A Railroad Survey Promises to Wake the Pend Oreille Valley
Engineers began staking a route down the Pend Oreille River, with Newport yards and valley development hanging on the survey.
The steamer Newport this morning took out a large consignment of supplies and equipment for the use of the engineers, which was billed to Dalkena, and the understanding is that the work will be begun on the west side of the river at Dalkena. On the east side a survey was run last fall to a point north of Indian Creek.
A thorough survey of both sides of the river will be made before any construction work is started, and it will take at least until July 1st before the work of the engineering corps can be completed. In the meantime the Newport yards will be laid and the work of construction down the river started as soon as possible after the engineers' reports are made and the route decided upon.
The extension down the river means a great deal of activity in Newport this summer, and the building of the railroad will develop the magnificent resources of the valley which have so long lain dormant awaiting the arrival of transportation. Newport and all this territory will profit through the enterprise of the Idaho & Washington Northern's builders.
“The extension down the river means a great deal of activity in Newport this summer, and the building of the railroad will develop the magnificent resources of the valley which have so long lain dormant awaiting the arrival of transportation.”
The 1908 survey was sold as a cure for isolation, promising that rail would unlock the valley's “dormant” resources. Newport still bets on transportation corridors—highway, rail, broadband—as the route to growth, with the same mix of hope and boosterism.
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