Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1883-05-03

railroad than that through which thu
Northern Pacific had been extended from
Ainsworth to Missoula via Spokane Falls
Mr.. Willard then said that the Spokane
j Falls route had been chosen not for it,
local business as much as for the best
through line. The reply was that the
| Clearwater route WIS much shorter, and
better, and would furnish much more To-
cal support Mr. Willard then ntimated
that the steamboats, could do the bust
ness OF Lewiston and its surroundings
and would be likely to do most Of it even
had We a railroad He was told that we
here thought differently, that in his re-
marks to the people of Portland he had
claimed differently and admitted that a
railroad through from Portland to Cali
itorna and extended TO San Francisco
would do the principal business and would
greatly injure that of tbs ocean line of
steamships, and we thought a railroad up
Snake river would have similar effect
upon steainboa;in! On the river. We
claimed that We had as good country as
any ca the Coast although removed from
market contcrs, and lacking in complete
transportation facilities, and these we
needed badly, and that we were striving
to obtain them Mr. Willard then said
that local road cast of Us would doubt
less be benefit to us, and l,e should con
sidcI the question of constructing such
road. He was told that our people would
be very glad to obtain such a road Mr..
Willard then asked upon what authority
We put faith in the Oregon Short Line
coming to this place. He was answered
upon the authority Of the movements and
language Of the surveyors in charge Of
the surveys and work of location, and
from other information received. He
answered that the determination of the
building of railroad lines by that company
were to be made in New York and that
those surveyors were not supposed to
know. We answered that we well knew
that fact, but it was our privilege to in
Ter from the movements of company
in making important surveys that they
had some purpose to build roads over
these lines, if found practicable and ad-
vantageous. That it was true that the
public could not be certain about the pur-
poses Of any company till they had pub
licly announced their purposes and even
then they were liable to be misled He
said that the public could not charge him
with failure to make good his promises
We answered that we were not aware of
his failing in his plans and purposes, ex-
cept where he found himself unable, from
some cause not forescen, to fulfil. We
told him that this people needed railroads
to connect us with market and business
centers both east and west and that We
should struggle to secure them, if not
from one source, we should try others till
we obtained them We believed we had
the country to offer profits to any railroad
that would be built to drain our products
and that we were proud of our advantages
in this respect, and that in this respect
we felt ourselves quite independent in
seeking railroad men to examine and build
if they too found advantages in our sit
uation, that we did not expect nor even
ask them to build merely to accommodate
us without profit to themselves In his
remarks he admitted that we had fine
town site, and country around us that
ensured us prosperity as town even with
out railroad But he never intimated
that he should consider the question of
giving us one unless it was local road
to drain the agricultural lands to the east
of us, and as We inferred to augment the
traffic of his steamers on the river below
Lewiston. He said he had no objection
to any other company's building, and
well he could say this for any objection
he might offer, we do not suppose would
avail him, if any other company of means
should desire to build. After the above
in substance had been said the time of
the steamer had arrived and Willard and
those present parted with shake of the
hand and general friendly adieu.
-.
Surveys.