Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1881-06-09
[Communcated.]
FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS,

10 W " A0V AAuuoVIA Co wAI1 tAlAVAS NAC
people of Northern Idaho and East
ern Washington comparable sub
sistanse during the next ten years is
of interest to all our people. The low
price paid for farm products and the
high freights extorted for the import
ed goods which we need make the
question, "How shall we make both
ends mset9' very difficult one to all
swer. It is clear that the farmer can
not raise grain and sell it at the pres
ent prices with profit. The markets
of the world are good enough, but
we are outside Of the world, and so
far from it, that the transportation
companies eat our substance in high
freights. So long as there was hope
that the N. P. r. R., would afford in
some relief from the extortions of the
o. R. h N. Co., we could hope and
work on in patience, But now that
Willard has succeeded in capturing
the N. P. R. R. Co., it is useless to
fancy any relief from high freights.
Our only hope now is the competition
of the locks at the Dalfes and Cas-
caaes, thus the giving a new route
open to competition. This cannot be
done in less than ten years. The 0.
R. & N. Company oppose this
improvement with the influence and
their money The Oregonien, the
leading journal On this coast, and to
all appearance, the organ Of the o. R.
Il N. Co., month since opposed ap-
preparations for these improvements.
A few weeks since this same paper
published to the world that Eastern
Washington needed no additional
means of transportation. Nothing
could be more untrue and few things
could be more detrimental; to the in
terests Of Eastern Washington and
Northern Idaho than these editorials
Of the Oregonian. What we most need
is such additional means of transpor-
tation as will, through competition,
relieve us from this terrible freight
tariff of the O. r. l. n. Co., which
robs all our people from the fruits Of
their industry. The country would
be better of with no other means Of
transportation than the old time
freight trains than they are now. All
the people of this section are now
simply the employees of this o. R. l.
N. Co., working for their board and
clothes. This gets all the rest. There
will be in the future, and at no very
remote period, an organized combina-
ton Of the commercial and agricultur.
al interests for mutual protection and
relief. The granger organization SO
powerful for goed was opposed by the
commercial world because they did
not understand each other. But their
interests are the same, and now they
are lightning to understand their mu-
tual independence. Within the next
ten years these two departments Of
industry will organize, unite, and mo-
nopolies and their boasted franchises
will be roughly dealt with. But
what are we to do in the mean time
what can the farmers dot It is clear
that the merchants must continue &c
pay high freights because there is but
one line Of transportation and that has
no regard for what is reasonable
But must the farmer raise grain tc
ship over this line7 Would it not be
better to raise more stock and buy
grain. Stock can be sold here once q
year for money. 1t can be driven
across the country to a market, and
thus save freight. Can we now raise
only sufficient grain to supply ou'
stock, and thus improve the stock
and avoid necessity of giving all W.
earn, not absolutely needed to sustain
life to this monopoly Can we no,
take better care Of our machinery, and
thus avoid the necessity of buying
largely1 Can we not start potteries
tanneries, oil mills and other factories
whereby we can manufacture what w
need, aud save freight. We must d.
something to relieve ourselves from
the terrible expressions of the monop
olies. We read of railroad presidents
stock jobbers, and the like, getting sal
cries of twenty-five and fifty thousant
dollars per year. No mans life il
worth 30 much to the world. If the,
get it or make it, it is because they ar