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Washington, Idaho, & Montana Railway Records, 1903-1962

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Washington, Idaho & Montana Railway Company
Title
Washington, Idaho, & Montana Railway Records
Dates
1903-1962 (inclusive)
Quantity
65.5 l.f.
Collection Number
MG139 (collection)
Summary
Business records, including reports, correspondence, tax returns and other financial records, maps and blueprints.
Repository
University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives
Special Collections and Archives
University of Idaho Library
875 Perimeter Drive
MS 2350
Moscow, ID
83844-2350
Telephone: 2088850845
libspec@uidaho.edu
Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Historical Note

Around 1900 a group of Midwestern logging men who had moved west formed the Wisconsin Log and Lumber Company and developed plans to begin large scale logging in the Potlatch Basin of Idaho. In March 1903 this company merged with the Weyerhaeuser interests to form the Potlatch Lumber Company. The officers in this company were William Deary, Henry Turrish, and William Laird. There was much valuable timber near Bovill, Idaho, and in 1905 the lumber company decided to abandon its Palouse, Washington mill and construct a larger one elsewhere.

The place selected as the terminus and mill site, according to John B. Miller in his book The Trees Grew Tall, was Moscow, and the road was to be called the Moscow and Eastern. But, early in the planning, when the men learned they would have to pay inflated prices for land for a right of way, and also, as William Deary so colorfully put it, that "there isn't enough water in Moscow to baptize a bastard" (Ralph W. Hidy, et al. Timber and Men, p. 256) it was decided to move the mill eighteen miles away. The town of Potlatch was built and construction of the railway begun.

William Deary and Charles Weyerhaeuser asked the Northern Pacific Railroad, one of the major railroads operating in the area, to build its lines into the timber and contract for hauling logs from the Potlatch mill, but after some thought the railroad officials felt the anticipated tonnage would not justify the expense of building the road. This left the lumber company with no alternative but to build the road itself. The attitude of the Northern Pacific officials changed several years later when they learned the Milwaukee Road would be building in northern Idaho. The Milwaukee officials managed to get an agreement from Weyerhaeuser not to sell his now completed railway for ten years. However, in August of 1908, when the president of Northern Pacific, Howard Elliott, called on F. Weyerhaeuser with an offer to buy his road, and was told of the agreement with the Milwaukee Road, he threatened to build a parallel line. Weyerhaeuser called his bluff, but a proposed agreement was drawn up between Weyerhaeuser and Elliott on August 31, in which the cash figure of $2,5OO,OOO was offered for "all rights of way, station grounds, equipment, material on hand, cash and bills receivable without liens or encumbrances of any kind." Section 12 of this agreement mentions that as part of the purchase price the N.P. "will join with the C.M.&St.P. in a through rate between Palouse and Potlatch and points reached via the C.M.&St.P." (W.I.&M. papers in the University of Idaho Library, folder 331) Weyerhaeuser was tempted to break the agreement with the Milwaukee Road and sell out to the Northern Pacific but was unable to got the concurrence of the other directors. In a letter to Weyerhaeuser dated August 21, 1908, F.S. Bell, Treasurer of the W.I.&M. said, "I am requested now to say to you that it would be against the judgement of all of us here (Mr. Norton, W.W. Laird, and himself) to make a sale of the road at this time .... We all expected to have to build the road when we bought the timber, and everything has worked out about as we thought it would except that we have built a better road and spent more money on it than we expected to when we began." As a result of this refusal to sell it was not until 1922 that the Northern Pacific agreed to joint freight rates with the WI&M.

Although the lumber company built the road and took stocks and bonds for their expenditure, there was no other connection between them until 1932 when the Inland Improvement Company, the holding company for the WI&M, was dissolved and its stock sold to Potlatch Forests, Inc., and the railway then became a wholly owned subsidiary of that company.

The carrier was incorporated March 10, 1905 under the general laws of the state of Maine, as the Washington, Idaho and Montana Railway Company. The original directors were Charles A. Weyerhaeuser, F.E. Weyerhaeuser, F.H. Thatcher, C.L. Andrews, and G.R. Hadlock. Andrews and Hadlock were residents of Maine and named directors for the purposes of incorporation; they resigned after the first directors' meeting and were replaced by O.R. Musser and William Musser. In a letter to F.E. Weyerhaeuser, dated Feb 27, 1905, F.E. Thatcher, president of the railway company, says, "Mr. Bell and I have canvassed this (the name) at considerable length and finally came to the conclusion to recommend Washington, Idaho & Montana Railway Company. We thought we ought to avoid the use of any local name which would suggest an industrial road, or a road connected with the Potlatch Lumber Company.... We incorporated the name Montana into the name because of the prevalent opinion in the West of a Missoula cut-off railway and because this road might be considered as the basis of a road from Missoula... " This letter also goes into details of the plans for incorporation and the naming of a permanent board of directors. The lawyer assisting the railway company in setting up the incorporation was William E. Borah.

Construction began in 1905 and by the end of the year twenty miles of track had been laid from Lairds, Washington, northwest of Palouse, to Harvard, Idaho. By the end of the following year the line had been completed to Bovill, the occasion for a special excursion train, and in 1908 the line was extended to Purdue, a provisional terminus which served to bring logs from Potlatch's Camp 8. The estimated cost of construction and equipment for the 46 miles of main line and ten miles of yard and side tracks was $1,147,882.00 for construction and $295,650.00 for equipment; the total actual cost to January 31, 1908 was $1,839,739.28 for construction and $326,439.99 for equipment, hence Bell's comment that everything had worked out as they thought except they spent more money than they had planned.

The original plans called for a later extension of the railroad eastward through the Clearwater country, across the Bitterroots into Montana, but two events altered these plans. Probably the major reason was the Milwaukee Road's branch line from St. Maries to Elk River which connected with the WI&M at Bovill. In January 1909 an agreement was drawn up between the Chicago, Milwaukee & Puget Sound and the Washington, Idaho & Montana railway companies for joint use of tracks at Bovill and division of rates. Another factor in the abandonment of the Montana extension was a 1910 forest fire along the North Fork of the Clearwater which destroyed much valuable timber.

On April 17, 1914, the railroad paid its first dividend of 3%, the second was paid in June 1914, a third in December 1914, a fourth on July 9, 1916, and the fifth dividend, paid June 13, 1916, was 6%. C.A. Weyerhaeuser, F.E. Weyerhaeuser, William Musser, R.D. Musser, and P.R. Thatcher owned one share each, the remaining 9,995 shares were held by the Inland Improvement Company, O.R. Musser, treasurer.

According to the Interstate Commerce Commission Valuation Docket no.228, 1925, the Washington, Idaho & Montana Railway is described as "a single-track standard gauge steam railroad located in the east-central part of Washington and the northern part of Idaho." The line extended in a eastwardly direction from Palouse, Washington. From Palouse it ascended along the Palouse River for about twenty-one miles, then, after crossing the Flat Creek Summit at an elevation of 2,871 feet, it followed the valley of the Potlatch River to Purdue, Idaho, a total of 49.336 miles, 3.281 in Washington and 46.055 in Idaho. The road connected with the Northern Pacific Railway Company and the Spokane & Inland Empire Electric Railroad at Palouse, and with the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul at Bovill.

Stations on the line included Wellesley, Princeton, Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Vassar, Cornell, and Purdue, giving rise to the tale that these stations were named by the young college men who surveyed the right of way and supervised the construction of the line. Except for Princeton, which had its name long before the railway was built, the story could well be true. The New Yorker of June 22, 1946 printed a time table (attributed to the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railway) showing these stations and headed the item, "Dept. of Higher Education (Choo-Choo Division)" (Reprinted in John B. Miller. The Trees Grew Tall, p. 62.).

On September 30, 1905, the first passenger car moved over the tracks when the private car of Frederick Weyerhaeuser, who was on his way to make an inspection tour of Potlatch town and mill site, was transferred to the WI&M line at Palouse. On Sunday, November 12, 1905, rail traffic service to Potlatch was formally opened when William Deary, W.W. Laird, and 500 guests took an excursion train from Palouse to Potlatch. The train consisted of one passenger car and three flat cars equipped with seats. The twelve mile trip took 42 minutes. On December 9 the first scheduled daily run, extending to Princeton, began.

In 1933, in order to reduce expenses and yet maintain dependable service, it was decided to replace the regular steam operated passenger service. To this end a Studebaker automobile was purchased from Potlatch Forests, Inc., rebuilt in the railroad shops, put on the tracks, and christened "The Bug." It made daily trips of about 120 miles carrying passengers, mail, and express until the end of 1937 when it was replaced by another specially built car, the streamlined "Potlatcher. " In March 1955 the government discontinued the mail contract, and this, coupled with a reduction in passenger traffic, resulted in the discontinuance of passenger train service and the retirement of the "Potlatcher".

Although the main purpose of the railway was hauling logs for Potlatch Lumber Company, it also provided a market outlet for the farmers of the area and carried a heavy tonnage of grain, vegetables, and livestock. It also renewed interest in the mining potential of the Palouse region. The railway hauled logs to the Potlatch mill, and transported lumber from the mill to the Milwaukee and Northern Pacific lines who transported it to its destination. A picture book put out by the Potlatch Lumber Company in 1907 shows a WI&M train of one hundred and four 41-foot long flat cars carrying 1,100,000 feet of logs.

The excellence of construction and close attention to necessary maintenance and repairs enabled the WI&M to rank with main lines in reliability and service. In 1930, in co-operation with PFI, the railway developed a method of protecting shipments of finished lumber from water and cinder damage by means of a paper tent. This innovation was so successful other railroads soon made inquiries about the method used for making these box car linings. In 1936 fourteen of the seventeen bridges on the line were rebuilt. The equipment at this time included five locomotives, two passenger coaches, fifteen standard box cars, 300 flat cars, a locomotive crane, a Woolery Railway Weed Burner, and other pieces of work equipment. The first diesel was purchased in 1950 and in 1960 equipment consisted of two diesels, sixty log flats, and two cabooses.

When construction of the railway began in 1905 the logging operations were only one mile from the Potlatch town site, but by 1960 they were thirty-seven miles away. On April 18, 1962, the Interstate Commerce Commission authorized acquisition of the Washington, Idaho & Montana Railway Company by the Milwaukee Land Company, a subsidiary of the Milwaukee Road. Under an agreement dated August 14, 1961, the Milwaukee Land Company paid Potlatch Forests, Inc. $460.000 for all WI&M stock. (Moody's T ransportation Manual, 1966. New York: Moody's Investment Service, 1966, p. 90.) In spite of the transfer of ownership, the WI&M continued to operate under its own name until 1980. When the Milwaukee Road was sold in 1980 the Burlington Northern Railroad purchased a portion of the road in Washington and Idaho which included the Washington Idaho & Montana line.

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Content Description

The business records of the Washington, Idaho and Montana Railway Company were donated to the Latah County Historical Society in 1981 by the company. Through a cooperative agreement between the Historical Society and the University of Idaho, they are now housed in the University Library. Preliminary organization of the records was done by Evelyn Rodewald, an employee of the Society working under an Association for the Humanities in Idaho cataloguing grant. The final arrangement was done by Judith Nielsen of the Library staff, whose job is preparing inventories of the university archival collections.

The material contains a complete record of the railway from the 1903 engineer's report on possible routes, to 1962 when ownership of the WI&M passed to the Milwaukee Land Company. It should be noted that material for the years after 1950 is, for some reason, very sparse.

The types of material in the numbered folders in the office file include general correspondence, tariffs (both passenger and freight), express contracts, mail contracts, agreements with highway and utility departments, leases, agency transfer records, labor agreements with employees agreements with other railroads, and tax and insurance records. The remaining material consists of financial ledgers and journals, vouchers, annual reports to the Interstate Commerce Commission and utilities and tax commissions in Idaho and Washington, appraisals and valuation reports, employee records including time cards and cancelled pay roll checks, and a collection of maps and blueprints.

This is a very important collection of material for those interested in railroading since it is a complete record of the operations of a small railway line in Latah County, Idaho, and also for those interested in Potlatch Forests, Inc., or the Weyerhaeuser conglomerate since the WI&M was built by and eventually became a subsidiary of the Potlatch Corporation.

The following Description of Series contains a more detailed analysis of the material contained in this collection.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

When the material was brought to the University of Idaho Library it consisted of drawers of numbered folders, boxes of vouchers, many bound ledgers, boxes of miscellaneous material and a plastic bag of maps and blueprints. It was decided to leave the folders in numerical order when they were transferred to archival file boxes since a subject key to the system was available. Some folders which did not have numbers and did not correspond to the key were placed at the end of the numbered folders and numbered arbitrarily. Some of the folders mentioned in the key were missing from the material received.

The financial material was dealt with next. The vouchers were separated by kind (construction, sight draft, and distribution) and placed in chronological order in small file boxes. Journals and ledgers were arranged by type and placed in chronological order. The annual reports were separated by agency and arranged chronologically. Appraisal and valuation records were placed with the financial material.

The maps and blueprints retain their original numbering since a key to this system is also available. The remaining material was placed in a miscellaneous series.

Bibliography

Beal, Merrill D. Intermountain Railroads, Standard and Narrow Gauge. Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton Printers, 1972.

Bilger, Harry Edward. "A History of Railroads in Idaho." (Unpublished Master of Arts Thesis, University of Idaho) 1969.

Gamble, W.J. Railroad Man: A Conversation with W.J. Gamble, Washington, Idaho & Montana Railway Co. Moscow, Idaho: Latah County Historical Society, 1981.

Hidy, Ralph W., Frank Ernest Hill, and Allan Nevins. Timber and Men, the Weyerhaeuser Story. New York: Macmillan, 1963.

Miller, John B. The Trees Grew Tall. Moscow, Idaho: News-Review Pub. Co., 1972.

Moody's Transportation Manual, 1966. New York: Moody's Investment Service, 1966.

Potlatch Lumber Company. Potlatch, Idaho. Spokane, F.D. Straffin, 1907.

U.S. Interstate Commerce Commission. Valuation Docket No.228, Washington, Idaho & Montana Railway Company. Government Printing Office, 1925.

"W.I.&M. Ry. Co." The Potlatch Story, Sept. 1960, Pp. 8-11.

Washington, Idaho & Montana Railway Company Records, University of Idaho Library.

"Yesterday: The Story of Potlatch and the Surrounding Area." Compiled by the Sophomore English Class, Potlatch Junior-Senior High School, 1973?

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Series I. Office Files

    This series contains a variety of material including correspondence between officials of the WI&M, letters to other railroads and government agencies, reports, pamphlets, mimeographed material from several railroad associations, insurance and tax material, mail and express contracts and passenger and freight tariffs.

    Folders numbered 1-313 retain their original numbers; folder 314 was originally numbered 350 but was renumbered for the sake of continuity. The material which was not in numbered folders was sorted by subject and folder numbers were assigned arbitrarily. Material in legal size folders is boxed separately from the material in letter size folders. Boxes 1-11 contain the letter size folders, boxes 12-14 the legal size. Folders 333 and 334 are in small file boxes numbered 15 and 16 respectively. It should be mentioned that some of the original folders are missing.

    The numerical list, which also contains a brief description of the folder contents, is followed by a subject index which is based on the key to the filing system which accompanied the collection, although additional subjects were added for material not originally in the numbered folders. The original key to the filing system will be found in box 439.

    In the Numerical List of Office Files, an asterisk preceding the folder number indicates that the material is in a legal size folder.

    • Description: Shop Expense, 1928: Letter from W.J. Gamble to A.W. Laird, February 20, 1929.
      Container: Folder 100
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Passenger Tariffs, Local: Published fares for car and special excursion trips
      Dates: 1906-1954.
      Container: Folder 101
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Freight Tariffs: Published rates
      Dates: 1906-1960.
      Container: Folder 102
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: American Shortline Railroad Association: Statistical reports, lists of members, general correspondence, minutes of board of directors meetings, federal legislative programs, and financial statements
      Dates: 1910-1951.
      Container: Folder 103
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Absorption of unpaid checks: Several lists of checks issued but not cashed
      Dates: 1905-1925.
      Container: Folder 104
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: American Railway Association: Correspondence and circulars
      Dates: 1911-1962.
      Container: Folder 105
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Association of American Railroads - Freight Claim Division: Correspondence and forms
      Dates: 1907-1937; 1961.
      Container: Folder 106
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Railway Accounting Officers Association: Correspondence
      Dates: 1911-1928.
      Container: Folder 107
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Taggartville, Idaho, Incorporation of: Correspondence and list of the boundaries of Deep Creek Junction
      Dates: 1947.
      Container: Folder 108
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Applications for Employment: Three letters

      See also Folder 142

      Dates: 1915 and 1931
      Container: Folder 109
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Crossings & Signals, Public and Private: Maps, USDL Bureau of Public Roads publications, hearing for signals in Palouse
      Dates: 1914-1947.
      Container: Folder 110
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Palouse, Washington - Accounts and Agency: Correspondence
      Dates: 1909-1925
      Container: Folder 111
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Palouse, Washington - Accounts and Agency: Agency transfer records
      Dates: 1907-1919; 1933-1946
      Container: Folder *111
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Potlatch, Idaho - Accounts and Agency: Correspondence
      Dates: 1909-1953
      Container: Folder 112
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Potlatch, Idaho - Accounts and Agency: Agency transfer records
      Dates: 1909-1946
      Container: Folder 112
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Princeton, Idaho - Accounts and Agency: Correspondence

      including some letters relative to the: sale of the depot

      Dates: 1907-1942
      Container: Folder 113
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Princeton, Idaho - Accounts and Agency: Agency transfer records
      Dates: 1907-1927
      Container: Folder *113
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Harvard, Idaho - Accounts and Agency: Correspondence
      Dates: 1913-1914
      Container: Folder 114
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Harvard, Idaho - Accounts and Agency: Agency transfer records, 1907-1936; petition to close agency, 1936
      Container: Folder *114
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Deary, Idaho - Accounts and Agency: Correspondence, 1912-1937; petition against agent, 1923
      Container: Folder 115
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Deary, Idaho - Accounts and Agency: Agency transfer records
      Dates: 1907-1927; 1933-1947
      Container: Folder *115
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Bovill, Idaho - Accounts and Agency: Correspondence, 1911-1956; telephone lease with Interstate Utilities Co., July 2, 1923
      Container: Folder 116
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Bovill, Idaho - Accounts and Agency: Agency transfer records and audit records
      Dates: 1909-1953
      Container: Folder *116
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Full Crew Law: Correspondence and legislation
      Dates: 1916, 1931-1939
      Container: Folder 117
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Paving, Palouse: Map of area paved and correspondence regarding WI&M assessment
      Dates: 1916
      Container: Folder 118
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Distribution of Cars: Correspondence
      Dates: 1916, 1932, 1937
      Container: Folder 119
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Elberton Extension Estimates: Correspondence
      Dates: 1907-1916
      Container: Folder 120
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Child Labor Laws: Correspondence and Department of Labor publications
      Container: Folder 121
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Bulletins and Rules: Typed notices sent to agents, engineers, trainmen and conductors
      Dates: 1915-1930.
      Container: Folder 122
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Time Zones: Three Interstate Commerce Commission decisions
      Container: Folder 123
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Locomotive Brick Arches: Correspondence, blueprints, and three booklets
      Container: Folder 124
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Fruit and Vegetable Reporting: Correspondence, reports and publications of the Dept. of Agriculture
      Container: Folder 125
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Routing of Cars - Great Northern: Correspondence
      Dates: 1919-1929
      Container: Folder 126
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Routing of Cars - Northern Pacific: Correspondence
      Dates: 1921-1936
      Container: Folder 127
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Routing of Cars - Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul: Correspondence
      Dates: 1917-1940
      Container: Folder 128
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Locomotive Inspection Reports - ICC: Reports for the Years 1924-1953
      Dates: 1924-1953
      Container: Folder 129
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Car Inspection Reports - ICC: Reports for the years 1922-1962
      Dates: 1922-1962
      Container: Folder 130
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Fuel Oil: Contracts and correspondence
      Dates: 1924-1960
      Container: Folder 132
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Examination of Employees on Rules: Thirty-one written examinations
      Dates: 1909-1950
      Container: Folder *133
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Employee Fidelity Bonds: Correspondence
      Dates: 1908-1951
      Container: Folder 134
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Hours of Service Reports, employees: ICC reports
      Dates: 1939-1960
      Container: Folder 135
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Weights of Logs: Correspondence and records of weights
      Dates: Jan. 27-Feb. 5, 1916
      Container: Folder 136
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Purchasing Agent: Correspondence
      Dates: 1911-1940
      Container: Folder 137
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Pulp Wood: Correspondence relating to loading and hauling
      Dates: 1920-1946
      Container: Folder 138
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Agent at Eastport , Idaho: Correspondence regarding an agent to represent the railway at customs
      Dates: 1911 and 1945.
      Container: Folder 139
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Pole Line Agreements: Three agreements for wire crossings

      See also folder 296

      Dates: 1911, 1941, 1932
      Container: Folder 140
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Tariff Index and Directory: Correspondence

      This complements the material in folders 101 & 102

      Dates: 1912-1950
      Container: Folder 141
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Applications for Positions: Correspondence

      See also folder 109

      Dates: 1928-1949
      Container: Folder 142
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Applications for Positions: Printed application forms
      Container: Folder *142
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Annual Passes: Correspondence and lists of those holding passes

      See also Railway Pass ledgers in Series III.

      Dates: 1907-1946
      Container: Folder 143
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Mail cars: Description of WI&M cars and Post Office specifications
      Dates: 1912
      Container: Folder 144
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Idaho. Corporation License and Annual Statement: Correspondence, 1904-1957; Annual Statement, 1909-1950
      Container: Folder 145
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Releases: Two releases, one involving an accident case
      Dates: 1908 & 1933
      Container: Folder 146
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Lost Baggage of P.O. Gallert: Correspondence
      Dates: January - April, 1910
      Container: Folder 147
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Routing of Traffic: Correspondence
      Dates: 1928-1946
      Container: Folder 148
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Debt to Potlatch Lumber Company: Correspondence

      See also folders 331 & 332

      Dates: 1905-1950
      Container: Folder 149
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Deary Townsite Company: Correspondence
      Dates: 1908
      Container: Folder 150
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Reclaim on Per Diem: Correspondence
      Dates: 1923-1928
      Container: Folder 151
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Federal Control Claims - American Short Line Railroad Association: Correspondence regarding losses suffered due to Federal control of railroad
      Dates: 1918-1921
      Container: Folder 152
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Thomas M. Brown - Injury Payment: Correspondence
      Dates: 1908
      Container: Folder 153
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Federal Control Claims - Elmquist: Correspondence with Charles Elmquist regarding the filing of claims under section 204 of the Federal Transportation Act of 1920
      Dates: 1921-1923
      Container: Folder 154
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Federal Control Claims - U.S. Railroad Administration: Correspondence
      Dates: 1920-1924
      Container: Folder 155
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Federal Control Claims - Interstate Commerce Commission

      ICC publication on the construction of the word "Deficit" as used in section 204 of the Transportation Act of 1920, ICC forms for declaring deficit, and correspondence

      Dates: 1920-1924
      Container: Folder 156
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Federal Control Claims - Hearings: Correspondence

      documents relating to the Washington, Idaho & Montana Railway Co. vs. the Director General of Railroads.

      Dates: 1918-1926
      Container: Folder 157
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Census of Manufactures: Reports
      Dates: 1909-1935
      Container: Folder 158
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Audit Office Circulars: Circulars issued by WI&M auditor to all agents containing a variety of instructions
      Dates: 1906-1942
      Container: Folder 159
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Steel Rail: Correspondence

      2 blueprints from Colorado Fuel & Iron Co.

      Dates: 1905-1944
      Container: Folder 160
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Roslyn Fuel Company: Correspondence regarding weights
      Dates: 1911-1919
      Container: Folder 161
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Washington. Department of Public Works: Official notices & orders, 1921-1950; correspondence, 1907-1921
      Container: Folder 162
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Covert House, Sale of: Letter from A.W. Laird to J.R. Scott
      Container: Folder 163
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Palouse, Washington - Cooperation: Correspondence dealing with cooperation between WI&M and Great Northern and Northern Pacific in railway matters
      Dates: 1915-1946
      Container: Folder 164
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Bovill, Idaho - Cooperation: Correspondence pertaining to cooperation between WI&M and Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific
      Dates: 1918-1950
      Container: Folder 165
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Ballast: Cost of work, 1915 & 1916; contract with Carl Nyberg for ballast work, 1929; invoices for car rental from Northern Pacific, 1930
      Container: Folder 166
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Taxes. Associated Taxpayers of Idaho and Chamber of Commerce: Circulars
      Dates: 1941-1948
      Container: Folder 167-A
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Taxes. North Idaho Forestry Association: Circular letters dealing with assessed values of logs
      Dates: 1933-1950
      Container: Folder 167-B
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Taxes. Miscellaneous

      Tax on transportation charges, 1921; stamp tax, 1914; Miscellaneous: correspondence and newspaper clippings

      Container: Folder 167-C
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Taxes. Federal - Employees' Withholding Statements
      Dates: 1943-1950
      Container: Folder 167-D
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Taxes. Federal - Employer's Quarterly Return
      Dates: 1950-1954
      Container: Folder 167-B
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Taxes. Federal - Capital Stock Returns
      Dates: 1916-1926; 1933-1945
      Container: Folder 167-F
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Taxes. Federal - Claims for Refunds
      Dates: 1937-1943
      Container: Folder 167-G
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Taxes. Federal - Transportation Tax
      Dates: 1950-1951
      Container: Folder 167-H
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Taxes. Idaho - General

      Minutes of Assessors Conventions, 1943-1946; resumes of proceedings: of meetings of the Idaho State Tax Committee; protest of WI&M to State Board of Equalization, 1934-1935

      Container: Folder 167-I
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Taxes. Idaho - Railroad Taxes: Forms for taxes paid plus printed recapitulation of taxes paid by all railroads
      Dates: 1935-1949
      Container: Folder 167-J
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Taxes. Idaho - Sales Tax: Forms

      Plus two booklets dealing with sales tax regulations

      Dates: 1935 & 1936
      Container: Folder 167-K
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Taxes. Idaho - Employee Withholding Statements
      Dates: 1932-1950
      Container: Folder 167-L
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Taxes. Idaho - Refund: Forms and exhibits for claims for refund on Idaho State Corporation: Income Tax paid
      Dates: 1938 and 1939
      Container: Folder 167-M
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Taxes. Idaho. Latah County

      Correspondence, 1907-1944; property tax forms, 1955-1960; charts of various taxes paid, 1930-1942

      Container: Folder 167-N
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Taxes. Washington - Railroad Tax

      Forms, 1935-1939; recapitulation, 1935-1943, 1955, 1957

      Container: Folder 167-0
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Taxes. Washington - Excise Tax Division

      Correspondence, 1935-1937; tax forms, 1933-1952

      Container: Folder 167-P
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Taxes. Washington. Whitman County: Real estate taxes
      Dates: 1954-1962
      Container: Folder 167-Q
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Taxes.

      Summary: Statements showing various taxes paid, 1930-1940; Board of Investigation and Research Tax Report on Washington, Idaho & Montana Railway, 1942.

      Container: Folder 167-R
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Coal: Correspondence regarding coal purchased from Tuffli Brothers Pig Iron & Coke Company
      Dates: 1950
      Container: Folder 168
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Bridge Foreman: Correspondence concerning repairs to bridges, trestles, etc.
      Dates: 1915-1917
      Container: Folder 169
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Concurrences & Power of Attorney
      Dates: 1926-1943
      Container: Folder 170-A
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Concurrences & Power of Attorney: Form FA2
      Container: Folder 170-B
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Concurrences & Power of Attorney: Form FX
      Container: Folder 170-C
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Concurrences & Power of Attorney: Form PA (CRCPA)
      Container: Folder 170-D
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Concurrences & Power of Attorney: Form PX
      Container: Folder 170-E
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Letters of Transmittal: Form letters to the IOC, Public Utilities Commission of Idaho, and Washington Dept. of Public Service transmitting tariffs
      Dates: 1906-1949
      Container: Folder 171
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Thatcher-Deary Correspondence: Letters between F.H. Thatcher and William Deary
      Dates: 1906
      Container: Folder 172
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Adding Machines - Office: Correspondence regarding the purchase and repair of comptometers and calculators
      Dates: 1907-1937
      Container: Folder 173
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Section Houses

      Cost of building section houses in Potlatch, Deary, & Bovill; notes on section boundaries, correspondence relating to the purchase of land for a section house near Princeton

      Container: Folder *174
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Audit of Interline Accounts: Correspondence with outside auditor
      Dates: 1928-1931
      Container: Folder 175
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Lease of Building in Deary: Correspondence with Latah County Grain Growers
      Dates: 1951
      Container: Folder 176
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Depreciation of Equipment: Correspondence and charts dealing with depreciation of railroad cars and engines
      Dates: 1908-1951
      Container: Folder 177
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Taxes. Maine - Annual Corporation Franchise Tax

      (1918-1921 are in folder *331 - WI&M organizational records, capital stock material)

      Dates: 1922-1953
      Container: Folder 178
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Transit Lumber: Correspondence on rates and transit privilege; monthly statements
      Dates: 1931-1950
      Container: Folder 179
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Divisions: Correspondence dealing with percentages of rates due to each carrier for goods shipped over their roads. Folders are arranged by carrier.
      Container: Folder 180
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Canadian Pacific Railway Company
      Dates: 1908-1939
      Container: Folder 180-A
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway
      Dates: 1910-1950
      Container: Folder 180-B
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Great Northern Railway Company
      Dates: 1922-1948
      Container: Folder 180-C
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: North Pacific Coast Freight Bureau
      Dates: 1931-1950
      Container: Folder 180-D
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Northern Pacific Railway Company
      Dates: 1919-1951
      Container: Folder 180-B
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Spokane International Railway Co.
      Dates: 1909-1922
      Container: Folder 180-F
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway Co.
      Dates: 1915-1927
      Container: Folder 180-G
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Union Pacific Railroad Company
      Dates: 1923-1946
      Container: Folder 180-H
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Miscellaneous

      Including Columbia & Cowlitz Ry. Co., Trans-Continental Freight Bureau, Western Pacific Railroad, Spokane, Coeur d'Alene and Palouse Railway Co., Carnegie Steel Co., Standard Steel Works, Nezperce and Idaho Railroad Co., American Short Line Railroad Assoc., and Interstate Commerce Commission.

      Container: Folder 180-I
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Rate Increase (ICC Order Ex Parte No. 103)

      Correspondence and printed copies of hearings before the ICC and other ICC documents relating to the 15% rate increase

      Dates: 1931-1933
      Container: Folder *181
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Allison White Laird: Letters written by Laird, two newspaper articles on his death and funeral, and the formal notice of his death sent by WI&M
      Container: Folder 182
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Cedar Pole Yard, Bovill: Correspondence regarding the Chapin pole yard tracks
      Dates: 1912-1936
      Container: Folder 183
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Restricted Transit Arrangements on Logs: ICC printed material
      Dates: 1930
      Container: Folder *183
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Water Supply

      Correspondence and reports on the inspection of WI&M water supply, 1921-1956, Public Health Service publications, and correspondence regarding the replacement and use of water tanks in Potlatch, Vassar, & Bovill, 1917-1930

      Container: Folder 184
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Official Railway Equipment Register: Correspondence regarding representation in the publication
      Dates: 1909-1946
      Container: Folder 185
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Equipment: Lists of WI&M equipment, records of maintenance
      Dates: 1907-1950
      Container: Folder 186
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Express Company Agreements: Contracts, correspondence, settlement sheets with Wells Fargo and American Railway Express
      Dates: 1910-1952
      Container: Folder 187
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Fairmont Railway Motors, Inc: Correspondence regarding the purchase of equipment
      Dates: 1921-1945
      Container: Folder 188
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Special Trains: Itineraries and notices of special excursion trains
      Dates: 1907-1937
      Container: Folder 189
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Scale Weight Tests: Tests conducted by Trans-Continental Freight Bureau and Washington: State Public Service Commission
      Dates: 1916-1950
      Container: Folder 190
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Weed Control: Correspondence with and two manuals from Woolery Machine Co; contracts with Latah County for weed control
      Dates: 1925-1950
      Container: Folder 191
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Bureau of Explosives: Correspondence and inspection reports
      Dates: 1918-1957
      Container: Folder 192
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Passenger Fares

      Correspondence and tariffs. Arranged by railroad

      Container: Folder 193
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
      Dates: 1910-1919.
      Container: Folder 193-A
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Great Northern
      Dates: 1912-1916.
      Container: Folder 193-B
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Northern Pacific
      Dates: 1912-1928.
      Container: Folder 193-C
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Oregon-Washington Railroad & Navigation Company
      Dates: 1912-1919.
      Container: Folder 193-D
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway Co.
      Dates: 1912-1915
      Container: Folder 193-E
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Spokane & Inland Empire Railroad Co.
      Dates: 1911-1919.
      Container: Folder 193-F
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Western Passenger Association and Western Military Bureau
      Dates: 1933-1942.
      Container: Folder 193-G
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Signals. Annual Reports to the ICC: Printed forms
      Dates: 1938-1962
      Container: Folder 194
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Flat Cars: Correspondence regarding delivery of cars from American Car and Foundry: Company
      Dates: 1907-1908
      Container: Folder 195
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Sale of Railway Cars to Potlatch Lumber Co: List of car numbers
      Dates: 1910
      Container: Folder 197
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Joint Freight Rates

      Correspondence & tariffs. Folders arranged by railway company

      Container: Folder 199
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Legal Correspondence
      Dates: 1920-1921.
      Container: Folder 199-A
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Canadian Railways
      Dates: 1917-1936.
      Container: Folder 199-B
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
      Dates: 1915-1950.
      Container: Folder 199-C
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Great Northern
      Dates: 1915-1944.
      Container: Folder 199-D
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: North Pacific Coast Freight Bureau
      Dates: 1927-1951.
      Container: Folder 199-B
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Northern Pacific Railway Co.
      Dates: 1913-1949.
      Container: Folder 199-P
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Oregon-Washington Railroad and Navigation Co.
      Dates: 1913-1927.
      Container: Folder 199-G
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Spokane & Inland Empire Railroad Co.
      Dates: 1909-1924
      Container: Folder 199-H
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Spokane International Railway Co.
      Dates: 1913-1923
      Container: Folder 199-I
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway Co.
      Dates: 1914-1926.
      Container: Folder 199-J
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Potlatch Lumber Company Tracks: Correspondence regarding repair of the tracks
      Dates: 1929 and 1935.
      Container: Folder 200
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: National Railway Publication Company: Correspondence regarding the Official Guide
      Dates: 1907-1947
      Container: Folder 201
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Closing of Depots

      Correspondence dealing with the closing of Helmer (1929), Princeton (1933), Harvard (1946), and Deary (1946)

      Container: Folder 202
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Listings in Guides: Correspondence with various railway guides
      Dates: 1908-1912
      Container: Folder 203
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Insurance. Blanket Liability: Two policies from Indemnity Insurance Company of North America
      Dates: 1950, 1951
      Container: Folder 204-A
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Insurance. Group Disability: Correspondence and policies, West Coast Life Insurance Co.
      Dates: 1927-1931
      Container: Folder 204-B
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Insurance. Hospital Contracts
      Dates: 1917-1944
      Container: Folder *204-C
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Insurance. Liability - Payroll Reports. Quarterly Reports
      Dates: 1933-1958
      Container: Folder 204-D
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Insurance. Liability - Correspondence: Correspondence with Idaho Self Insurers and Idaho Compensation Co: Also includes safety code and inspection reports
      Dates: 1938-1950
      Container: Folder 204-E
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Insurance. Property Damage Claims: Correspondence concerning livestock killed on the railway lines
      Dates: 1944-1948
      Container: Folder 204-F
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Insurance. Railroad Employee Injury and Disease Study: Correspondence and forms from Railroad Retirement Board
      Dates: 1941-1949
      Container: Folder 204-G
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Insurance. Workmen's Compensation: Policies and correspondence

      Publications, including the Idaho Workmen's Compensation law

      Dates: 1920-1929
      Container: Folder *204-H
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Heating of Offices: Correspondence regarding the cost of heating office and depot in Potlatch
      Dates: 1907, 1923
      Container: Folder 205
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Motor Bus and Truck Data

      Cost of operating passenger trains & electric car, 1916; records of hearings, Lewiston Storage & Transfer Co., 1928; Union Pacific Stages, 1936; H.E. Emerson, 1938; ICC Docket 18300, Motor Bus & Motor Truck Op eration, 1928

      Container: Folder 206
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Lumber Damaged by Fire: Insurance report on fire in PFI lumber car in the CPR yard at Cranbrook, B.C.
      Dates: Aug. 1929
      Container: Folder 207
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Consolidation of Railroads: American Short Line Railroad Association circular letters
      Dates: 1927-1938
      Container: Folder 208
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Consolidation of Railroads

      Correspondence and legal papers dealing with mergers affecting WI&M, including the proposed Great Northern, Northern Pacific, and Burlington merger in 1927. Other material dated 1922-1927

      Container: Folder *208
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Interstate Commerce Commission. Bureau of Accounts: Correspondence regarding accounting procedures and ICC examination of WI&M books

      See also folder 214

      Dates: 1907-1960
      Container: Folder 210
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Interstate Commerce Commission Monthly Reports: Correspondence dealing with the filing of monthly reports of revenues and expenses
      Dates: 1906-1914
      Container: Folder 211
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Interstate Commerce Commission. Special Reports: Correspondence and reports
      Dates: 1908-1926
      Container: Folder 212
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Interstate Commerce Commission. Bureau of Tariffs: Correspondence
      Dates: 1907-1954
      Container: Folder 213
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Interstate Commerce Commission. Accounting Exceptions: Correspondence regarding necessary changes in WI&M accounting procedures

      See also folder 210

      Dates: 1912-1921
      Container: Folder 214
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Electric Tax Exemption: Typed forms
      Dates: 1932
      Container: Folder *215
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Inventory of Materials and Supplies

      Inventory of supplies transferred to Potlatch Forests, Inc.

      Dates: June 1, 1932
      Container: Folder *216
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Spur Tracks: Correspondence
      Dates: 1912-1950
      Container: Folder 217
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Liability Insurance. Pay Roll Report: Monthly report to London Guarantee and Accident Co.
      Dates: 1907-1917
      Container: Folder 219
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Interline Billing Instructions: Correspondence
      Dates: 1908-1931
      Container: Folder 220
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Interline Joint Freight Accounts

      Correspondence, 1908-1914; waybills forwarded, 1962

      Container: Folder 221
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Fire Insurance

      Correspondence, inspection reports, 1925-1960; policies, 1951-1962 (Policies for 1920-1928 are in box 7-A)

      Container: Folder 222
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Physical Examination of Employees

      Correspondence with CM&STP and N.P. regarding forms used, 1928; American Railway Association rules on classification of new employees.

      Container: Folder 223
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Land Sales: Correspondence, right of way deeds, maps, quit claim deeds for sales: of WI&M land
      Dates: 1915-1944
      Container: Folder 224
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Leasing of Land: Correspondence regarding the leasing of WI&M land and warehouses

      See also folder 237

      Container: Folder 225
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Leasing of Land: Leases for land and warehouses in Bovill, Deary, Harvard, Palouse, Potlatch, Princeton, Vassar, & Wellesley
      Dates: 1908-1945
      Container: Folder *225
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Open and Prepay Stations: Correspondence regarding submitting lists of stations for official publications
      Dates: 1908-1916
      Container: Folder 226
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Interline Balances

      Bank Drafts: Instruction book on preparing balances and drafts 228-A. U.S. Mail. Post Office Department: Correspondence, reports of side and transfer service, rules, and the establishment of service on the WI&M, 1906-1953

      Container: Folder 227
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: U.S. Mail. Capacity Tests: Post Office Circular letters
      Dates: 1921-1951
      Container: Folder 228-B
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: U.S. Mail. American Short Line Railroad Association: Correspondence
      Dates: 1933-1948
      Container: Folder 228-C
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: U.S. Mail. Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Co: Correspondence concerning cooperation in handling mail at Bovill
      Dates: 1921-1923
      Container: Folder 228-D
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: U.S. Mail. Mail Pay

      Correspondence and documents relating to ICC hearings, 1916-1952: Public Law 169, Post Office allocation for 1916.

      Container: Folder 228-E
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: U.S. Mail. Railway Mail Service: Correspondence dealing with failure to deliver mail, misdelivery and service in general
      Dates: 1915-1948
      Container: Folder 228-F
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: U.S. Mail. Report of Service Performed: Standard reports
      Dates: 1917-1951
      Container: Folder *228-G
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Paper Tent Protection: Correspondence dealing with WI&M's use of paper tents to protect lumber shipments
      Dates: 1930-1941
      Container: Folder 229
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Valuation: Correspondence and forms dealing with the ICC valuation of WI&M property

      See also boxes 422-423 for printed reports

      Dates: 1916-1938
      Container: Folder 230
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Treated Ties: Invoices for green ties and estimates for treatment
      Dates: 1951-1953
      Container: Folder 231
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Company: Correspondence regarding joint WI&M & PT&T business
      Dates: 1906-1923
      Container: Folder 232
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Pass Issuing Authority: Correspondence with the Interstate Commerce Commission
      Dates: 1926-1952
      Container: Folder 233
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Printing of Time Tables: Correspondence with printers
      Dates: 1915-1931
      Container: Folder 234
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Pass Rules: Correspondence and circular letters from American Short Line Railroad Association regarding ICC rules for the issuance of passes
      Dates: 1912-1961
      Container: Folder 235
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Group Life Insurance: Correspondence and information on continuing insurance after employee retirement
      Dates: 1937-1946
      Container: Folder 236
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Leasing of Warehouses and Property: Correspondence

      See also folder 225

      Dates: 1906-1943
      Container: Folder 237
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Strikes & Federal Control

      Circular letters from American Short Line Railroad Association and Association of American Railroads dealing with threatened railroad and coal strikes in 1944 and 1946 and the Federal control of railroads in December 1943 due to a threatened strike

      Container: Folder 238
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Labor Agreements: Agreements with Lumber & Sawmill Workers Union & employees
      Dates: 1939-1975
      Container: Folder 239
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Officers of Washington, Idaho & Montana Railway Co: Several lists of officers and directors and a record of the transfer of stock from Inland Improvement Company to PFI
      Dates: 1921-1948
      Container: Folder 240
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Requests for Rates: Correspondence
      Dates: 1907-1938
      Container: Folder 241
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Freight Rate on Ties: Correspondence with Northern Pacific Railway Co.
      Dates: 1908
      Container: Folder 242
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Land Grant Equalization Agreement: Correspondence with and circulars from the War Department
      Dates: 1932-1946
      Container: Folder 243
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Henry Foss Case: Correspondence related to the dismissal of a conductor
      Dates: 1923
      Container: Folder 244
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Statutory Agent

      Documents relating to statutory agencies in Idaho, 1909, and Washington, 1917

      Container: Folder 245
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Taxes. Washington. Corporation: Receipts and corporation licenses
      Dates: 1932-1959
      Container: Folder 246
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Log Shipments to Lewiston: Correspondence regarding cooperation between WI&M and Northern Pacific
      Dates: 1932
      Container: Folder 247
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Prospective changes in Tariffs: Correspondence with ICC and printers
      Dates: 1923-1962
      Container: Folder 249
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: American Short Line Railroad Association. Wages and Rates: Circular letters
      Dates: 1934-1951
      Container: Folder 250
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Accidents. Reports and Claims: Correspondence, reports, photographs
      Dates: 1926-1960
      Container: Folder 251-A
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Accidents. Yale Washout: Detailed insurance report, including photographs, of a washout
      Dates: February 14, 1961
      Container: Folder 251-B
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Tie Plates: Correspondence and blueprints
      Dates: 1920-1953
      Container: Folder 252
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Salary Changes: Correspondence, lists of salary changes
      Dates: 1907-1946
      Container: Folder 253
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Switching Settlements: Correspondence on a proposed plan
      Dates: 1929
      Container: Folder 254
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Federal Suits. ICC Violations: Violations of ICC rules
      Dates: 1915 and 1940
      Container: Folder *255
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Receipt and Delivery of Intoxicating Liquor: Correspondence
      Dates: 1911-1915
      Container: Folder 256
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Liquor Permits: Circular letters and carrier permits issued by the U.S. Treasury Department
      Dates: 1919-1925
      Container: Folder 257
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Annual Statements
      Dates: 1910-1912; 1924-1939; 1940-1944; 1947
      Container: Folder *258
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Northern Pacific Freight Charges at Palouse: Correspondence, freight bills
      Dates: 1905-1907
      Container: Folder 261
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Valuation Protest: Legal documents filed with the ICC
      Dates: 1922
      Container: Folder 262
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Betterment Work, Cost of: List from WI&M accounting department
      Dates: Dec. 31, 1915
      Container: Folder 272
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Western Union Telegraph Company: Correspondence concerning joint business, rates & equipment
      Dates: 1919-1932
      Container: Folder 281
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Demurrage and Storage Tariffs: Correspondence
      Dates: 1917-1942
      Container: Folder 282
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: American Association of Railroad Superintendents: Correspondence concerning membership
      Dates: 1916
      Container: Folder 283
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Federal Control of Railroads: Correspondence
      Dates: 1918, 1950
      Container: Folder 284
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Liberty and Victory Bonds: Correspondence
      Dates: 1918-1950
      Container: Folder 285
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Baggage Tariff: Correspondence and circular letters
      Dates: 1918, 1938
      Container: Folder 286
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Audits of WI&M Books: Audit reports
      Dates: 1915-1935
      Container: Folder 287
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: AB Brake Reports to the Association of American Railroads
      Dates: 1930-1953
      Container: Folder 288
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Idaho Tax on Motor Fuel: Correspondence
      Dates: 1923-1934
      Container: Folder 289
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Fire in Potlatch Depot: Correspondence
      Dates: 1923
      Container: Folder 290
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Longview, Portland & Northern Railway Co: Miscellaneous Correspondence
      Dates: 1923-1925
      Container: Folder 291
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Destruction of Records: ICC regulations governing the destruction and/or retention of railway records
      Dates: 1912-1957
      Container: Folder 292
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Petitions for Rate Increases: Correspondence and ICC publications
      Dates: 1920-1957
      Container: Folder 293
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Uniform Livestock Contract: Correspondence with Northern Pacific Railroad
      Dates: 1929
      Container: Folder 294
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Car Loading and Service Rules: Circular letters
      Dates: 1930-1950
      Container: Folder 295
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Electric Power Line Crossings: Correspondence, plans

      See also folder 140

      Dates: 1932-1954
      Container: Folder *296
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Potlatch Forests, Inc. Log Cars: Correspondence with Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad concerning demurrage on PFI cars
      Dates: 1937
      Container: Folder 297
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Notary Public: Correspondence regarding the appointment of J.R. Scott
      Dates: 1933
      Container: Folder 298
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Estimated Budgets: Estimated Revenues & Expenses Budgets and Bank Balance Schedules
      Dates: 1934-1955
      Container: Folder 299
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Sale of Scrap: Correspondence, bills of lading, invoices
      Dates: 1933-1959
      Container: Folder 300
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Palouse Flood and Train Speed: Correspondence relating to flood damage to WI&M property in Palouse, 1948; document fixing train speeds in Palouse, 1952
      Container: Folder 301
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Safety Codes: Various safety codes and National Safety Council Material
      Dates: 1937-1950
      Container: Folder *302
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Damaged Freight: Correspondence concerning damage to furniture, lumber, etc.
      Dates: 1935-1941
      Container: Folder 303
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: General Timber Service Agreements: Agreements on insurance and machine maintenance
      Dates: 1947
      Container: Folder 304
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Pres-to-Log Cars: Correspondence regarding two rebuilt box cars owned by PFI
      Dates: 1935-1941
      Container: Folder 305
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Unemployment Compensation. Federal: Copies of law, tax returns, circular letters
      Dates: 1936-1939
      Container: Folder 306-A
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Unemployment Compensation. Idaho: Correspondence, legislation, tax returns
      Dates: 1936-1943
      Container: Folder 306-B
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Unemployment Compensation. Washington: Tax returns, correspondence
      Dates: 1937-1939
      Container: Folder 306-C
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Railroad Pension. Employee Compensation Reports
      Dates: 1937-1959
      Container: Folder 307-A
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Railroad Pension. Employer's Quarterly Report of Contributions
      Dates: 1939-1961
      Container: Folder 307-B
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Railroad Pension. Employee Claims: Correspondence and forms
      Container: Folder 307-C
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Railroad Pension. Correspondence: Includes instructions, circular letters, rules and regulations
      Dates: 1934-1959
      Container: Folder 307-D
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Railroad Pension. Railroad Retirement Act

      Synopsis of Retirement Act of 1937, Carriers Taxing Act of 1937, & Title IX (Unemployment Compensation) of Social Security Act; Annotated supplement and other documents and publications relating to the retirement act, many printed and distributed by the American Short Line Railroad Association

      Container: Folder 307-B
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Man Hours Worked: Typed monthly reports
      Dates: 1939-1943
      Container: Folder 308
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Garnishment of Employee Wages: Five cases
      Dates: 1941
      Container: Folder 309
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Agreements with State Highway Department: Three agreements covering the construction or widening of overpasses, including 11 blueprints

      See also folder 325

      Dates: 1941, 1946
      Container: Folder 310
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Amortization Accounting: Correspondence with ICC and WI&M officials
      Dates: 1928-1954
      Container: Folder 311
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: G.I. Apprentice: Correspondence with Veterans Administration concerning two veterans working at WI&M
      Container: Folder 312
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Locomotives: Correspondence dealing with the purchase and repair of diesel locomotives, and the repair of other locomotives
      Dates: 1919-1950
      Container: Folder 313
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Power Reverse Gear Case: Correspondence dealing with the ICC hearings
      Dates: 1930-1937
      Container: Folder 314
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Power Reverse Gear Case: ICC briefs and orders, 1930-1937; Supreme Court decision, 1934
      Container: Folder *314
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Railway Labor Act: Circular letters from American Short Line Railroad Association and Western Association of Railway Executives regarding the 1934 amendment to the act and a copy to the amendment (P.L. 442)
      Dates: 1934-1940
      Container: Folder 315
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Land Agent - WI&M: Correspondence from W.B. Humiston
      Dates: 1915
      Container: Folder 316
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission. Inventory of Crossings: Circular letter and computer printout of WI&M Crossings
      Dates: 1975
      Container: Folder 317
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Round House: Blueprint of WI&M standard round house (map 13-12)
      Container: Folder 318
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: C&NW - CMSTP&P Merger Committee. Forms Committee: Forms Information reports filled out by A.L. Nance, auditor for Milwaukee Road
      Dates: 1969
      Container: Folder 319
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Train Operating Statistics: Schedule of delays, hours of operation, running time
      Dates: January 1971 - August 1973
      Container: Folder 320
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Potlatch Forests, Inc. Miscellaneous Material

      Income tax working papers, 1922; cutting schedule for Potlatch Mill, January 4, 1939; Stock sheet, January 1, 1907

      Container: Folder 321
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Association of American Railroads. Operations & Maintenance Dept: Car Service Division general permits; Dept. of Commerce National Production Authority releases
      Dates: 1951
      Container: Folder 322
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Freight Rates: Correspondence
      Dates: 1907-1929
      Container: Folder 323
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Rail Joint Company: Correspondence about order for fibre insulations
      Dates: 1961
      Container: Folder 324
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Highway Crossings: Correspondence for crossings on railway rights of way, Idaho State highways 7 and 8

      See also folder 310

      Dates: 1955-1957
      Container: Folder 325
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Master Car Builders' Association: Correspondence and circulars
      Dates: 1917
      Container: Folder 326
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Miscellaneous

      Articles of Incorporation for Moscow State Bank, an article on the diesel electric locomotive, another on criminal syndicalism, and one entitled "There are strange things done where the railroads run" by Adam Rhoamer, which includes anecdotes about the stations on the WI&M line

      Container: Folder 327
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Maps

      Map of Spokane & Inland Empire line in Palouse, 1906; Wagon roads from Council to Grangeville (undated); WI&M Station map of Potlatch, 1964

      Container: Folder *328
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Purchases from Potlatch Unit: Includes railroad ties and other manufactured forest products
      Dates: 1934-1943
      Container: Folder *329
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Estimates of Construction Costs: Wren & Greenough estimates 1-29
      Dates: May 1905-September 1907
      Container: Folder *330
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Washington, Idaho & Montana Railway Company. Organizational Records. Includes state chartered correspondence, and capital stock material
      Dates: 1901-1921
      Container: Folder *331
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Inland Improvement Company

      Includes incorporation papers, annual reports to West Virginia, 1907-1909, correspondence on ledger entries regarding transfer of stock and loans, financial matters to 1914, and correspondence regarding the final dissolution of the holding company and the transfer of WI&M stock to Potlatch Forests, Inc., in 1932

      See also 240.

      Container: Folder *332
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: Trans-Continental Freight Bureau. Record of Transit Freight Bill and Tonnage Credits, Inbound: Form X-11
      Dates: 1975-1980
      Container: Folder 33
      Location: Series I. Office Files
    • Description: John Ray Scott, WI&M auditor. Personal Papers

      Includes letters of recommendation, marriage license, selective service classification, insurance policies, and stock certificates

      Container: Folder 34
      Location: Series I. Office Files

  • Series II. Financial Records

    This series consists of boxes of vouchers, bound ledgers and journals, annual reports to various federal and state agencies, and valuation and appraisal reports. Each of these types of material is described under its own heading. The numbers in parentheses indicate the boxes in which the material will be found, or, in the case of journals, the numbers of the journals in each particular group.

  • Description: Series III. Miscellaneous

    This series contains a wide variety of items including employee time cards, and other items relating to employees of the WI&M, records of annual passes issued, Over, Short and Damage Reports, and cancelled checks. Listed below are the items in this series. The number in parentheses indicates the box in which the material is located.

    Railway Passes (424) (See also folder 143 in Series I): Ledger 1, 1912-1922; Ledger 2, 1923-1926; Ledger 3, 1927-1930; Ledger 4, 1931; Alphabetical and numerical pass file for 1952/53-1954/55 (Because of its small size the plastic envelope containing these passes has been placed in box 439)

    Exparte Increases X206A, X212, X223, X223A (425): These sheets are in a binder and include the tariff of increased rates and charges for the years 1957-1972.

    Locomotive Mileage, Potlatch, 1960-1966. (426): This large journal also contains columns for car mileage and work service as well as locomotive mileage.

    Over, Short and Damage Reports (427): These reports, for the years 1927-1945, were filled out by station agents when a shipment was received in less than perfect condition.

    Employee Time Cards, 1930-1966 (428-429): These cards record the number of hours an employee worked each month and his earnings for that month.

    Cancelled Checks, May 1905 - A t 1906 (430-431)

    Cancelled Pay Roll Checks, January 1924 - June 1930; January 1957 - December 1958 (432-436)

    Miscellaneous Financial (437): Comparative Statement of earnings, operating expenses & statistics. July - December 1906; Bank Statements, January 1953 - December 1956; Balance sheets, December 1965 - September 1966; Cash Journal work sheets, 1975, 1977

    Miscellaneous Employee Records (438): Life Insurance Policies, Request for group insurance reinstatement cards, Salary savings insurance plan cards, Waiver of life insurance cards, Insurance record cards, Pay roll allotment authorization for purchase of bonds cards, Acceptance of Hospital contract cards, Acceptance and pay roll deduction authority, Employee withholding exemption certificate, Employee registration form CER-1 (Social Security)

    Miscellaneous 3x5 cards (439): Railway passes, 1952/53-1954/55, Key to filing system, Key to map arrangement, Field notes, Alphabetical account cards, 1906-193-?

  • Series IV. Maps and Blueprints

    This series includes station maps, maps of the railway line, plans for bridges, drawings of station houses, and townsite plats. The railway originally had twenty-two categories of maps, but only six are included in the papers. These are 1. Station maps, 2. Trusses and bridges, 4. Moscow & Eastern, 9. Trestles, 10. WI&M standard plans, and 18. Townsite plats. There are also four unnumbered maps. The smaller plans have been placed in a file box (440) the larger one are in a large plastic bag (44). In the list of maps and blueprints, an asterisk preceding the number indicated that the print is in the bag.

Finding aid prepared by Judith Nielsen
1982

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