The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1920-05-06


still wrestling with the problem
of devising a passenger train
schedule that will accommodate
the people of Burke, a most COM
mendable purpose with which the
Miner is in cordial sympathy. Ger
tainly as long as we are dependent
upon the present service, the time
card should be adjusted as far as pos
sible to avoid all delay in the move
ment of passengers and the delivery
of express. But there is a bigger
question in regard to passenger SER
vice between Wallace and Burke that
is pressing for solution. and one that
should have the earnest consideration
of the people of both Wallace and the
canyon. and particularly the men who
are at the head of large mining Oper-
atoms on Canyon creek. This is the
question of rapid transit between
Wallace and Burke, with trains run
ming with sufficient frequency and at
convenient hours to enable employees
of the mines having families to make
their homes in Wallace. This ques-
ton was taken up by the board of
trade several weeks ago, but for some
reason or other the attention of that
body seems to have been DETECTED
to the discussion of improving the
present service which can never be
made to meet the requirements, rath
er than tackling the big problem of
providing permanent and adequate
service that will be the means of in
ducing families to make their homes
in the district and thus to a great ex-
tent relieve the mining companies of
the trouble they experience in retain
ing steady working forces.
Electric Train Service the Solution.
If the establishment of electric train
service between Wallace and Burke
involved the securing of right of way
and the construction of the line, there
would be some force to the argument
that the expense would be too great
to justify the enterprise. But no diff
ficulty of this kind stands in the way.
The railroad is there and all that is
necessary is to provide the trans
former. trolley wire and the rolling
stock, consisting of probably two mo-
tor cars and half a dozen coaches. The
train crews would consist of not to
exceed four men. OF course the prices
of all kinds of equipment is high, hut
the amount required would not be
sufficient to make an excessive invest
ment, while the operating expenses
when once established would be far
below the cost of maintaining steam
service. with trains running at fire.
quent intervals from early morning |
until II o'clock in the evening men |
employed in the mines could go back |
and forth from their work without !
loss of time, and the number of men |
now employed would be sufficient to |
insure an income to more than cover !
the running expenses. Such a service |
would create much business in addi- !
ton to that coming directly from en-
ployes of the mines, while the reason
able certainty of new mines being |
opened in the canyon would be a |
guarantee of an ever growing and !
profitable business.
Mining Companies Should Cooperate.
Managers of the mining companies
have expressed their intention to give
preference to married men, believing
that such a policy would result in Sc
curing a more dependable working
force. If they will now throw the
weight of their influence with the
business men Of Wallace in an effort
TO induce the two railroad companies
to unite in electrifying one of the
Canyon creek lines, the thing can De
accomplished. 1t is parctical from
every viewpoint, will prove profitable
to the companies and will promote the
prosperity of all concerned.