St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-04-08


New Territory Proposed-"sour Grapes"
For the san Francisco Mercantile Foxes
Suggested Return of Chief Joseph-Im-
acknowledgements of Snow-Im-
migration and the Ceur D'AIene Excite
ment.
Special Correspondence of THE GLOBE
LEWISTON, I. T., April 3.-Haying passed
through more than the ordinary vicissitudes
of frontier towns, Lewiston, the first capital
of Idaho Territory, has reached Il solid basis
in my opinion. If the sanguine hopes of
its founders, entertained twenty years ago,
have not been and never may be realized,
the inevitable croaker of that infantile
period (no doubt the GARDEN of Eden would
have been represented by croaker if the
population had been about one greater)-has
likewise been disappointed in his lugubrious
predictions. Though the population now
hardly reaches Il thousand, all lines Of bust
ness are well sustained, and growth is steady
and healthy. With railroad communication
for which there is prospect, Lewiston would
be almost sure to spring forward TO some
thing akin to, and it might be surprising
her by-gone greatness. when she was the
seat of territorial government and the trail
ing centre for several highly productive
placer camps-still producing little gold.
THE SITE.
Is few miles above the Clear water Fork of
the Snake River, and is reached by the Col
umbia river boat when the water is at its
highest stag. This is the only means of COM
munication, except by stages and freight
terms But their are some excellent farm
ing lands surrounding and within easy tread
ing distance Of the place, and vast extent
of unsurpassed grazing landslide former
susceptible of varied cultivation, and the
latter affording ample subsistence to herds
throughout the winter season. Probably the
oldest and largest apple trees on the Pacific
Coast are within ten miles of Lewiston, the
seeds having been brought in over forty
years ago by the veteran missionaries Spald-
ing and Whitman, who first planted the
cross of Christianity, on the Protestants side
of the question, among the tribes of Upper
Columbia Their fruitful labors were per-
| formed among the NeZ Perces. There is
now | am told, a large surplus of grain in the
| country-the bread demand being supplied,
and it being Improbable to ship at the pre-
seat high transportation rates. Railroad com
munication would immensely increase grain
production, resulting in a proportionate in
crease, OF all kinds of bread business, and
this might redoun to the advantage of the
st. Paul, as it will be their own
fault if they do not control the entire Upper
Columbia trade.
PROSPECTIVE RAILROAD COMMUNICATION
of course the all-observing matter of inter
est with the people of Lewiston. 1t seems to
be the general feeling that they will be first
reached by an extension of the Oregon Short
Line but they have hopes, if they have not re-
ceived promises, from the Oregon Railway IL
Navigation Company. 1t is fact that the
Northern Pacific has had appended or inau-
encing its management town building com
bination. l would suggest that the sooner it
was shaken off the better it would be for the
general interests of stOckh olders. While the
extension of a branch to Lewiston might
be temporary if not permanent cloud
over the prospects of certain rival towns, it
would certainly result in adding to the COM
! pany's resources Il large extent of valuable
tributary territory.
1t is urged here-and think your readers,
upon examining the subject, will say with
sound reasoning-that Congress should carve
new territory out of Montana and Idaho be-
fore considering the policy of admitting either
as a state. 1t is well known by all who took
part in, or are posted in regard to, the ar
guments advanced in favor of the organiza-
ton of Idaho, and Immediately after that of
Montana, that the lines as they now stand
-, Ja1 No, no bc
first embraced all of Montana. Almost ST
simultaneously with the passage of the organ
ic act of Idaho, gold was discovered in and
there was great rush OF immigration,
to what is now Montana.
THE PLAN.
1t was then ascertained that, for topo-
graphical reasons the functions of civil gov
eminent could not be exercised over all this
vast territory-extent and typographical
conditions made judicial control impractic
able. The main range Of the Rockey noun :
tains, with the rugged Salmon river spur, al
most unexplored, were impossible barriers
by any known direct route between the min
ing camps, then the objective points of emf
grafton and still are. Stringing up roughs
and highway men by the dozen out in Mon
tana, by popular tribunals was an argument
in power of establishing regular courts as
speedily as possible that could not be an
swered. And so the territory of Montana
was brought into existence upon the spur of
the moment and to meet eXigencies of a
purely temporary character. Ripping Idaho
from north to south in this summary way,
she being delivered of Montana by sort of
C8serine operation, has made her kind of
geographical monstrosity on the map. Be
low a little shriYeled ankle running up to the
British line is the club-footed extent OF Idaho
territory; it is sever al hundred miles south
ward along and over rugged ranges. From
the Coeur D'Alene country, the present great
objective point of emigration to Boise City,
the territorial capital. The judicial and 9TH
er inconvenciences of public character are
as great in the present condition of affairs
as they were before Montana was set off.
SOMETHING MUST BE DONE.
How would it do to extend the northern
boundary of Wyoming westward to the Ore
gon line for the southern boundary of North
ern Idaho, with the crest of the Rocky noun
tains for her eastern line? The congressional
pruning-knife shall certainly be applied to
give this geographical monstrosity and polit-
zeal impracticabilitv better appearance
among her neighbors and freezer breathing
position. 1t must he done now or never, as
state boundaries, without state consent, are
! beyond congressional control.
! For the first time since commercial inter
course has existed between the Colum bia