of the electric line had sur
rendered the right of way to the Mil
waukee, which would extend Its
branch from Coeur d'Alene at once.
This report was promptly denied by
the representative of the French syn
dicate, who stated that while the war
would prevent the French capitalists
from giving their attention to the en-
terprise until peace was restored, the
capital to be used in the construction
would not be disturbed by the war
and would be available as soon as
peace was declared. However, the
financial strain caused by the war up
on France and Belgium has proved so
much greater than could be anticipat-
ed and the prospect of peace so re-
mote, that it is hardly conceivable
that French capital will be available
for this enterprise, for a long period
after the war.
Milwaukee May Come.
It will be recalled that just before
the official announcement was made
that the Bunker Hill & Sullivan smell
ter would be located at Kellogg, a
combination of circumstances led to
the belief that the Milwaukee contem-
plated the invasion of the Coeur
dAlene field by the extension of its
line from Occur d'Alene. A ranch
bordering on the river at Old Mission
was bought for the Bunker Hill "
Sullivan company, and about the Same
time 1t was learned from apparently
reliable sources that the Milwaukee
company had made formal inquiry OF
the Red Collar company to learn IL 1t
would be in position to deliver frelght
presumably construction material ano
supplies, at points along the Coeur
d'Alene river Reports from Coeui
d'Alene stated that the Milwaukee mao
secured right of way from it's terminal
east through the city and that the
companys engineers were making sur
veys around the lake and up the Coeui
d'Alene river. These reported maneu-
vers were linked with the location OF
the smelter at Kellogg, and were TAX
en- to mean that the Milwaukee nae
determined to enter this field ano
share directly in the great and ever
increasing traffic of the district.
Haul Hercules Ore.
Another argument that was ao-
vanced in support of the belief tha'
the Milwaukee would enter the Coeui
d'Alenes was the prospect OF haullnt
the ores of the Hercules and Tamar'
ack & Custer from the mines to th'
Northport smelter 1t was pointed ou
that the Milwaukee now reaches
point within Is miles of Northpor'
and that by entering this district