Year: 1868

The BRANCH RoAD.-We notice that
the project for Branch Railroad from Salt
Lake BY way of the Snake River Valley and
Grand Ronde to a point on the Columbia,
is meeting with considerable opposition of
late from the Journals of Boise Basin and
the Owyhee district. The ardor and zeal
which the people at first manifested for
the enterprise, appears to have cooled down
probably in consequence of the late very
cold weather in that region. ANY way they
have chopped" and now they don't wubt
the road at alt, and some are, in fact singu.
larly hostile to it. The Idaho World aud
the Owyhee paper have discovered more
suitable route in another drection-tO lead
up the Owyhee river and across the country
and iDtersect the Cen raj road at the most
available point. Aud this with a view to
d-swing supplies from San Francisco for
Idaho, in preference to getting them from
Portland. No one can reasonably object to
the people of southern Idaho favoring the
last mentioned Toule or seeking The cheap
est point for the transmission of supplies
But we can see no earthly use in their dis,
coursging the building of the Snake valley
road. We will not assert ositively that the
people are hostile toward the road but the
papers mentioned are, aud they should af-
ford some sort of an index to public opinion
upon the subject in their respective local..
ties. The World affects to believe that
the Snake valley road would benefit the
0, S. n Co., md the city of Portland, only.
But such an idea is wide of the real truth.
The settlers all along the line Of the road
would be immensely beuefted by its con-
struction, to say nothing of the benefits that
would be derived from it by the people of
Idaho. 1t would open up large stricts to
settlement that are now but sparsely peOpled.
Suppose the p'ojec cd road should be built
through the rich agricultural valley Of the
Walla Walla. 1t Noald stimulate The farm
er and the stock.grower 10 greater activity
for they would then feel a certainty of be-
ing amply remune ated for all they could
produce Instead of this valley having only
pOpula ION Of 1000 as now, it would soon
have quadruple that number. And iuslead
Of the two million bushels of grain as pro,
duced last year, we would soon have six IL
eight million bushels, as the yearly product.
Other settlements along the line would in.
crease in numbers and add to tEer annual
products in like proportion. To be sure all
this might benefit Portland or some other
town, and it might also benefit the U. S. n.
Co, or some other Company; but what Of
thai! Should We therefore have no railroads
because it would beucft somebndy? Most
singular doctrine, that would be- and yet
the World appears to take substantially tnat
position in this instance. Even if the rail
road should be controlled by the o. S n
Co. for liue, it could not IN any way re-
tard the prosperity Of Idaho. They would
still have their route bY way of the Central
road to San Fraucsco. But suppose thC
latter road should be built and the first men
toned not, would the people of Boise and
Owyhee get their supplies any cheaper than
1t both roads were put in operation? Not
bit oft The reverse Of The proposition is
true. Each line would compete for tn,
Idaho trade, aud the one that could afford
the CHEAPEST transportation would get lhI
bulk of bu>i ess. That statement is true
and admits of no controversy.


Opposition is the life Of trade, and the
maxim is as applicable in railroad matter;
as it is when applied to other branches o
business. Therefore VIC say let both tn
contemplated roads be built, if capital ant
enterprise can BE- enlisted to accomplish s.
important u work. There need no fea
that too many roads will be built, or tina
the people will be in any way di,comm e,
thereby. Ii the papers above shall co tin
ne their hostility TO the Snake valley road
we will be obliged to conclude that they ar


working for the interest Of California Raj
road m0nopOiists. That under cover O
fighting what they are pleased to call an Or
egon monopoly, they are aiding a Califor
MIA Que in reality.