Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1885-08-13
THE JOINT LEAeE OF THE
O, r. 4 n.

TA0 JOINT L0A9G OF TaG
o. r. 4 N.
So far as we can learn it is confidently
claimed that this lease has been effected
by the Directors CT the two companies.
We learn that some few conditions have
yet to be settled. Tho property is not
yet turned over and it is difficult to deter.
mine when it will be, and we know not
yet under what arrangements the business
will be conducted A circular letter
signed by G. b. Wright, ex- President Of
the Northern Pacific, Of date July Sd,
intimates that the action Of the Directors
will have to be ratified by the stock.
holders meeting in September, and fur
Their intimates that large number Of the
prominent stockholders are opposed to
the lease, and notwithstanding the action
Of the Directors, this counter-movemen
may yet become the strongest and the
whole project Of the lease may be burst
like bubble. As the TELLER stated in
leading article ON the Both of July, it
was remarkable stroke Of sagacious
policy on the part Of the o. r. & N. to
induce these two great companies into
this joint lease, under the belief that it
would benefit both, while as VIC fully
believe from our standpoint, that it will
benefit neither but be damaging to both
and only benefit the O. II. 4 N, the
lessons, and cripple the interests Of the
entire country in the basin Of the great
Columbia river. 1t is another deviation
Of the Northern Pacific from the original
purpose Of its projectors as well as from
the purpose Of Congress who gave them
the grant Of land, BY causing a further
delay IN completing the Northern Pacific
to the tidewater Of Puget Sound, and
materially checking the growth Of the
Sound country and making it primarily
tributary to Portland and Oregon. The
projectors Of this lease are a. much at
variance with the true purpose Of the
Northern Pacific charter as Corbett was
when he induced the Senate to change
the main line Of their road from crossing
the Cascade Mountains direct to that via
Portland and making the branch cross
the mountains. As much at variance
with the original design Of the projectors
Of tie road and the land grant, as was
Willard when be determined that Port.
land should have all the advantages Of
the road instead Of Puget Sound and the
country east Of the Cascades. We dou't
wonder that Wright and Billings and
others Of the original stockholders kick At
the lease. They can toresee that this
lease only fosters the hopes Of the o. r.
4 n. company and gives il an opportu.
nifty to build itself up upon the great
wheat growing country which was origi.
nally designed to. pay its tribute to the
Northern Pacific. II this leaso goes into
effect for any considerable length Of time,
till the 0. r. + N. can strengthen its
stakes and extend their branches between
tho Northern Pacific and their present
Baker City line, they will almost COM
pletely shut out the Northern Pacific
from the wheat traffic Of the great wheat
eoantsy lying between the Bitter Root
Mountains on the east to the Cascades
on the west. The managers Of the N. p.
ought to remember how they were in.
weighed to believe that the Pen d'Oreille
pas Of the mountains waa the only prac-
teal pass 70 the east from the Columbia
basin, and to adopt that pass at cost Of
millions Of dollars, while they were told
differently, and which has since been fully
demonstrated ~ mot true. Aud al this
was the urgent work Of the 0. r. 4 N.
Co., to mislead the N. p. % far north
that the o. R. / N. company could save
for themselves the best Of the country.
A member of the company told Us this
design before the N. P. had struck lick
Of work on the road east from Aiusworth,
and Gen. Sprague, then the Western
If the N. p, will affirm
that We told him these facts, which ia |
auced him 70 send McCartney to examine
The Bitter Root pan. His report was
anfavorable, and the Pen dOreille was |
adopted. An Idaho company aiterwards
ant out an engineer with party who
had no difficulty in finding good pass,
i leas than $500 feet above - level,
With good grades in the approach from
both east and west, The maximum being
IS Geet per mile, and We have now that
'all report Of the examination made BY !