Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1878-11-08

LEWISTON. NORTH IDAHO.
FRIDAY NOVEMBER sth 1873.
Facts and Figures showing the Rates Of
Freight Paid by the People on the Up
per Columbia.

for the individuals who gather them ia.
1t is estimated and correctly too by com
petent authorities, that there will be
paid on the river freights this year to
Umatilla, $4,000 tons at $50 per ton
S240, 600; to Wallula, $4,000 tons at
s25 per ton $4,000; to Snake river,
5000 tons at s35 per ton $4,000, to-
tai S790,000 There was carried down
the river about $4,000 tons at Al average
of 81 per ton or $3.50, 900. Grand total
s1,14O,O0O.
It is believed that if the upper Co
lumbia were opened up and placed in as
good condition for navigation as the
lower river, the charges to Umatila
would be only $40, saving annually
$3.50, 600; to Wallula $40, saving s225,>
900: to Snake river SIS, saving $780,.
600; aud that on the $4,000 tons of
wheat it would be reduced to 81 per ton,
thereby saving $3.50, 900. making
saving each year to the farmers and pre-
ducers of the enormous sum Of $685.
600. This would be nearly equivalent
to doubling the price the farmer gets
for his grain, or IN other words what
producer would save in the costs Of his
purchases and the additional price he
would get for his wheat would make
each acre yield twice o. many dollars
annually as it now does.
Will not some one come to our rescue?
When shall me look for deiverance
from this great loal2 How long is the
developenent Of our county to be thus
retarded and our best interests crushed
and ruined by an intolerable exorbitance
and oppression in their very beginning.
How long must the rich alluvial plains
adjacent to the upper Columbia and
Snake rivers, the greatest grain produc
ing region in the world, remain an un.
broken solitude, whilst the hands of in.
dustry are thus tied, and the great river
itself instead Of being a blessing as in.
tended by nature converted into curse.
Will the hundreds aud thousands of in.
] telligent aud industrious men who are
fast populating this vast region be con
tent to live in such state of vassalage?
Will they after bravely facing the trials,
hardships and privations that beset
them at every step whilst founding
their homes in this their chosen land be
content annually to hand over one hall
Of their hard earnings to the monied
autocrats who have thus barred and
bolted the doors Of commerce against
them.
Whoro is the half million of dollars
shown by the figures above to have been
extorted over and above legitimate
freights from the people of eastern Ore
gon, Washington and Northern Idaho in
the last year? Gone to gil the vaults Of
these Harpies Of the river, gone to rivet
more firmly around them the letters o.
this accuIseaftee-borhed bondage. A,
the same ratio the people living tributary
to the upper Colunbis aud Snake river.
will be called on the coming year to pay
over, nearly million dollars to their i'm
poverishers and SO on with an increas,
ing ratio for each succeeding year. Blu
can it be that this people will long sub
init to this? No! from the Cascades /,
the Cour de'Alene the voice of deter
mined men are lifted against it--tha
spirit Of opposition is arming itsel
which ere long is to throttle this hug,
monster Of OPT ression and hurl it from
. our midst Let this people but resolv,
that they viii make for themselves i,
way for their commerce to the sea ant
it will be done. Let them no longe
fold their hands and idly dream Of gov
ermental aid coming to their relief, o
Of the visionary schemes Of projectes
railroads; but let them rather turn thei
eyes to the lerdIy Columbia, the grea
natural thoroaghfare to the sea-boari
and upon its broad bosem, launch thes
own vessels, which ere long. will driy,
the pirates who now intess il from il
waters. Surely with the hundreds o
thousands Of dollars that are annual,
extortea IRON them, this people coule
in comparatively short space Of tim,
have magnificent fleet Of steamers ply
ing on the waters of this river, remove