Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1882-08-03
ON THE MAIN TRUNKS.

In view of the amount of windy
sounds that have been uttered in re-
gard to the numerous branch and
and tributary lines Of railroad that
were 10 be constructed in the Colum-
bia basin, but little work is being done;
some upon the maintrunk lines, to-wit:
The Northern Pacific and the O. r. K
N. Company's line, frsm Portland to
Baker City. The scarcity OF laborers
is the principal cause. The companies
feel the necessity Of through lines 10
the east, to make their system attract
i've and to direct eastern emigration
and trade away from California and to
the northwest. The Northern Pacific
finds it necessary to push an eastern
connection before the question Of for
feiting their land grants is acted upon
in congress. Hence with the scarcity
of labor, although abundant means are
ready, we cannot expect much to be
done upoa the feeders and branches,
such as ar, to re ,ch nearly every mans
door in the course Of few years, if we
bellows the promises that have been
made. They seem determined to oc-
cupy thu whole field with their surveys,
for the purpose of shutting out the
dang RS Of competing companies coming
here to invest their money in building
lines, and evidently Intend to hold this
occupation, till they are either driven
from it or till they iiad it convenient
to build themselves. Meantime the
people Of the northwest must wait
patiently their movements and he con
tent, or they must adopt means to in
duce other companies to come in and
claim the ground and construct these
bronches before the present companies
get ready to build. This is difficult
to do unless there is rival main trunk
line across the continent. Different
companies building these feeders to
main line not owned and controlled by
themselves, could not pool freights
and passenger rates with the trunk
lines, to the advantage Of the feeders
and short lines. They would quickly
become absorbed and swallowed up by
the main trunk companies, and hence
it is not an easy matter to induce other
capital TO come in end take hold of
these short lines, unless the Govern
ment should enact laws that would in
sure uniform and equitable rates in
proportion to the distance carried and
give such other protection to smaller
investors as would make them safe.
The. people must zee why under the
circumstances and conditions Of things
in this northwest, it is so difficult to
get strength to resist railroad mon
opoly, or to carry forward the improve
ments that each aud every locality
needs and is now ready for, in the way
of transportation. If we uld rely
upon these powerful companies SO ap
Forthcoming their rates, that the people
a we'll a. themselves could make mon.
ey, there would be no inducement that
We need offer for competing companies
But when the iron heel Of q corpora
tlon that never has soul, is upon the
neck IT = people, their avarice will
seek to hold them there with a resist
less power. Such is human nature,
che world over, and one could not ex.
pect an exception in the case Of the
great company which now seeks the
control Of the freighting CT
~ northwest. Hence for safe
~ the people must y: all times seek
TO have competing lines Of transporta-
tion, and when they do this they are
not the enemies Of any, but are the
friends Of themselves and acting only
in their own defense against aggression
upon their rights. All men, every
where, whether in corporation or
out OF it, are bound to be condescend.
ing, civil, and even quite just and
liberal. towards such as have the power
to retaliate 10 manner and kind, and
this principle in men makes com petit
ton essential 10 the selfare of a people.