Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1880-08-27
Letter from The Dailes,
THE DALLEs, Ogn., Aug. Is, 1880.


With the attendant delays in the hot
days of Summer, does nof give one in
spiration for writing, unless it be in
tone. We touched at
Alpowa, Bishops Bar, Truax's, Wa
wa-wa, Almota, Texas ferry, Grange
City and Ainsworth between Lewiston
and Wallula The steamer received
wheat from three of the above points,
-four from two and baled hay from
two. We found wheat piled upon the
brink. of the river at every other point
for landing along the river awaiting
shipment, thus indicating the present
incapacity of the navigation company
to relieve the shippers of their sur
plus grain and yet the harvest of the
present year has only commenced. AT
Wa-wa-wa we are informed that 200
tons of flax alone would be for ship
ment the present season, beside i'm
mense quantities of wheat. If the
few acres now under cultivation fur
nish a product that cannot be removed
| to market for want of the necessary
! facilities, what will be the condition
when half the wheat lands are put un
der cultivation. No man can accurately
estimate the amount of transportation
that will be required to carry of, the
surplus rain, the surplus product OF
The next five years. We notice but
little changes in the appearance Of the
places at the landings since 1878 til
we reached Taxas ferry. Here We
found foundation and basement of {
large mill for cutting lumber, timber
and ties, being constructed by Capt
Smith and partner, and several small
buildings used by the workmen. Thi
mill is to be used in preparing mate
rial for the railroad from this point t.
Union flat and olso for that leadin;
from Grange City to Wa]la Walla
which is now being graded and whicl
they propose to have completed and i
running order to take away the GRO
a of the present year, which the steam
ers are unable to take away. Frol
Taxas ferry to Ainswolth the countr
r presents scared and barren appea
e ance, although along both banks {
n the stream are found hundreds of ca
y tie from the hills in search {
$ water. They appeared fat and hen(
d we infer that upon the hills whel
IT they range the grass must be goo
l. We reached Ainswo orth before dark c
If Friday, this town has sprung up ra
idly. Not vistage Of building
,. sign of life appeared there when ,
s. passed the place in July 1873. Nc
some 25 or 80 houses of different {
o. mensions loom up to the view and ;
crowded with peopla besides num'
er Gus tents are occupied by the Lahore
III employed in and about the place al
70 along the line of the Northern Paci
oe About Is miles of railroad iron W
corded upon the bank of the Snal
VA and car wheels and beds Of cars a
5 :. other railroad machinery lay scatter
promiscuously all along the shore
er some distance. Above the town
~ short distance and on the bank of
ier Columbia river loom up the lumberl
ok mill of the company, which is now
ng gagged in cutting lumber, timber a
"'e ties from the logs arriving at the Y
-, ma. Nearly two hundred pers'
ton greeted the arrival of the steamer
'ua 'ua the bank. All the whole appeara
ole of things there was of life and actlvl
,er ,er We here met Charley Smith who r.
son steam ferry from this point acr
the mouth of the Snake and to {
ase other point where business calls.
ms are here informed that track lay
@ @;nr would be resumed from the east
'all terminus Of the present track e
son
ain ward and continue without inter-