The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-08-18
,3s Days and
Nothing Done
THE NEW ROAD THRU
WOLVERINE

WOLVERINE f.
For a year there has been a great
deal of discussion regarding the
merits Of the new road thru Wolver-
inc and over the summit to Willow
creet. It has been represented as
the direct and feasible route to con-
meet the Snake river valley with q
central part of that rich valley, and
: 1t has been represented as too ex-
= pensive a route, too high summit
and a waste to build 1t in view Of
there being another road already
made over a lower summit, almost as
direct and needing only few hum
dred dollars worth of repairs to put
it in good condition as against many
thousand dollars expended on the
new line.
It has been charged that the new
road was the enterprise OF selfishness
to benefit and increase, the value Of
property lying by the side Of it, and
4 it is also charged that those oppos-
ing its construction and advocating
the repairs to make the old road the
line of all travel are also seeking
+. to have it increase the valke of prop
erty which they own by the side of
the old road, which it is admitted
taps their timber lands and enables
them to more easily supply their
needs in that respect.
Il is admitted by all that as a
scenic route; the new road is a sue
cess. 1t is admitted by all that as a
scenic wonder, Wolverine is Salts
factory and worthy of long trips to
see. Since the new road leads thru
Wolverine and on up the higher
levels and then leads down thru
scenes of charming beauty on the
eastern slope, it makes a thoroly
scenic road turnout. 1t is worthy
of note that the builders of the new
road made it round curve from
which splendid view can be had of
a great expanse of country and en-
ploys the switch-back principle sue
cessfully, placing five tracks on the
same slope, one above another and
all the turns easily made. They may
or may not have been necessary in
making the best road thru, but GER
tainly these features add much to
the charm of trip thru.
It is compliment to the road
builders that car can coast from
the summit. down to the mouth of
the Wolverine canyon about seven
miles on breaks and compression Of
the engine and not use gas more
than about 100 rods altogether.
10 oh ,r,s1 No.
summit to the mouth of the canyon |
and by using the gas to make little |
rises scattered along which it is not |
safe to try to coast, the coasting can |
be done in safety. We predict that |
as men become interested in perfect
ing the road, little fills will be made
and humps cut down until Alb
Jenkins and other sports will be
amusing themselves coasting from
the summit to the hole in the rocks
without using either break or gas,
but controlling it entirely by using
and releasing the clutch according
to the grades and speed of the car.
And this does not involve risk either
as one might suppose, for holding
the car in check on a steep hill
merely requires making the car op-
crate the engine instead of the en-
CINE operating the car and the break
can always be resOrted too to keep
safe.
A great deal is being said about
the lots and lots Of loose rocks, sharp
rocks, constantly being tumbled into
the new road by herds and traffic
and their being SC very rough on
tires. This seems to be greatly ex-
aggerated. We have been led to sug-
gest keeping a man employed all
sumner to throw out the rocks as
they tumbled in, but there are not
many in the road as we see it.
One thing we should like to see
done to this new road is to find one
or more places high up on each slope
where water can be piped to the road
and by the use of short piece of
hose, enable the driver to drain his
car and run cold spring water in till
The engine is cooled This would
save many a damaged engine and
save many a party getting out to
push or making long waits while the
engine cools.
We wish that somebody would /
Undertake the task of totaling the
costs Of making the road thru VOL I
VERNE and report, so that men need !
40 longer make wild guesses. We t
wish that somebody would get up a / t
little party to make trip over the I
Did road via Brush creek and report
Upon the height Of the summit and 8
ength of the road, together with a
careful estimate of the probable cost t
II putting 1t in good condition for I
luto travel and then suggest some a
means Of accommodating the herds /
without taking them over the auto
'oads. /
There is no use of fussing about q
hese things. The thing to do is to t
provide for the needs Of all if we {
an afford it, and the sooner the e
letter. 3. t
IHE UNEXPECTED