Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1878-11-01

no steamboat navigation Of Snake river
below this point during the Fall months.
The 0. s. N. Company who owned the
only steamers attempting this route,
have always claimed that their boats
could not navigate this river ut lev
water. Capt. Stump thought that the
river could be navigated by steamers At
low water, and he accordingly construc-
ted his boat for the purpose ana tested
the matter. This test caused the O. s.
N. Company to run their boats much
later in the season than ever before and
at mach lower water But finally they
hauled of their boats and commenced
sending Lewiston freight over the rail
road to Walla Walla and thence by teams
TO Lewiston, contrary to the wishes Of
many Of the shippers. Capt. Stump's
boat ceased running short time to make
some repairs and improvements and
again commenced. She had some difh.
Guilty in getting freight out Of the 0. S.
N. Compsuy's control at Wallula, At
first, but fiuslly succeeded. Since she
resumed business after her repairs she
has made 8 trips up the river carrying
what freight she could get. One Of
these was only made to Almota, but
through all the difficult portions Of the
river. The other two we're made to
Lewiston, and by the last trip she car
ricd 70 tons Of freight up the most diff
cult portions Of the stream with perfect
ease, altho' comparatively small steam.
er. The water Of TIE Snake is quite
low and much below the point when the
@. s. N. Company's..boats ceased to run,
especially above Lewiston. A small rise
in the Clearwater fed the Snake below
Lewiston so as to give little greater
depth Of water. But the efforts Of Capt
Stump have fully demonstrated that the
river can be uavigated by steamers to
this point at'auy stage Of water when
the river is not INSTRUCTED BY ice. This
is what we have tor years commended,
Notwithstanding the assertions Of the D.
s. N. Company to the contrary, and the
frequent assertions made by the Walla
Walla press. That freights can be
brought as cheap 10 low water as in high
we never have claimed, because less
quantity has to be taken each trip IN
low water, and the time consumed il
making each trip is longer. Some o
the papers have been making filings a
Capt. Stump because he charged highe1
freights in low water than the Q. s. N
Company did 10 high water. The reas
on for this is that it costs much more
but it does not cost near ~ much as !
does to have the goods over the Bake
railroad to Walla Walla and thence +
Lewiston by teams, and the goods them
selves arrive in much better conditio
by steamer than BY railroad and team,
and our freighters much prefer to pa
Capt, Stumr's prices than to have thel
goods come via Walla Walla. The {
s. N. Company charge sl5 per ton whe
they run in high water and they wi
not run at all in low water, aud Ihe
they send the goods over the railroa
aud by teams, the cost per ton is fro
$50 to $40 per ton. Capt Stump ru,
in low water and 10 no case charges ov'
S25 per ton, aud when the 0. s.
Company's boats run he will carry
low as the 0, s. N. Company will d
But it is not the question Of relati'
freight charges that effects our freigt
ers so much as it is the question Of ma
igation or no navigation Of the riv
during eight mouths Of the year duri'
which months heretofore We have b.
no navigation. Our former conditi
has compelled our merchants to lay
large stocks sufficient to last ths
through the year, and have them
brought here during the months
April, May, june and July, or not hs
them brought BY steamer 1t oil. Nc
with the boats running through
mouths Of the year except when
river is INSTRUCTED BY ice, they can
plenish their stocks at such time ~ Il
please, and not have to lay out Of
use Of their money by reason Of hold
goods 90 long without sale. This is
ter for them and much better for
consumer who does not have to pay
high price for them to enable the N