Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1881-10-13
-'---1l- : =
WHAT WILL BE DONE?


much interest in the matter Of railroad
communication eastward via Lewiston
and tha Clearwater, from the fact that
the question is often asked by citizens
Of every grade, "What will now be
done, since it has been demonstrated
that there is practicable pass for a
railroad through the Bitter Root range
in the vicinity of the head waters of
the Clearwater Everybody seems
anxious to know what are the pr s.
poets in this respect, and it is ques-
ton that we would be glad to answer
definitely and satisfactorily, but we
cannot at the present. At one time it
was announced that the Northern Pa
cifc would prefer to 60 By this route
il it were practicable to cross the Bit
tor Root range. and some effort was
made TO find such route, but these
efforts failed. and large expenditures
have since been incurred in building in
another direction, which expenditures
are deemed BY some to forbid the
abandonment Of their chosen route,
although it is quite apparent that the
Oost Of construction Of their road from
the eastern terminus OF the Pend
Oreille to the Beaver head river along
their surveyed route would tar exceed
the cost Of construction from Taxas
landing on the Snake through the
Clearwater pass to the same point on
the Beaver heed, and give road $50
miles shorter than via the Pend Oreille
starting from Ainsworth and traverse
! ar better agricultural country. The
fact that Truax was sent by Cakes to
view out the 10 10 pass has some sig
ni6cance, hut Of what it is not so easy
to determine. Truax's report was fav-
orablc, but no definite information has
yet bsen given to the public, that the
n. p. Co., purpose to act upon Truax
report. The Beall party have since
disclosed much better pass than did
TrnAx, and yet no one knows whether
No N, r. Company or the 0. r. h N.
Ooss a ths Oregon Transcontinental
C6psny have any desire to avail
themselves Of any Of these passes
through the Bitter Root range. We
hear many speculations about the mat
tor, ut upon tracing them up it does
not become settled that there is any
purpose Of auy Of these companies to
even make an effort to secure
and occupy, AMI build through
any ono Of these passes. The Idaho,
Clearwater & Montana Company
Are fully confident that they can secure
the I'D to tuild in case no other one
Of these companies really and in ear
neat contemplate through line via
Lewiston and the Clearwater, and to
& this end they arc in correspondence
with men both from the cast and
Californ'a who arc considering the
question from the data already fur
niahed and other data which will be
furnished Al The proper time. No one
claims that the original incorporation.
Ut tho Idaho company have the money
/ t5hpild their system Of roads withou,
Gid, nd no ono has ever pretended
IT, bue hsy do claim that their pro
jsetsd systc,a II batter than al. Others
ior tho nortEwc Coast BY adding .
Ionts down Snakeriyer and across thu
Caaoade mountains to the Sound. Thu
4 Jnen identified With the idaho com
pAny are old pioneers Of the country
sd know it, advantages and resources
ssll, i not better than the SAM
4 number Of men ofthe other companie
combined, and their system Of road
has been planned from that knowl
sdge, and they are not egotistocal whel
they claim this for themselves. N
sagacious man who knows the countr
viii dare dispute the fact. He tina
runs over their projected lines Of roa
sod reads the country tributary there
a viii find al that is claimed full,
demonstrated. There is one point il
the purpose Of the Idaho company an,
that i they will exert themselves il
al IaudAole ways to induce the build
ing Of : road via Clearwater at a
easly . day as practicable, rather thai
70 simply make location and survey
ltni then delay the building to a peri
"a four or five years hence, and VIII,
over will give the bast puarantv If III