Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1879-01-24
Letters from Lewiston.
LEWISTON Jan. 18th 1879.

q
was pleased with the statement of the
treasurer of your county finances. I.
indicates a fidelity in your county Of
ficers, aud fair prospect Of soon ex-
tracing the county from the bondage Of
debt. 1t is not attractive to an out.
slider to be solicited to come with pron.
erty aud locate in a county burdened
with an old debt, and especially where
he can see no county buildings and
works OF Improvement, to be hereafter
used and enjoyed, as evidences that the
debt has been created for some lasting
good to the county Men do not like
70 be obliged to pay taxes to liquidate
the expenses of other peoples extrava
gence and folly, while the same parties
would not object to help pay debt
contracted for the building of fine
court house. Jail and other county build
lngs which do credit to place and are
OF permanent utility to the people Of the
county, new corners as well as old set
tiers. In fact, | am inclined to be.
iieve that most new corners with means
would not object to be taxed to paw for
good county bridge, where needed
had such bridge been constructed and
was now available for use TO the people
OF the county. Men of intelligence
always prefer to Invest money and dwell
where there is enterprise and public
| spirit alive to every improvement that
will enhance the value Of property, and
the comfort and convenience of the
whole people of the county, than where
niggardly parsimoniousness prevails.
The climate of Lewiston since I have
been here las been excellent in nv
judgement, although | am told that the
present Winter so far, has been much
more rigid than the usual Winters.
The reports from the surrounding cour-
try indicate much greater depth OF
snow than usual, according to informa
ton | received before I came here.
The new corners here who have not
had time to prepare for Wintry wealth
err are liable to find Encouragement. and
some of them may send back to their
friends in the east and elsewhere un
favorable accounts of our Winter. But
JUDGING from the eastern dispatches
received here since the 18th of Dec.
the weather has been unusually severe
all through the states east of the noun
tains, and the storms of snow greater
than ever, and as bad as these new
corners find things here, their condition
is much better than it would be there
with the same degree Of preparation for
Winter. We must abide things as we
find them, and | can only pray with
older settlers for chinook to soon re
lieve our present condition. Your
views upon the Importance of the trans.
| fer of the Indian Bureau to the War
Department, and the events that arc
likely to transpire in case such transfer
does not take place, are very pointed
and while | have not been in the In i
dian country long enough to say un-
qnalifedly that you are right. yet | can
but admit that great evils have arisen
among Indians under the present sys,
tenn of management, and. / should for
one no. object to see the army have the
full management of the Indians, for
possibly they could and would avert fu.
ture wars upon unprotected settlers
Your delegates hopes as expressed in
his letter you publish are favorable
to this transfer, and the voice Of the
press is universal on this coast for the
measure and many Of the leading jour
mails in the eastern cities are urging the
measure, and with great force. | can
/. hardly conceive how Congress can avoid
making the attempt if the members o.
, that body consult the will Of the people
who are the most deeply interested
On the question Of an outlet for th,
surplus products of this country, i
: seems to me that with the magnifcen
! Columbia and Snake rivers, navigable
. as they are for so great distance int
the interior of this rich agriculture
' country, that the most permanent hop
e is in the opening of the pariages at tn
d Cascades and Dalles by canal aud locks
$ at the expense of the government
This would be soon accomplished wer