Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1883-09-20
WHAT WE HAVE ALONG SNAKE
RIVER.

Lewiston, WITH senator Doiph anu hoiho
of his German friends. he had little
talk with the editor of the TELLER at
the store of Agent j. p. Nollmer, in
which conversation, Mr. Willard said he
had never intended to build railroad up
Snake river to Lewiston, that they did
talk of one IN the Pataha and over the
divide and thence to Lewiston, but they
had found the grade too heavy to sur
mount the divide and the matter was
abandoned; that they should consider
the matter of building east to Camas Pra-
IRE, as that might be needed. But that
their was no need Of road up Snake
river to Lewiston, that their steamboat.
could do all the business that would be
required between this point and Riparia.
We told him that we did not so consid-
or the matter ; that we thought that We
had country to support railroad that
the steamboats, were not adequate for the
business that we wanted railroad and
were determined to have one, if 1t were
in our power to induce railroad men to
build, and gave him to understand that
our hopes were in the Short Line, as
they were not disposed to build. The
substance of said conversation was pub
isned in the TELLER the week after we
had gone, and no one has disputed the
facts then stated. We have since had
seed time, and part of our harvest, which
is not ended for the year, and from the
closest estimate we can make of the grain
raised on the land tributary to Snake riv,
or, between the mouth of the Grand
Ronde river (2S miles above Lewiston) J,
and the terminus of the o. r. e. N. Cos
road at Riparia, Notwithstanding the
long dry season, not less than 10000
tons have been raised, full threc-fourths
Of which, say $4,000 tons will be for
shipment if transportation can be had,
and yet not more than go acres out of
each 160 acres Of this land so tributary
has been sown and cultivated for grain
the present year.
Now, let us see what provision hes
been made by Mr.. Willard to take away
this grain by his boats. SO far, since
the harvest has commenced, only one
boat has been along the upper portion of
the river to take off this grain, and that
has only made two trips per week, and
could at this stage of the water only car
~ from so to 60 tons per trip, the bal
ancc Of her load to make up 100 tons,
was tkaen on at points lower down the
river, where the water was better for safe
navigation. Wheat buyers have been
up through among the producers and
have seen the wheat, and say they would
buy if they could forsec any chance for
shipment the present season One buy
or from Portland was here short time
ago, and said he had $4,000 in bank
which he would like to put into wheat of
this upper country, and would do so if
he could obtain any assurances that he
could have it shipped in any reasonable
season upon the steamer. We have been
told that another boat will be put on the
route, which can carry about as much as
the one now running, and the time is to
be so changed that each of these boats
will make three trips per week, which
will give us six trips per week, each tax
ing about 100 tons Of grain to the end
Of the railroad, so that each week can be
taken away 900 tons. Now to get our
grain to market at the proposed rate, will
will require so weeks, or one entire year.
Now suppose double the acreage had
been sown, which would have been only
40 acres to each 160, what would have
become of the grain? The Captain of
the steamer says that already the banks
Of the Snake are lined with stacks of
grain at all the landings between this
point and Riparia, and much of it on
the ground, which will be exposed to
rains, and that hundreds of tons are COM
ing forward every day, and that much
more would come if there was any imme-
date prospect of getting it shipped. The
Columbia Chronicle has the following
"WANr MORE BoArs-From Mr..
II. c. Rice, of Pataha City, We learn
that the farmers of Garfield county are
unable to sell their grain, except upon
shipping receipts, and as there is but one
boat running on the upper Snake river,
shipping receipts are correspondingly |
scarce. Many of the farmers ran heavily
in debt last year and are really in bad
financially unless they sell
their grain. A large acreage was sown
ast year, which with the unexpectedly
arge yield this year has left large
Of wheat in the country which
must be disposed of. Some of the far