Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1885-05-14
WAREHOUSE ON e. STREET

WAREHO U6G ON ZEE. STREET.
1t il now almost universally conceded
that a system Of warehouses ought to b.
construction the water frontof + stree
10 accommodate the business Of Lewiston
It was anticipated about 6 years ago b,
the more thoughtful men Of the city, anc
70 this end they attempted to purchas,
the strip Of land between 4 street ant
the river, believing that at some time mo-
far IN the future, tho necessity of til,
bailding would DO apparent. The,
I'D purchaso at what was then deemed ,
high price for this strip Of land, and took
deeds for i from the Mayor, trustee o.
tho city. A few months after the pur
tAase one Of the purchasers made an ar
yangement with the 0. II. Il N. Co, b,
which he was to build good substantial
warehouse at their expense, he furnish
ed material, and startedto construct sale
Improvement, which induced some other.
to raise objections ostcnsibly upon ths
ground that this frontage must be KEEP
open as public levcc and great hue anc
cry Was made against him, that he wa,
attempting to rob the city Of property
which they ought to retain as public
property, although it had never been
dedicated FOR public purposes, but i.
reality had been decided to tho individu
u BY the city as private property
When the 0. r. 4 N. Company found
this out they advised their agent to build
elsewhere and abide the time when pub
lie feeling was less intense upon the ques-
ton, and tho agent did as directed.
Thus matters have remained for nearly
nix years and Lewiston has been without
respectable warehouse and wharf ever
since. This spring some Of the city IA
theirs have conceived the idea that good
warehouse was necessary and, ignoring
The deeds which they had already given
y this strip Of land, and the fact that the
city had sold il and received the consid.
GRAFTON money, they have leased this
ground 70 other parties and pretended to
authorize and empower those lessces 10
80 forward and construct suitable ware
house md wharf aud require Of Them to
ny yearly rent to the city for the use Of
this ground The only protensc for this
Ignoring Of these deeds BY the city is
they claim that the city authorities OK
isting when tho sales were made, tran
scsn led thsir powers in making the sales,
and Ut have never asked that the court
set aside the deeds as unauthorized, but
have suffered them to remain upon tho
county records for nearly six years, aud
allowed, with one exception, the claim
ants, under tho deeds, to hold dominion
over tho land without let or hindrance,
up 70 the time Of their leasing il to other
parties ! few weeks ago. They gave
this lease under the protest Of the claim.
mt and owners BY these deeds made
public By publication in the newspapers.
They neem 70 avoid fighting directly the
men 70 whom they have decided the land
and whose land they now seek 10 reclaim
and make their fight through lcssccs,
while the claimants seem to contest their
right II equity 70 any such treatment al
the hands Of anybody, corporate, and
would not for one moment submit to il IL
attsnsted ~ any private citizen. The
real questions involved they seem to want
. dodge, = avoid raising doubts as 10 the
validity Of titles toother lands in the CITY.
Il tbs validity Of these titles is uncertain
= would b better for jill parties con
cerued that : judicial determination BE-
had = early a. possible and 1t tho least
expense 70 both the Inhabitants Of the
city and tho parties who hold these deeds.
Already both the city and claimants have
Issued leases upon some Of this ground
dependant upon entirely different titles
to the land, md the public welfare Of the
city and the individual CONTESTANT, de.
mand % Element Of the con.ro, trsy.
that the land may Be improved to accom-.
modate the business interests Of the city
now fast growing 70 q position Of impor.-
ancc Again there are many eircum-
stances connected with tbs early transfer
OF these titles that are now fresh in the
minds Of witnesses that may soon be be-
yond the reach Of the parties Interested
" reason OF death or absence Of wit
nsaaes, and which have but very impcr-
fsce record kept Of them. Already some
very important witnesses have died and
sonle nave left the country beyond the
reach OF the process Of our courts, aud
Ne presume no one desires that dc!ay in
Hettlisg these questions shall occur to the
prsJudace Of tho rights Of any parties.
Xxmrn