Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1920-04-15
IDAHO PETITIONS
u. s. INTERSTATE
COMMERCE BODY
TO FORCE ROAD
Would Impel Camas Prairie
Northern Pacific and o. w.
R.& N. to Build to Meadows
Cost of Seven Millions of
Dollars Would Be Big Saw
ing in the Long Run, Claim

Extension of the Camas
Prairie railroad from Fem
south to New Meadows, a dis
lance Of approximately ninety
miles, would be forced by the
state public utilities commits
sion, through the u. S. inter-
state commerce commission.
The state public utilities commits
sion on Saturday asked the interstate
commerce commission to compel the
Camas Prairie railroad, the Northern
Pacific railroad and the o. w. r. & N.
railroad, which jointly operate the
/ Camas Prairie line, to extend the
road from Fem southwark up the
Salmon river and the Little Salmon
river. to connect with the Pacific
and Idaho Northern railroad, at New
Meadows. Such road would complete
railroad link between north and
south Idaho.
NEW ROAD NECESSARY
The move is made possible by re-
cent legislation enacted by congress-,
prior to return of the railroads to
private operation, on March /, last.
BY this legislation, new powers are
conferred upon the interstate commerce
commission, which permit that board
to force necessary railroad building.
Fem, nine miles west of Grangeville,
is selected as the prospective point
from which the proposed railroad is
to be built, it is believed, because
of the fact that comparatively easy
grade exists from Fem down Rocky
canyon, to Salmon river, up which
the road would follow on a water
grade to higgins, thence up the Lit
tie Salmon to a higher altitude, and
on to New Meadows, where it would
connect with the Pin road, which
extends southwark to Weiser there
connecting with the Oregon Short line.
COSTS SEVEN MILLIONS
The state intends to prove to the
national commission that the new line,
even should it cost seven million dol
lars-a generous estimate-would eff
feet savings in freight and passenger
transportation and earn an income
commensurate with its costs.
The complaint to the federal com
mission names the Northern Pacific
and Camas Prairie railroad companies
and the Oregon Washington rail
road and Navigation company as de-
PENDANTS. All are designated as inter-
state common carriers.
1t bases its action upon one of two
new powers conferred upon the inter-
state commerce commission by the act
of congress which, on March l, re-
turned the railroads to their operating
companies after term of federal con-
troll. This act provided that all inter
state railroads seeking to extend their
lines must first secure a certificate
of convenience and necessity" from
the Interstate commerce commission.
1t also provided that the interstate
commerce commission may order any
railroad to extend its lines. Under the
latter provision, Idaho hopes to break
down the mountain barrier between
north and south.
NO NORTH-SOUTH RAILWAY
The state s complaint prepared by
Raymond L. Owens, attorney for the
public utilities commission, sets forth
that there is no adequate or efficient
line of railroad for the transportation
of freight and passengers from north
to south Idaho and vice versa, and
that public convenience and necessity
demands construction of the proposed
link.
The distance from Boise to Lewis
ton, over the new line would
decrease the present railroad
distance, through Oregon and Wash
ington, practically fourth, the state
AYERS. The distance from Lewiston
to Fem (near Grangeville) is 20 miles,
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