Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1884-01-10
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. COR
RECTED.

Some parties have been quite inlustri.
Gus in representing to the outside world
and especially to the lnaguates Of the
Union Pacific, that the northwest, be
tween the Cascades and Bitter Root
ranges of mountains was pre-occupi2d BY
the Willard system of railroads, to such
IN extent as to preclude the possibility Of
another railroad building in the section
with any chances Of making their in
vestment financial success. Such mis-
representations are very far from the
truth, as is well known by every intcll-
gent man who has an acquaintance with
the country, and the sooner the outside
public, including the Union Pacific and
O. s. L. managers, are disabused Of these
misrepresentation, the better. both for
the people who dwell here as wen as for
the companies who are seeking profitable
routes for the investment Of money in the
construction Of railroads. Tie Northern
Pacific road has mileage of about 325
miles west Of the Pen dOrillc Lake in
Guiding the Palouso branch of 50 miles
70 Colfax, only about 30 miles OF which
really is within or bordering the great
wheat belt of the northwest, ana that Is
the 80 miles next west from ColIax
along the Paouse branch, all else Is
along and through what we Of the west
term the poor lands of the northwest,
and almost wholly outside Of the settle
ments, save such as have been made there
upon the building Of the road, within the
three years last past, with the expectation
Of making money ont of the construction
Of the road and their immediate proXim-
ity to the road and not from the settlers
choice of the lands as agriculture! lands.
Any man who knows the country by cx-
tending line from the point where the
Northern Pacific crosses the Pen d'Orillc
Lake, at Sand Point, direct to Wallula
across any map of this country, will tell
you that the great productive wheat belt
Of Eastern Washington and Northern
Idaho lies south and east Of this lire,
while the Northern Pacific railroad is
built north aud west Of this line and not
one mile Of it enters the wheat belt, save
. small portion of the Palousc branch,
reaching Coltax, and that most Of tic
lard south and east Of this line reaching
the Bitter Root and Blue mountains hls
. very fertile soil and embraces millions
Of acres and contains naar y all The agri-
cultural settlements, Of any standing, and
NO portion of it has a railroad, save the
email extent of the Palousc branch men
toned, and the road from Wallula to
WaIla Walla, thence to Dayton and Ri
paria, and small narrow guage from
Walla Walla to the foot Of the Blue
mountains, and yet the Willard men will
have the audacty to tell you that their
system embraces and supplies this north
west with all needed railroad facilities, a
misrepresentation as large as the country
itself. The present and prospective
wealth and value of all the Columbia and
Snake river valleys lies south and east of
the line above mentioned, save what may
be on the eastern slope of the Cascade
range Of mountains. We were informed
on the llth of December, ultimo, that up
70 that time only 5 trains of cars had
brought wheat over Northern Pacific,
westward from the lines of the road to
Vahula, showing conclusively that, al
though more than two years had that
road been completed as far as Rathdrum,
yet they had not been able to produce
wheat along the line for shipment to any
extent worthy of mention During the
same time since the commencement OF
the harvest, that portion of the country
south and east of the aforc mentioned
line, has been ready to supply the boats
and trains with 10000 tons more than
they could transport up to that time, and
yet not more than onc-tenth of the ca.
pacity Of the lands to produce has been
brought into use Such is the difference
in the character and capacity of the land
tributary to the Northern Pacific and
that which lies south and east of the
line before mentioned. The immediate
projection Of the Union Paciic's Oregon
Short Line down Snake river from the
mouth Of Burnt river to the Columbia,
will obtain this traffic, because it win
pierce the heart Of this productive couu-
try, and by a few feeders viii Absorb
nearly the whole of it, and should they
make provision to transport wheat 10y
rail, and in bulk, to the east, they viii
have this great wheat product To carry