The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1918-06-20


tually begun. Fifteen or more
men started to work last Monday, lev
cling and restoring the track to a con-
dition for traffic, beginning at the
junction with the main line at the
mouth of the creek. 1t Is expected
that additional men will be employed
as rapidly as they can be used to ad-
vantage and that in short time all
necessary men and equipment will be
strung along the creek and that the
work will be rushed to completion as
rapidly as possible. Two miles of
track had been completed last winter
when the high water brought devas-
tation the entire length of the creek.
washing out and undermining the
track already laid The restoration of
this two miles will be quickly accom-
plished
Turner Secured Quick Action.
For several months the outlook for
a railroad on Pine creek had been de-
cidedly gloomy, and a few weeks ago
its lease on the Douglas, it was gen.
orally considered that railroad con-
struction on Pine creek had been
abandoned for the duration of the war
at least. The policy of the govern
ment after taking over the railroads
of the country had made it clear that
there would be no construction while
the country was at war, and there was
no reason to believe that the Pine
creek branch would be made an ex-
ception. But about this time eX-Sen-
ator George Turner, of Spokane, pres
ident of the Constitution Mining COM
pany the property of which is the
terminus of the proposed Pine creek
branch seems to have conceived the
idea that a personal appeal to Direc-
tor General McAdoo might get results,
50 about two weeks ago, fortified with
facts and figures showing the import
ance of Pine creek as a mineral pro-
Gucing section, he started for the ma
tional capital. In addition to distin-
guished service in the senate, Mr.. Tur-
ner has been conspicuous figure in ma
tional and international affairs and
has an intimate acquaintance with
men prominent in the present admin
istration including the director gem
eral of railroads. Evidently If any
man in the northwest was in position
to demand a hearing, ex-senator Tur-
ner was the man.
Much Tonnage in Sight.
In addition to his personal prestige
with the powers that be- he had inn
pressive facts to back up his argu-
ment. He could point to the company
of which he is president, the Consti-
tuition, which built mill last year and
placed the mine in position for steady
production upon the assurance from
the O.-W r. & ~ company that the
railroad would be built; to the with
drawal of the Anaconda company, and
relinquishing it's lease on the Douglas,
after placing over 100000 tons of ore
in sight and fully equipping the mine
for extraction to the suspension of
Operations by the Highland Surprise
for lack of railroad transportation; to
the inaction at the Nabob for the same
reason, and to the general depression
in mining operations in the Pine creek
section due to the failure of the rail
road company to make good its agree
ment with the mine operators of Pine
creek.
Last Friday message from ex-Sen
ator Turner brought the cheering
creek railroad had been authorized and
. that work would begin at once. He
: further stated that the branch would
be 9.3 miles in length, which meant
that it would be completed to the Con.
+, stttution mine, as originally contem
plated. Prior to the washout it hat
been announced that the road woult
be built only to the forks of the creek
. little more than half way to the Con
. stitution. This news was quickly fol
lowed by actual construction work
and as weather conditions promise I,
= be the most favorable. it may reason
: ably be expected that the branch viii
, be completed in record time.
The work of ex-senator Turner Il
II securing the completion of this i'm
portant enterprise merits the highes
commendation, and his efforts recev
S the sincere appreciation not only o
,r the mining interests of Pine creek, bu