Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1878-05-03

LEWISTON, l. T. May Let, 1873.

Letter From LsWlsten.
LEWISTON, I. +. May 1st, 1873.
EDITOR TELLEa: The question Of
the free navigation Of the Snake and
Columbia rivers has come promioestly
before the people Of late, and bids fair
this time to test fairly the actual extent
and range Of the power welded BY the
D. s. N. Co. Heretofore the company
could afford to take no notice Of any op-
position, but forebodings Of the iuevits-
bic time when they can NO longer CON-
troll our Highway to the sea, now cause
it to betray considerable Or essioess.
This is svinced 10 several ways. but
more especially by the way in which
they have undertaken to break down
opposition on the upper rivers. Ordi
nsrily large company would buy in. or
freeze out small opposition. BY cult NJ
under their rates. but the o. 8. N. Co.
takes new departure, and lifting up
its voice, issues its commands to its
dependent pstrous, that they shall know
NO other company, but TT completely
ignoring tho opposition, - the lion
ignored the gnst-until il Jew isto bis
uostril and eventually brought him to
terms.
Outside Of the legal points involved
and laying aide al prejudice, the cir
cular recently iesued BY tho company.
appears to be very illadvised considered
- stroke Of pulley. It arouse. their
patrons to = sense O. the power which
bias been welded over them,-hithe,tc
almost uncon-ciously. 1t causes them
to realize to what extent they are de-
pendent upon their means Of communal
cation with the sea-bOsrd. aud t. feel
with something akin t. shujder. that
if the company establishes itself truly
in the position taken up 10 that circular,
there is no hope ,f Al open river for
years to come. The result 10 any case
will be to cause strong current Of pop.
ular opinion TO set against the company.
and in spite Of sneering ~ what they
may term ''all talk" the O 8. N. Co.
viii aud tina, it cannot loas sustain the
pressure Of AN adverse popular sentiment
That the c"npsny can lay clam justly
TO certain amount ofapparen, liberal,
~ il its charges hitherto, we do not dis
pute. But since ,hr issue If that cir
cular We shall be mnre prone to attribute
their seeming hberality to motives If
policy, prompted by those well known
characteristics of human nature 10 cor.
porations, 10 charge just AS much as they
think consistent with their own interest.
They have shown the eleven h.of
Hereafter let them have the manl,ness
to stand forth IN their true colors. and
GOT pretend that the reason freight to
Lewiston is not $40 per ton higher than
at present, is because their generosity
prompts them to give the people that
amount. Then again the bid for South
Idaho freight. besides involving the
possibility Of waking up the wrong man,
10 the person Of the G. P r. r. etFec
tually demoIishes their claim thst high
rates were due to the tact that treigh,
had to be handled 40 many times =, the
portsges. For where 10 he fairness Of
charging only sl5 pr ton to carry
freight over al the portages, and hall
the distance to Lewiston. whom thu
> charge for the whole dist .nce is $40
The company evidently made . mistake
: 10 making that circular public. The,
{ can gain nothing BY It, that they dit
not already possess o. could not hav,
accomplished BY private notice. More
= over it is too evidently mora "biu6'
b tor If they really believe themselves i'm
0 preenable 10 the position they hav'
i taken. they would send ireixhts up I.
i. double the present rates, or only run {
trip whom they had full cargo.
vi No. M. M. Monopoly, treat the dss
h people kindly. furnish them 6ne accom-
n modstions and quick fteiehts. and the,
a charge them for it-eharee them you
:. own proc, but Lot them down gently
. Pat them on tho back while you squees
Y their pockets, and then they will speal
o we'll OF you, even though they shiol
70 differently. We should never hav
!. realised that We were fettered, perhaps
:. had you not settled tho claims 20 loudl
- IN that circular. We know we are 70
J. certsiu extent 10 your power, but do M
d relish being tainted by YOUR vain b.,sst