Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1881-06-23
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
Steamer Annie Faxon Lying at
WALLULA, June IS, 1881.

LEAR 1ELLEE - " eIt Oh OoaTu tHe
Faxon at Ainsworth this eve, and
will remain on board till she reaches
Lewiston. We left Spokan Falls on
yesterday morning at half past 4, and
rode about three miles in an open
hack across the canyon of Hangman
creek to the present terminus of the
railroad. We had full view of the en-
gineering to CT oss this chasm, which
showed to good advantage and exhib-
tied the skill of the chiefs in surmoun-
ting difficulties We took the cars at
this poin. and rode to Cheney where
we breakfasted. The route leads
through small town they call Mar.
shall, and most Of the way up a small
creek, bordered along its banks, with
numerous small black pines with an
occasional yellow pine of larger growth
In this timber Small Bros have their
mill for cutting ties and timber to fill
their contract with the railroad com,
pany. Harry Bragdon was fellow
passenger. The few minutes we had
at Cheney after filing the inner man
gave US but little opportunity to in
terview the town. We did not even
have time to call upon Bro. Kellogg,
Of the Tribune, We could, however,
observe that the best portion of the
town was located in the scattered tim
Der upon gradual slope of hill fac
ing to the south and to the railroad.
The site is good, and we could see
among the trees very many buildings
IN process of construction and at all
the various stages Of completion some
OF them Of quite large dimensions and
everything around as far as we could
see vas indicative of thrift. But from
our point of observation we could see
but little Of the country upon which
this place is to rely for its support, yet
it is claimed that about two miles
north and west Of the town an open
prairie and rolling country commences
and stretches for many miles, COM
posed Of excellent farming land while
about six miles to the south and east
a similar character of land commences
and extends to the heart of the great
Palouse country. This point is
claimed to be the delivery point for
the Pine creek, Hangman Creek and
much of the Palouse country on the
Northern Pacific and the point most
easy of access from said sections. If
this be true Cheney certainly has
future, because it has rich country to
back it, and one that is extensive.
From this point the line of the road
along over alternate patches of basalt
rock and scanty soil and amid tule
lakes for many miles, when it reaches
Sprague small town just above the
head OF the Big lake. A very little
good land is in sight of Sprasue, but
it is said that few miles each way
from the line of the road the land be-
comes much better, and from this
point also DIVORCES the principal route
leading to Camp Spokan and the Big
Bend of the Columbia, where it is
claimed that belt of land from 40 to
% miles in length, by from 20 to 80
miles in width exists that is both rich
and comparatively we'll watered and
with timber easy of access. We pass
the Big lake about I miles long by
from one-half to one mile in width,
which is beautiful sheet of water,
mostly devoid of timber upon its mar
gin and whose surface is covered with
thousands of wild ducks of every
species, and in certain seasons is the
rendezvous Of thousand of wild geese
and swan. Beyond this lake we came
to the famous town of Ritzville in an
open an extended plane covered with
bunch grass and small rock with very
light soil. A few houses were erected
here, but we could but see meagre evi-
dences from the road Of attempts at
cultivation though here too it is
claimed that two or three miles from
the track the good land commences.
Thence we proceed till we reach the
6S mile station where we dined Here
and several stoppings EDWARDS, the vat
er for the use Of trains is raised from
deep wells into large tanks by means
of large wind mills. Thence forward
most of the route follows the bottom
of several comics, which are dry and