West Bank Wins the Railroad

After several months of surveying on both sides of the Pend Oreille river north from Newport and a careful consideration of the cost of construction, maintenance and operation on both sides, the officials of the Idaho & Washington Northern Railroad have selected the route down the west side of the river for their Metaline extension. In arriving at this conclusion the advantages and drawbacks of both sides have been thoroughly canvassed; one item which entered into the matter and helped the west side to get the decision was the heavy expense of bridging the river. From the standpoint of tonnage the west side has at present the most to offer. On the east side the Panhandle Lumber Co. controls most of the timber, while on the west side several other companies have large holdings which will be tapped by the new road.

Options on right of way have been taken on both sides of the river. Those on the west side are now being accepted. Right of Way Agents Reynolds and Redhead leaving this morning to close up the deals and registered letters accepting the options are being mailed to parties that cannot be reached in person.

President Blackwell, of the I. W. N., in an interview at Spokane this week, said that the new road would reach Ione by November of next year. It is hardly probable that much work will be done this fall, as financial conditions will be more or less unsettled until after election, and it will be rather late in the season to do much work. From Newport to Ione is about 55 miles, to Metaline is 10 miles further, and the extension to the mining camp will be built, as Mr. Blackwell says, within a few years.

Considerable costly construction work will be encountered, but on the whole a satisfactory grade has been found above the high water mark of 1894, except through the Calispel valley. The first few miles north of Newport will present about as heavy work as there will be on the line, and a fill of about 450,000 yards will be needed to cross the Ashenfelter Bay.

There will be great rejoicing in the Calispel valley country and down the west side over the decision favorable to them, as the people of that section have been particularly anxious to secure the road. As is always the case some people have opposed the coming of the road and expressed the hope that it would go down the side of the river opposite to them.

The building of the railroad and the money spent in this section during the next year cannot fail to bring business prosperity, in which all will share. The Idaho Washington Northern is one of the best equipped and built railroads in the United States. Its builders are liberal in dealing with the public, and are doing a great work for this country in thus forwarding its development.

The great resources of the Pend Oreille valley have lain untouched for many years. Now it will be transformed into a productive country and one that will attract many who will come to make their homes and help to make the country what its resources warrant.