Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1880-06-25

The Northern Pacific.


While 1t Colfax one day last week
We met Judge ID. G.. Lewis, the local
land agent of the Northern Pacific
Railroad Company, and from him gath
cred several items Of interest connect
ed with the prospects and purposes of
this company. The grading from
Ainsworth eastward is nearly complet-
cd for distance of 80 miles. Work
east of Spokan Falls is being COM
menced, and men to the number OF
1000 will soon be employed on this
section, If the men can be had The
four parties of surveyors are making
diligent search for the most practical
bic pass across the Cascade mountains,
making new surveys Of the old ex-
amined passes. The engineer in charge
Of the work on the Cowlitz pass seems
confident that he can pass'the summit
on a grade of not to exceed 60 feet
per mile; another Is examining the
Matches pass with view Of tunneling
for distance through the summit to
save grade. The Matches seems to be
the shortest and best route in case the
summit can be surmounted by a
proper grade. The other parties arc
examining the crest Of the mountains
in hopes Of finding some pass that will
excel I'll others. Billings, the presi-
dent Of tho company, instructs them
TO And the best pass, independent Of
the expense Of their search, and indie
pendent Of al other projected lines OF
road, evincing the full determination
10 have direct route to Puget Sound
In regard to the extension of time by
Congress for the building of the road
we were shown the arguments O
Judge Black, Billings and others be
fore the committee Of the House
which seemed convincing to the com
mittee and induced them unanimousl,
to agree to an extension for SIX years
But - " zoe no report of the perfec
tion Of bill and its passage befor
the adjournment, we infer that tn
matter has gore over to the last SEES
sion Of the present Congress, when tn
prospects are that an extension will b
granted. If not, the company will 6
forward and build the road and clair
their grants under the old acts, who
aro not likely to be declared as fo
teited, either by Congress or the S,
prone Court. The latest news fro,
thss oontractors who are engaged
procuring timber and tics up the Val
im& encourages the hope that they wi
be able to deliver the amount Of the
contract at Ainsworth before the l.
Of August If they are successful
there il good reason for the hope
seeing the completion Of the road fro
Ainsworth to the Pen d'Orielle lal
before the lst Of January next. tt
land Office over which Mr.. Lewis pr
sidea has sold $3.50 acres of Ian
and Realised &lla.64a, in tracts ave
aging l7S acres to each purchaser,
vhish amount $4,000 has been
ceived in this month Of June up
the 18th, the average price per &C
being trife less than %. The co,
Rny have put in circulation n.
descriptive pamphlet of the count
Withmap attached describing the Ian
Bordering the road west of the Roc
mountains, and also containing dir
fions to immigrants who contempls
settlement in the vicinity of the ro'
Il Is ! brief, yet valuable, docum,
for tie plain, straightforward facts
contains reisting to the country, $
and climate and productions
present energy being shown by t
company on this side of the mounta
augsrs veil for the coming advanta;
which the psopls Of the Northw
coast viii coon enjoy in transportat
;fseilitiAs to the sea.