Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1888-04-05
THE SITUATION UNCERTAIN
YET HOPEFUL.


1t is said that all things in this worl
are mutable. Perhaps in nothing is tn
truth Of this saying more prominent thai
the forcshadowipgs of the plans of rail
road companies on this northwest coast
Ooe day there appears to be almost I
certainty Of the main line of the North
ern Pacific reaching Puget sodnd di
factly across the Cascade mountains, ant
only branch going to Portland. Pres
to, Congress sends the main line dowr
the Columbia to Portland and the branch
across the Cascades, and the main line i,
to be extended around to the sound via
Portland. Then there is talk Of aban
doning the branch altogether as financial
y impracticable. But the land grant is
too tempting to be resisted, and the
grant is held on to, and the patience Of
the people and congress becomes almos,
exhausted BY delays in attempting to bull
till at last the Cascade mountains are
spanned by switcLbnek road and nearly
pierced through by a tunnel. But be
fore this is fully accomplished, both the
Union Pacific and O. r. & N the
western slope road, make terms by which
the latter surrender to the former at
. rental Ct six per cent. per annum for
ninety nine years, then the o. R. 4 n,
ask that the Northern Pacific take halt
Of this lease and jointly operate the
property, and jointly pay the rental.
This is effected, and at first, all parties
claim to be satisfied. Then follows a
division Of territory between the Union
and the Northern Pacific, in which each
should operate without molestation by
the other. It was soon found that the
Northcrn Pacific had the best of the
division, and the city Of Portland, whose
citizens owned largely in the o. r. 4 n,
vas liable to he compelled to play second
fiddler to the cities on the sound, and
they entered a strenuous complaint. and
determined to break the arrangement,
and induced the Portland directors of the
@. R. & NJ, to protest against the
operation Of the joint lease. and to make
preparations to trespass upon Northern
Pacific territory, so soon as the joint
lease could be declared of. In this state
Of things, the Portland directors of the
O. r. 4 ~, were summoned east to
confer with eastern owners and directors.
At latest accounts difficulties had not
been adjusted, and the editor of the
Oregon,an, who is also at the cast, cx-
presses doubt Of amicablc adjustment
being effected right away. 1t was soon
ascertained Of the Portland delegation,
to their surprise, that it was through the
efforts of Willard that the joint least
agreement had been mapped out and
vac so far 10 progress Of completion,
still having faith in Willard, it seemed to
rob the joint lease Of many Of its here
tofore Objectionable features, and it
would not be the most surprising thing
that has occurred among the citizens Of
Portland, to find that this delegation.
when they arrived home, would be eager
10 have the people Of Portland become
'econciled to the joint lease. Willard
elh them that the joint lease is the only
hing that will avert open war between
he companies, that will be disas.rou. to
10TH One thing i, becoming quite ar.
,arent, and that is that the O.. r. & N.
TO-, have come into that position. that
hoy can no longer maintain masterly
Indifference to their surroundings. They
ant hold the key to the situation and
% nothing themselves. There are too
many who covet the prize of supplying
his country with transportation facilities
uch as the demands Of the people call
Or. If they do not want to do it with
theirs, they must do it alone, and that
'ithout delay, or else others will embrace
that they have so long neglected, sup
osing themselves in perfect security
rom all opposition. Everything nov
etokens there will soon be such activity
We have never before witnessed along
make river between here and Riparia. +,
10 now expected that contracts will be ,
t for the work Of grading between this
I'D Riparia within two weeks, and that
ork VII commence along the line as ,
'on as the plant can be transported and
le vorkme1 dan be brought upon the ,
ne, and supplies can be furnished. One ,
the would be contractors informed us
ut if he obtained the contract he
ought he would have the road sraded
far as Lewiston within ten months
pm the time of commencement. If
cse plans do not fail, we may feel
vivnl of hnsiness in th;s eect;cr ,h.. a