Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-05-06


their own profit. and If the railroad
companies will not construct and oper-
ate their lines from the best economic
point Of view, the government will
eventually take them over and operate
them for the peoples benefit more d.
rectly than is done today. This may
be socialistic doctrine, and while I am
not q Socialist, l believe something
along these lines will eventually have
to be done to force conditions to relieve
the people.
CARE FOR PEOPLES NEEDS.
THE Chicago Northwestern Railroad
company intended building from Lam
der. Wyo.. on into Idaho down the
south fork Of Snake river. and surveyed
their road three times many years ago,
and IL they had done this our coal
problem would have been solved. But
this company entered into a gentle
mems agreement with the Union Pa
cific company to stay out Of this terri
tory, IL the Union Pacific would turn
over to 1t it's business at Omaha, and
the people Of western Wyoming, all Of
southern Idaho and others further west
have suffered. Such a procedure
should be just as unlawful as to agree
on rates, but the trouble Is to prove II,
and here we are.
IF the Short Line, which Is an Idaho
road. and says 1t loves the people Of
Idaho. would build this extension and
bring in this coal and lumber and serve
the people of these four upper valleys,
they would demonstrate that they real
ly had regard for Idaho and her people.
hi t. Co. .In, - hrs
permanent relief, and Is more impor-
tant to Idaho and her future develop
ment than any other similar undertake
ing, and the state officials, in my
humble judgment, should get behind
plan to eventually bring about the
building Of this 80 miles of road. Iput
these matters before you for consider
alton. inasmuch as the minds Of all
Idaho are now conferred on ways and
means to take care of the pressing
needs Of the people. OF course imme-
diate relief is most desired, but why
not work for permanent relief also? l
believe if the state would actively In
terest itself in the project above out
lined, that 1t would result in the road
being built and permanent relief re-
suit"
INSPECTOR TO INVESTIGATE.
State Mine Inspector Bell, to whom
the letter was referred. wrote the gov
ernor as follows:
Il have read the very interesting
letter Of April 81, covering the prospec-
tive coal and other resources up the
south fork Of the Snake river to Grays
river. a distance of 90 miles. While
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gard to the snow difficulties of the Te-
ton basin deposit. his description IF
the Gray's river deposits are of such
a nature. If founded on reasonably re-
liable authority, as to be worthy of
very serious consideration by the state
as a permanent supply of coal for
Idaho.
Il seriously doubt. however, that
that there would be any advantage
from snow conditions and winter traf-
fic difficulties on Gray's river as COM
pared to the Teton branch as both To-
calities are practically the same in ele-
walton and the upper south fork couu-
try Is Just as much Of a snow country.
However. that feature does not cut any
figure. We are after the most conve
nient source of supply of good coal.
I'm your answer l wish you would
advise him that if he will furnish or
have the interested claim owners Of
any of the Gray's river coal deposits
furnish a guide at their expense, l will
be glad to furnish the necessary time
and personal expense of accompanying
such a guide to these deposits in June
or July, when the snow conditions are
such as to permit an examination of
the territory. I shall make an investi-
cation of the conditions Mr.. Hill out
lines and give an unbiased report and
estimate of their Importance as l am
able to for the purpose of encouraging
a more thorough and scientific dem
onstration Of the merits of these de-
posits by the United States geological
survey department, II it can be made
available for this purpose and If the
territory has not already been covered.
Il would say further that l have
wired to George Otis Smith, director of
the United States geological survey,
and asked him to forward me any gov
eminent bulletins that may have been
issued on that particular coal field. /
think I have head some reference in
government publications to that par
ticular field, but in looking over my
files 1 am unable to find anything on
the subject
Il am little afraid that the con-
struction cost Of the line suggested at
$4,000 per mile, as submitted by Mr..
Stradley. would be double that under
present conditions. For immediate re-
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