The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1920-04-20
DISPOSITION Of
TRACTION LINE
YET UNCERTAIN
Will Prepare Budget Of Prob
able improvement Costs;
Committee Finds Situation
Is Really Serious One.

instructions were gwen the GULL
mittee investigating the Caldwell
Traction company problem Saturday |,
evening to employ engineers to OBJ
tain estimates on the amount OF
money required to place the lines in
first class shape. This is the initial
step in what may result in the pur-
chase of the line and its transfer to
the Boise Valley Traction company
for operation.
H. F.. Packenham Of Wilder, acting
as chairman of the committee. pre-
scented a detailed report of the sit
uation as it was found to be at pres
cnt and as it relates to the patrons OF
both the Mcneil and Wilder branch
es. Friday night, meetings were held
at Caldwell, Deer Flat and Wilder.
At Wilder, the patrons OF the line
adopted a resolution asserting that
they preferred to have continued cleo
trio operation if satisfactory meth
cd could be found to bring that about
but that in the event this was found
impossible, they were willing to &C
cept steam service.
Farmers Lukewarm.
Deer Flat farmers felt that they
could not afford to buy the road since
what funds they had available must
be used for other purposes and also
held the belief that since they were
essentially farmers, and not railroad
ers, they could i'll afford to get into
the railroad game. The opinion of
those few who attended the Caldwell
meeting seemed to be that the COM
munity must take an interest in the
problem and that it warranted seri-
Gus consideration by every property
owner here.
Accompanied by Mr.. Gorton, state
engineer with the public utilities com
mission. members of the committee
had gone carefully over the Caldwell
Traction company holdings. Each
of the committee members, w. H.
Redway, Charles Ollein and Mr.. Pack
ham, had gone to Boise and inter
viewed the two available members of
the public utilities commission. AS
result of these conferences, they
informed interested persons at the
Saturday night meeting that there
was little danger of scrapping the
road in less than 100 days. that be-
fore this could be done. hearing
must be held before the commission.
Must Improve Road.
Mr.. Gorton made no report of his
findings but informally told members
of the committee that he would not
care to pay more than $4,000 for the
property, according to Mr. Peckham's
report.
No effort was made at the Satur-
day evening meeting to reach basis
for a deal with Mr. Sebree. the senti-
ment being prevalent that other in
vestigation must be made before that
phase is taken up.
As a result of Mr.. Gorton's inspec-
ton of the Mcneil line. the public
utilities commission Friday issued an
order cutting down the speed of al
trains operated over that line to Is
miles an hour and also ordered thai
the Caldwell Traction company show
cause before May why they should
not be compelled to make certain re
pairs on that branch. 1t was est
mated by members of the committed
Saturday evening that at least $50,
600 would be required to put the roae
in first class operating condition.
From 80 to so per cent of the tie
must be replaced and many of thu
poles be either stubbed or replaced
Figures were presented by w. Fl
McCluskey and others which indicat
ed that farmers in the Riverside
community and other districts nov
served by the Mcneil branch mus
pay 40 cents per ton mile to truck t
Caldwell while it cost them E cent
per ton mile to haul to Mcneil Aban
donment OF the line would also inter
fere materially with plans laid by tn
Caldwell Equity to installsa sma
loading elevator at Mcneil and har
die wheat raised in that section.