, 1876-04-15
NAVIGATION OF SNAKE gIyER,
The Oregon Steam Navigation Comuauy-s
Latest Move

/ move.
1he navigation of Snake river 10 Lewi,to
mas never been qnite successful, excepting q
at certain periods each year when the rive
was largely swollen by the spring tbaw i
the Rocky mountains and the freshe.s in N
valleys which it drains. The Oregon Steam
Navigation Company has at last hi. upo,
plan that will give the country about Lew
iston an outlet for its prodncts, which i
nothing more nor less than the construction
OF hght-draught boat that will 20 to Lew
Iston all seasons of the year. The boat vii
be expressly adapted to the route it vii
travel; and the work of building will 500,
commence at Celilo, under the superin
tendenee of the best of workmen, and will b,
rapidly pushed TO completion.
We can see an interest for the Oregon Steam
Navigation Company in this matter, ontsid,
OF the freights it will receive from the build.
ing OF this new boat, and if We mistake not
1t Is an outburst of that same liberal spirit
on tbs part of that corporation that brought
about the discovery Of the Orc Elmo aud Flor.
ence mines, and sent the fearless and hardy
prospector into the wilds of the Boise Basin
IN quest of the precious metal Then the
Oregon Steam Navigation Company had a
line of boats on the Columbia river, but moth
ing for them 10 do. The Company proposed
TO make business for them ty developing the
country east Of the Cascades 1t sent out
prosPectors, paying theIa for the labor and
asking nothing in return. The prospectors
found extensive deposits of gold; the mines
attracted thousands upon thousands Of peo-
pie; and the Company, as result Of It's far
sightedness, is the richest and most powerful
steamboat corporation on the Northwest
coast to-day, while Eastern Oregon and
Walla Walla va!l,y are permanently settled
by large population, energetic and thrifty
-tillinS the soil and engaged in fostering
other leading Industries of the world, and
becoming rich from their toilings.
We think The Company sees in this new
boat and the development Of the new coun-
try lying along the banks of the Snake river,
u repetition Of their frs great success, BY the
establishment of d large trade between II and
Portland after the country has become thick
Iy populated. The country in question is
large enough to make rich aud powerful
Safe. The agricultural lands within its
coufiues are numbered by thousands Of acres.
The grain grown there is the finest in she
world lts other products are rarely equal!ed,
but never surpassed. Its climate Is mild and
healthy, and free from late .t1osS. There Is
An abundance of good water and excellent
timler, and a number of fine farms, no.ed
for iheir produc iveues-, dot The plains here
and there. There Is also loom and place ior
any number IF settlers aud miles Of hne
government and other lands. through the
whole OF which plow can pass unInterrup.'
edly, lies unclaimed bfgging nn ownership
The only reason why the country has not,
long ere this, been celebrated for is iuestima-
ble worth is that it has had no permanent
oatIrt, and therefore could offer but slight
Inducements to permanent residents As
We have said before, this is what the Oregon
Steam Navigation Co. pr poses to spare nc
expense to give it. The country Will be
built mp; and the Company, in permitting
no failure in it's efforts, will be amply re'
warded with permanent success, attended
with lasting profitable results in the end.
With this view of the subject, We cannoi
ace Why the people of Lewiston and the adJa
cent country have not good reason for lono
and hearty rcjoieings over the news of 'h'
| prouo.ed Guns, ,ructiun Of the new boat that II
= short time is to work their salvation.
! Since The above was pu. in type, We learI
| that the new boat will be I50 feet long, witt
:6 fee, of beam, and will draw, when loaded
ton inches of water She will have powerful
machinery, and be made after The mode! 0
the Orient ana 0coident.-P@t!Gna Journal.