Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1879-01-10
letter from Lewiston.

studied Its location, its natural advan.
tages, the prospect Of surrounding set
Elements, and have made up my mind
that when it is peopled with class of
citizens who comprehend all its excel
lencies it will begin to have future of
which every resident will have reason
to be proud. The town Of Walla Walla
now has beginning and growth that
attracts attention, but, in my es,ilna-
ton, its natural area of surroundings
to make town of magnitude and in
fuence is much more limited than that
OF Lewiston. Of course | speak from
my standpoint of information of a five
months observation Ia the first place,
Walla Walla Is inland 80 miles from
the navigable waters of the Columbia
and Snake rivers. 1t cannot command
the trade of points west of Walula; it
cannot go south of Pendleton; it can
NV W thob VI tHc Diuc uOuutatnS aUu
Dayton; it may have trade for a time
north of the Snake towards Colyille.
But this will ere long be circumvented
by the towns located on the Snake and
Columbia rivers, where goods can be
discharged directly from the steamers
navigating the same, and produce can
be shipped direct to the markets below.
What is termed the Walla Waila val>
ley and part of the Touchet will be
likely to remain tributary to Walla
Walla. Now, how is it with Lewiston?
1t is situated at the delta of the Snake
and Clearwater rivers, tho former al
verging in direct line south and only
navigable about 80 niles above, reach
ing the mountains, where there will be
but little settlement for ages, and the
latter diversins directly east for 40
miles, thence southeasterly for 40 miles
further, and although not now navga
BILE for steamers, yet may be made 20
for several months in each year, long
enough to carry out the products of the
country bordering it, which is as rich
for miles back from the stream as any
part Of the country between the Cas-.
eades and Bitter Root mountains and
containing all the essentials requisite
for dense and prosperous people.
Judging from similarly situated coun.
tries elsewhere, it is not at all probable
tina. any town of magnitude will spring
up along the margin Of this stream to
tho east Of Lewiston, as there is no
point along the stream that can COM
mand the trade of any large section of
country, aud its navigation not being
continuous through the year and there
being good roads leading from oil this
country to Lewiston, this town VIII nat.
urally hold the trade, or the great bulk
of it, for all this country, provided that
the town is occupied by class of men
who understand their situation, and
adopt measures to maintain the natural
advantages they possess. The country
north as far as Paradise valley (25
miles) viii be aud remain tributary to
Lewiston, and northeast to the extent
of the Potlach settlements will natu
rally come to Lewiston, and west and
southwest to the Pataha aud the north-
eastern base of the Blue mountains
Lewiston will, if business is rightly
conducted, extend the bulk of the trade
to the settlers, and south for 20 miles
she may count upon permanent trade.
All these surroundings Of Lewiston are
frst-class agricultural lands and fast
filing up with permanent settlers, and
all looking upon Lewiston as their nat
ural point to do business aud where
they win do it, provided the men of
Lewiston make ample provision to meet
the demands Of their trade. Now, in
climate, no town east of tia Cascades
is the equal Of Lewiston for health aud
comfort as place of residence and
business. The few years past have de-
veloped Walla Walla to be sickly in a
large degree, especially for children,
AID the chilling dampness and frosts OF
the town for several months of the
year are anything but pleasant to en-
counter. 1t has been demonstrated
that navigation by steamers to this
point at all seasons, when not obstructed
by ice, is highly practicable. Lewiston,
then, has business area Of ITO miles
east and west, by about 60 north and
south. upon which it can rely with a
fair degree of certainty by judicious
management of its business men, and
that for half century to come, aud TO
this as the agricultural portion may be
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