Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1881-07-28
"A Possible RAILROAD ROUTE


Under the above caption the w. "
Union at this late day, after the North
Pacific has built nearly to Pend do
reille is ready to now admit TIE pos
sibility of pass via Clearwater, in
fact it says:
1T does not seem possible that the
numerous persons who have crossed
the Bitter Root mountains in the vi
cinity of the headquarters Of the
Clearwater can be mistaken Is TO the
existance of the pass"
The TELLER, the Signal, Journal.
Radiator and Golden Age in their
time all published at Lewiston, claim
ed the exi,tance of this pass, but not un-
til this present article in the On'on
have we ever known Walla Walla
paper to admit the fact, or give any
encouragement towards an investiga'
ton of this route. But all have lent
their influence towards the northern
route, while had they stood in with
the Lewiston journals to urge an ex'
emination of the Clearwater PASS. be.
fore the N. P. had settled definitely
upon the northern route, for auyht we
know the company could have been
induced to make thorough cxamina-
ton, and to-day they would have been
building up the Clearwater where
they should havo built. But Phillip
Ritz and other Walla Wallians could
Tot see that the Clearwater route
would bring any water to their mill
while they thought they foresaw a
big stroke for Walla Walla by having
the road 60 by the Pen d'Oreille lake.
Now the road is built to the lake and
water does not come to the Wa:la
Walla mill nor Ritz wheat lands on
the line of the new railroad. The
Northern Pacific company have been
dupsd by the men who urged the
Pen dOreille as tho most feasible route
for their road and the present manage
ment see this and are now fearful that
some other company will seize hold Of
the Clearwater pass and thus get the
advantage of them both in distance
and in character of country, as in both
they will do, and will construct road
ct less cost than that of the Northern
Pacific and about $50 miles shorter il
distance and through better country
Already company is formed that may
absorb and control the Clearwater
route and place it beyond the reach O
the Northern Pacific. The Norther,
Pacific may desire yet to build ii
this direction, after having compile
ted their pr sent route and secured tn
lend grant, and to this end may see
TO control the Clearwater pass so as t
prevent any other company from buile
ing till they themselves are ready t
build. But this is not what We her
want. If Gould will build this roa
let him do SO and have the benefit {
the shortest and best route which tn
Northern Pacific have heretofor
spurned at the instance Of Ritz an
others who had an Ak to grind in ii
northern route. Gould to-day ca
connect his Utah Northern road. wit
the head Of navigation at Lewiston i
building less than 800 miles Of roa
and make q transcontinental rou1
from e,st to west, sooner by ono ye'
than the Northern Pacific can NAL
their railroad connection east throue
the Pen d'Oreille pass. There is l
hu.. bug in this assertion and tn
some of the Walla Walla people q
beginning to forcsee, and We may y
have the aid Of the Union and 9th
Walla Walla influences to aid US
inducing the construction Of the Gle:
water road, certainly the Northe
Pacific will leave Walla Walla out
the cold. and should the Clearwat
route he build by Gould or any o
else it will be liable to take in negl
ted Walla Walla in its route. T
examintion of the Clear water pass "
be made next month by the new co
pAny organized and clear and d.
mite showing be made Of its height q
advantages so that there will
no more guess work, aud when
road is built through over it, it will
the main trunk line across the cor