Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1878-08-23
Elements of Growth and Prosperity.

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of.towns, and in this respect Lewiston
Is highly favored, and has always beer
so since the first advent of miners t,
tho country east Of us. 1t has been the
head OF practical steamboat navigation
on the route to the attractive camps thai
have furnished an annual yield of gold
OF no small magnitude. Mercantil,
men have found the place the most con
vcnlent from which to scatter their goods
out upon wagons and pack trains to NEE,
the demand Of the miners, and large
fortunes have been made here with com.
paratlvely small effort, and scores Oh
traders have here made their stake
with which to open more extensive bust
ness in the larger towns below During
the prosperity Of the mines no other
place offered itself as rival to Lewiston
and its business men have so long been
accustomed to monopolize the trade
that they began to think that nothing
could prevent its continuance, or come
into successful competition with the
place. Things have changed. Mining
trade has become greatly reduced. New
sources OF trade have opened. A new
character Of customers have occupied
the country. Incentives have been Of
fered to persons to establish trading
houses at various other points, all seek
Ing to compete. The rigid economy
which the new settlers upon the agri-
cultural lands around us, have to prac.
tlsc has forced them to seek for places
Of trade where it is the least expensive
to them, and the spirit for trade has in.
duccd numbers OF skilled traders to di.
verge to other points than Lewiston
with stocks Of goods, where they would
be OF convenient access to the farmers.
and there they have offered their wares
as cheap as they could be sold at Lew
iston. Considerable trade has thus been
diverted from the place. Our traders
we're slow to foresee this state Of things
and apply the remedies which would
have avoided it. But most Of them now
perceive and evince that they will seek
in tho future to regain the advantages
they once had. We notice much more
catering for trash than formerly. There
IS much more accommodation afforded
to their customers. Goods are paraded
where they can be seen to better advan-
tage. Men take more interest in having
the roads, ferries and other means of ac-
cess to the place, such MS to make it
both easy aud cheap to reach the town.
There is much more readiness to take
farm products in exchange for goods.
and much more encouragement given to
the producer to till the soil, all these
things are sure clements which will en-.
sure the growth Of a place. But there
are some other things needed. We
want tho general appearance OF our town
to look more inviting to strangers. We
want some Of the old shanties torn
down and removed, and either new
buildings erected in their place, or have
the lots enclosed with tidy and neat
fences. Some of the buildings that are
occupied need one or two good coats OF
paint and an air of cleanliness given "a
them. lfpaint is too costly give them
now and then coat of whith-wash.
Some yards which emit bad odors need
attending to. There needs be little
abatement OF disorderly aud loud con.
duet which sometimes exhibits itself in
too public manner. Our public school
should be amply provided with means,
SO as to educate the children Of the
town, in place of their making the day
and early part Of the night pandemo-
Dium with their noise. We want an
addition to our population OF good sober
citizens with their families, and with
enterprise to build up the mechanical
arts OF the place. We don't want drones
and idlers who hang around our streets
without any visible means of support,
and who like teaches suck the life blood
from those who toll Ii the people of
the place will only employ the means
such as make other towns attractive,
aud sucl. as will correspond with what
God aud nature has done for Lewiston,
our town will soon distance all rivals
and become q model interior town of
which any aud every good citizen may
well be proud. All these things cannot
be attained N month, but every eiti-
zen should strive to attain this condi. |
tion at the earliest practical period.