Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1878-04-26

Cheap fares and cheap transportation
Of goods and regularity, and constancy
Disclaimers running on the waters of
the Snake and Columbia rivers are all
matters Of the highest importance to
the settlement and Advancement Of this
country tributary to these rivers. 1t
matters Got to the consumer of goods
who docs this transportation, SO long
as it is done constantly as needed, reg,
ularly. and at fair and living rates.
The Oregon Steam Navigation Com
pany have used commendabless zeal in
pioneering the navigation of these
rivers, making provision at large out
lay for transporting passengers and
freight, at time when no others could
do so, and they have always had their
price for this work, and this upper
country have we'll paid them for all
their trouble, expense and liberal ac-
commodations they have offered the
public in this matter, and they have
reaped good harvest of profit over
and above all they have expended upon
their first and continued investment.
The public owe them nothing more
than they would owe any other com
pany who had ventured their capital in
similar enterprise, and had boon we'll
paid by the public for their energy aud
use Of their capital. These rivers are
great natural highway for all who see
6t, 70 run boats in their waters. No
one man or one company owns them to
tho exclusion of any other, and no cit.
sisen, whether merchant or farmer, is
under any moral or legal obligation to
patronize one to the exclusion of an.
other, if he be disposed. Tho question
with the settlers and dealers in this
upper country, is not what will be pat
ronizcd, but what is the policy to be
pursued to bring passage aud frei ghts
TO living ratcsss SO that both the shipper
and the freighter shall be justified in
shipping or iroighting.
To the merchants alone the price Of
freight is not OF so much consequences,
whether it be high or low, SO long as
every other merchant has to pay the
same, because he can roalily charge
any excess right over to his customers
in the extra price of the goods sold.
But to the consumer it makes v4ry
material difference. lie is both the
producer and the consumer. He con-
'sumes certain quantity ef4gootls import
cd into the country each and every year.
IS freights are low hc pays . low price
for them, He raises certain quantity
Of products and no more, some Of them
hc wishes to ship abroad as surplus
The markets abroad are at a Gxed rate
The lowor frcights he has to pay, tn.
more he can save for himself as a pro
duc6r, md the moro he has fefs to i'm
prove his farm and make deyelopcmen,
cfthe country. Again it makes d vas
difference both to the merchant and tlit
consumer, whether we have three
mopths o. two months scpntinueps ,uavi
CATION Of ihsse'riyars il each year. /
the former, the merchant must lay in
large stock to keep up his suppl,
through the year, the interest on whict
would necessitate that he charge highe,
4 rates in his sales to keep even, Will
with ten months Of navigation his ssocl
could be smaller, and his money be uset
several times in the year to make new
= PURCHASES, md the doma Dis Of his trad,
be fully met. Now the people here hav,
ever believed that Snake river could b,
navigated with steamers of the draft o
rho Alnota for 0 months in each year
But the policy of the o. S. n. cempan,
Z has been to deny this, and have not un
til the present year sent a boat up her
more than three or four months 10 eael
year. This year upon Capt. Stump
giving out word that he was going t.
run to Lewiston about the LIST of March
the old company sent a boat hero tn,
10th Of February, when the water wa
as low as it seldom becomes during tn,
year. and they have run their boat
regularly here ever since. 1t woul,
hardly do foras to say that Capt. Stump
purpose to come in March had anything
to do with the early aud regular arriva
OF the Alnotd. 1t however can be see,
at glance that The interests of tn,
public will be better seryed by givin,
such Acknowledgement TO competition il
steambnahng, that no one boat nor an,
! one company can haveus at their mere,
in the matter Of freighting or passenge
trayal.S Re iust fosaA a,d anfla.s ;,,ao