GC4CPZC Idaho's 150th – Idaho Central Railroad (Traditional Cache) in Idaho, United States created by QuireNerd

GC4CPZC ▼

A cache by QuireNerd Message this owner

Hidden : 6/1/2013

Difficulty:

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Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

Idaho Territory's Sesquicentennial

Idaho Territory was organized by Congress on March 4, 1863, and signed into law by President Lincoln. This cache series is meant to commemorate the 150th year since Idaho’s inception.

The Idaho Central Railroad

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First passenger train on the Idaho Central, September, 1887

From almost the beginning of its existence, Boise dreamed of a railroad that would connect it with the outside world. No matter how flattering the prospects were, however, nothing came of them until the Idaho Central Railway (some 300 yards north of this cache) was completed.

When the Oregon Short Line, built through the Boise Valley in 1883, by-passed the capital city, it was dubbed “The Oregon Crooked Line.” C.F. Annett said:

“As we failed to get what we wanted, we must take what we can get. A branch connection is the best we can do right now, and it would provide a great convenience and benefit to Boise City. A great many people are going west and would stop in Boise if they could come here by rail. The 15-mile stage ride [from Kuna] … is regarded as a hardship by eastern people unaccustomed to stage travel, and rather than take the stage ride, give the city the go by.”

The many railroad men who had taken up land near the town site of Nampa preferred a branch line from Nampa rather than Caldwell since that would make their holdings more valuable. On June 26, 1886, articles of incorporation for the Idaho Central Railway Company were filed in Cheyenne. The line was completed on September 3, 1887.

The Idaho Statesman reported on September 6:

“The long-hoped for railroad has reached Boise City. The novelty of seeing a train of cars on the opposite side of the Boise River was enjoyed by the people of our city on Saturday last as the construction train moved slowly up near the depot, with track layers a little in advance laying down the ties and rails.

“On Sunday the road from town to the depot was lined with people nearly all day. It is safe to say that 1000 people visited the railroad.”