Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1886-12-09
NUM- BER 10
The Propos d Steamboat Railway.


In his remarks before the board Of
trade last Saturday, Senator Dolph spoke
at some length 10 favor of the proj' ct f,r
"A steamboat railway at The Dalles Of tho
Columbia. lie said truly that the pro-
posed improvement at The Dalles was
the counterpart of the improvement at
the Cascades; that they should have
''been commenced at the Same time,
canied on together and completed, if
possible, at the same time" While this
v ew Of The case is by no means new.
1t is only just now coming to be recog-
nized generally. The canal at the
Cascades will be Of small value if the
distinctions at The Dalles remaiA. Un-
I'll both works are accomplished the
main body of the Columbia river basin
will get no relief.
In the far away future, no doubt,
there will be canal at The Dslles.
But it will take many years and coet
many millions of dollars to make il. Id
the meantime the country needs the
means Of transporting its productions to
the ocean. 1t has been proposed, as the
readers of the Oreyonian well know, to
make portage railroad which will pick
up steamboats, bodily and carry them in.
laud around the distractions. The plan is
precisely like that Of Capt. Eads for an
Is'huus ship railway, with the exception
that it is on a small scale aud proposes
the expenditure Of hundreds where the
Eads scheme calls for thousands. En-
giueers consider it entirely practicable,
aud practical transportation men declare
that it would save to the producers Of the.
" Columbia river basin in the matter Of
r freight, $l,0oO,OOO the first year, and
y eventually, ten times that sum per
G annum.
i The Columbia Waterway convention;
u the Portland board Of trade, and all other
G organized bodies that have considered
d the matter have pronounced in favor Of
Is this plan Of improvement, willing u
IS accept it instead Of tho more elaborate
" and costly work originally proposed in
J. consideration of the immediate advantages
l. to be gained. Senator Dolph approves
Of this plan most cordially. He has ex.
'e amined the plans and models Of the pro.
re posed Eads railway with special reference
1t to the smaller work here, and is convin
'e ced that practically, there are no eugin
o. eering obstacles in tho way.
ee The cost Of the prop ,sed work, it j
al estimated, will be between thirteen an,
he fourteen hundred thousand dollars, an,
Ill this amount will have to COME 10 one o
he two general appropriations. To postpon
le' the work from year to year would be :
to double or treble its cost. Senator Go,
u. man, chairman Of the Senate eommitte
le- on appropriations, who was in Orego'
ns last summer, declared that he woul
re work tor the project in every poasibl
ne way, aud that he was in favor Of apprc
ell priating the money in lump. His il
pc tercs. in the plan is largely experiments
The assistance Of Senator Gorman vi
bs very valuable, and We are likely
-, hive still more powerful help ff6m Il
~ supporters Of the Eads BILL who woul
like to see this work accomplished y
MI means Of showing what can be done /,
bic the Isthmus. If an earnest tusk
'sil made before congress for the mon,
LOT there is q chance to secure it. The !
'iei ustion is favorable, and the utmosE slIo
ad. should BE- made during the coming q
to sion Of congress. - OSegoHian.