Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1881-10-20
rho Cascade ranch Cost OF the Road.


Thec.soa1e ranch Cost Of the Road.
Mr.. Willard has visited several of
the towns on the Sound and other
towns during bis recent visit to the
forth west, and at several of these
towns he made speeches, and where he
knew the people had deep interest
in the construction of the Cascade
branch of the North Pacific; he has
produced what he probably considered
arguments, showing that that road
would not or could not be made a
financial success. AT Tacoma he
made use Of the following language:
ssYithin two years we will bring wheat
70 Tacoma, TO Portland and wherever it is
called for At lower rate than it could be
carried to-day over the Cascade range if the
road was finished. The relative difference
in distance from Walla Walla to Tacoma as
between direct route by way OF Portland
Il about 100 miles. Now, do net wish to
maintain absolutely that the easier grade
down the Column ia river, against the more
difficult ones Of the Cascade range, will en-
able us always to do this. But do say
that considering the scantiness Of popula.
ton, considering the slow development SO
far Of the country between Tacoma and
Wallk Walia, we could not carry wheat
over the Cascade range at anything like the
ratio we carry wheat down the Columbia
According to such estimate rs it wss pos
sible TO make in view Of the imperfect CON-
sdition Of the surveys, the Cascade branch
would cost nearly 5000, 900 in money. The
interest on that sum and sinking fund
charges would create fixed charge upon
The road Of about 5000, year. Now
YOU know that the less business that rail
Yoad does the greater the relative cost OF
doing it. That is, . railroad doing large
amount OF business can afford to do business
III less than railroad doing limited bust
No.. And what business would the Cas-
edo branch have to-day? There Is Ger.
teSu surplus Of wheat in Eastern W sshing.
.46f 6ut TINT entire surplus Il carried to
pint to-day and the entire passenger
u s = That wonld be likely 70 come would
~ 10 nneet even one half Of the fixed
ri chasees mentioned. And l do not
N thai Tie country lying between
An yalln Walla can be possibly
+ "a 4yen under the stimulus Of rail.
h ~ 6ction, within the next FIVE or
b 6axSs sufficiently to make this road a
yS111 80. Still, y said, we shall build
I 1T AZ lime,
\ ilIArd asks, "What business
N63 n tho Cascade branch have to.
slafl There is certain surplus Of
Nhdat Al Eastern Washington, but that
snslre surplus II carried to this point
X hnonna) and the entire passenger bus
4 ~ would be likely to come would
not sufics TO meet even one-half Of the
6xed interest charges mentioned.
There is sophistry in this reasoning
IA tho first place, he omits some Of the
1scts that would enter into the pro
nds 81 the road. He does not men
tion any Of the freights in mcrchan
dir, lumber, fish and coal that would
~ freighted this way, but only the
down freight on wheat and the passen
~ traffic. Now, who does not know
that the freights from the sea inland
though not 70 great in quantity, YET
yisid more largely 10 tho carrier than
~ down freight on wheat SO Mr..
Willard omits to mention The greater
half Of the mounds Of this branch it it
were built unless he supposcs that the
gpeopse Of Eastern Washington, both
w. the north and south side of thu
nks river would not go across The
u 70 Sound, and the same would
u tfue Of all incoming supplies. Again
eke the people believe that il
n too expensive to ship BY thi,
kaHeh, that the income woaldsaot pa,
ahe intsrest On TIN cost Of the
= - ~ ths road
VA ~ l.i ~ y, 900.
a.nl intssval ol
~ Cd 4 i ~ y ssss n u u. IN. s