Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1883-07-26
WHAT Is BEFORE Ua?
LEWISTON, July 20, 1889

i'AoN, "oiy ~, 1000
MIR. EDIroR:-It puzzles me to un-
derstand what is meant by the movements
of the Oregon Short Line, of making so
thorough survey of the Snake river
canyon, at so large an expense, if they do
not intend to build their line down the
river. l see that you express much faith
in their purpose to build, while several
others disclaim all good faith in this move
ment. The arguments you have used
why they should build and at that early,
to me, seem almost unanswerable, and
the same views seem to be imbibed by
others whom have heard express them
selves, and | am sure no event could hap
pen that would give more and better sat
isfaction to the people generally, than to
see the work of construction Of this road
down Snake river commenced vigorously
and continued towards tide water of the
Sound. But yet find several who are
very unbelisving in the good faith of the
companys intentions to build. They
seem to claim that the surveys being made
are only ruse to secure some advantage
eous compromise with the ORA NCo.,
in regard to traffic over the 0. r. & N.
Company's road to Portland from the
mouth of Burnt river and they attempt
to infuse the sentiment among the people
that the O. S, l.. never really intended
to build down Snake river. | have my
own suspicious that this latter view has
become current in certain quarters through
the efforts of those who believe in the re-
ported compromise claimed to have been
made last February between the o. r. 4
n Co and the Union Pacific. A com
promise which | observed that you denied
when it was first published, The real
facts in the case do not suppose are any
more within your knowledge than they
are within that of others in this section
Indeed you have never claimed they were
and yet still express faith in the early
building of the o. 8. l.. down the Snake
river and thence to Puget Sound. The
people of this section seem to have SC
much interest in this question that they
all want to know early all the facts in the
case and some go so far as to say that
lyon must know facts that give you assur-
ance that you are either unwilling, or are
not at liberty to make public. But ap,
lprehend that your opinions are based
upon general movements Of the company
rather than upon any definite knowledge
Of their intentions, as it could not be
reasonably expected that Jay Gould and
Sidney Dillon or any one Of the directors
of that company would communicate in
advance, their intentions to o stranger
here who was no way ip their employ OIL
! under their instructions, about the build
ing of their roads, | have been told thai
MIR. Willard has done such things. Bu
/ am quite sure the Union Pacific mana
gers are not in the habit of SO doing.
noticed that you quoted in your pape
of yesterday, from the Walla Walla Unio,
an admission that it was nearly certai,
that the o. S, L. would build dow
Snake and full belief that before tn
close of 1886 the road would be bull
down Snake and tap Walla Walla. Thi
certainly is great revolution in sentimen
> on the part of the Onion since last win
ter. What has made this change? Is
2 the result Of a forlorn hope of ever gain
n ing any more favors from the @. r. & n
Co., that induces that paper to now ae
to the O. S. L.? Again, ] this Afternoon