Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1880-05-14

1ss Thsrs. Danger Of Long Continued
Mon0polyt

~ Obo. hanger OI Long CODtInuec
Monopoly
We hesitate at any time to prophecy
events that are against the true inter
ssts Of the people for reasons that al
ways should govern men of patriotic
emotions. In the first place, the i'm.
PROJECTIONS ofevep an intelligent man.
foresight are often such as to render
bis predictions unreliable and again it
= far more in consonance with true
mans desires to speak Of prospective
events that promise the greatest good.
But the whole people of this North
west coast, embracing the people Of
the upper Columbia river and its trib-
utAries, have for the two years last
past been greatly exercised with the
prospects of soon having cheap and
speedy transportation facilities from
our great and rapidly growing interior
to the sea, and large and earnest hopes
are rapidly being developed in many
sections Of Eastern Oregon, Washing
ton and North Idaho in consequence.
The sudden revival Of the energies Of
the Northern Pacific this side Of ths
Rockies, the rapid birth and luxurian,
growth Of the Oregon Railway and
Navigation Company with its numer.
Gus and projected lines of railroad,
and the efficient manner in which they
have inaugurated the construction Of
thess roads, al have inspired great
confidence that much is to be done and
that much speedily, and the question
Of holding this vast eastern country
bottled up for future generations to
uncork with transportation facilities
viii SOON be an obsolete question. But
let N inquire farther into the advant.
Aees q al these means Of transporta.
tion. That they are expected to be
rapid and very extensive none are
disposed to question; but will they be
cheap, and such Is to enrich the mass
= Of the pnopls for whose use they are
prcjectedl They are solely artificial.
They were projected by men Of large
capital, moro for he purpose Of in
crossing that capital than for the d.
rect Or indirect benefit or enrichment
q the people who are to support and
pay tribute to them. 1t was not for
the love Of the welfare, happiness and
prosperity Of the people of this coun,
~ that they were ever projected. 1t
WAs the love Of gain, and large gain,
upon their capital invested. To this
end these roads when constructed and
equipped will be managed and con-
trolled. No man can gainsay this as
tho prime object to be sought. If con-
sclidation Of these companies will pro-
duce greater gain to these companies,
than consolidation will surely take
place, and holding that gateway to the
- - they will, their tariff Of rates
upon tho products shipped will leave
batsa small amount to tho producer.
Already there is cloud as large A. =
mans hand betokening future reign
ct . monopoly even greater than ever
was charged against the O. s. N. Com
pany in its most rigorous exactions. If
The Northern Pacific and the Oregon
Railway and Navigation Company
saoh build an independent line Of road
to tbs sea, then We may hope for such
competition as will make transporta-
ton comparatively cheap till such time
- they have found that neither can
the other, then we may ex-
pect consolidation and uniform high
rates; but the outlook now is that the
efforts to defeat the extension Of time
70 tho Northern Pacific for completion
may be successful in Congress, in which
went it is highly probable that it will
greatly delay that company's building
Arther west than Wallula, and l.ave
- Oregon railway to do all the ear
ying west Of that point, and they will
= che arbiter Of their own rates in
ls6anee Of the interests of tho peo-
lie.
We observe that in the river and
iarbor appropriation bill reported
W