Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1888-04-26
THIS RIoaT.oF-WAY 1UsruEss


Lewiston, April 20, 1883.
EDITOR TELLER:
You have generally been relied upon
Tor the latest and most authentic newt
regarding our railroad prospects, and We
have found that your notes aud observa
tions have seldom come short Of the truth
But 10 observe lately that you have ap
peared disheartened about the prospect
of seeing a railroad at Lewiston to con-
meet Is with the outside world east O,
west north or south although much
surveying of lines in all these
directions have been going on. But
neither pick, spade nor shovel nor scrap.r
have been used for grading purposes.
Much has been written and promised
BY correspondents, not only for the
TELLER but also for other journals, full
ofhope and expectations, but up TO the
present time nothing has eliminated into
the building Of one rod Of railroad save
the short line temporarily placed on the
Fifth street grade, and the iron Of tina,
was soon required for use elsewhere by
the 0. r. 4 N. Co., 50 that We were not
left even the track nor the rolling
stock for gravel train. Several roads
have, within tho three years last past,
started for this place, but it would
seem that on approaching to within
twelve, fifteen. twenty or thirty mile.
they would all Of sudden cease to
build. Perhaps they we're waiting for
rs to offer them subsidy to build into
the town. The town have never
declined to give them right of way into
town and depot grounds and room for
repair and machine shops such as needed
But they have not been forward to buy
the right Of way and grounds of others
who live along the line Of road for
twenty-five or thirty miles. outside Of
town, from settlers whose property would
be enhanced in value proportionally with
that Of the settler in the town. They
have thought that If they gave up their
own what was needed here, others along
the line could afford to be proportionally
liberal, who we're to BE- proportioually
benefited. If the right Of way is to be
bought from outsiders. the belief Las
gained that the company itself were far
better able to purchase it and could do it
upon better and more satisfactory terms
than the people Of Lewiston could do it.
Again it 10 not generally understood
that any company who propose building
are 10 need Of money to purchase right
Of way to Lewiston. If there bs not
sumcient inducement in the prospective
business Of Lewiston and the country
tributary to it to pay q railroad to come
here, no company will come here simply
upon the offer Of the purchasing for that
company right Of way for twenty Eve
or thirty miles outside. The people Of
town can show their good will to com.
Pany in much more substantial way 10
giving 1t business, and let the company
Itself make ito own contracts for right of
way beyond the limits Of the town. The
company should contract directly with
he settlers along the line Of the road
md not through town as a third party.
The latter course would complicate
hings and shift responsibility aud cause
ndless trouble and dissatisfaction. fla
own is to do anything it had better pay .
Is money direct as q subsidy than to at. :
smpt to tinker with purchasing the
ight Of way Of settlers for rs, 80 or 40 ,
lilies, for some one else to occupy. For
aese reasons the proposition that Lewis.
70 should purchase the right of way of !
'tslers between this place and Wa Va
u and make tender Of it to the o. R.
n. Co., or any other company as .
'ndition Of their building to Lewiston, S
d not fad many advocates, and as l "
. informed but small amount was ia