Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-04-11
RIP VAN WINKLE.
Lewiston. Awakes From Its
Long Rest and puts Its
Shoulder to the Wheel
Of progress.
The Railroad a Sure INing-- One
Of the Richest Undereloped
Countries on the Face
.Ofthe Globe
wslls walia 'states,nan.'1

LEWISTON, idaho, March 20.
Lewiston has donned its robes Of pro-
gress, and from now on will assert its
.riehsful superiority as the future great
inland city of the northwest. The spell
which has bound 1t so long in chains has
been broken by the fairy of enterprise,
and now railroad is foregone conclu-
sion. For quarter of a century its peo-
pie have been almost exiled from the
rest of the country owing to the lack OF
proper railroad connections and nothing
was left for them but to grin and bear 1t.
BY concentration of circumstances a
few leading citizens took hold and in q
very short time proved what could be
done by unanimity when well directed.
A few days since a delegation went t.
Spokane Falls and there discussed the
wants OF Lewiston in the matter of a rail.
road with the Northern Pacific officials
and as result work will soon be com.
menced and the Spokane 4 Palouse
railroad will very soon end at their
very doors.
Lewiston is the key to one Of the rich
est undeveloped countries on the face OF
the globe and with only moderate enter
prise and energy will eventually rival
Spokane Falls without interfering with
the territory naturally belonging to that
wonderful city. Situated at the conflu-
ence Of the Clearwater with Snake river,
Its locality is unrivalled and has the
wealth Of half q dozen empires behind
1t as tributaries.
The country from which it will draw
its wealth Is rich in everything that
builds up communities. In mines 1t has
no equal. Day by day for years past
new discoveries have been made only to
lie dormant waiting for the advent of
railroads and its natural allies, capital
and enterprise. On either side, north,
east and south mines, rich in every
metal, are known to exist. Up the Snake
and its many tributaries are deposits of
copper that will astonish the world, and
that in very short time. In the Clear
water country is almost the home of
gold and the old camps of Orc Elmo, Elk
City, Florence and Warrens will be res
directed and take their rightful places
as wealth producers.
Yet with all the mineral wealth known
to exist 1t is matter of small conse-
quence compared to the agricultural and
timber resources as yet comparatively
untouched. Forests of cedar, fir and
white pine.unexcelled in quality as well
as quantity, lie at its very doors, with
rivers OF great magnitude to float it to its
natural destination where the rivers
meet. creating industries that will and
must eventually give employment to
many thousands OF souls.
Its agricultural resources are not
whit behind and it is more the lack of
transportation for its produce than any
thing else that has caused the present
uprising of the people IN their determipa-
ton to have railroad, and the question
now ID not only one but how many more
will reach here when the Developments
OF this rich and mighty section CON-
mences. AS fruit country it has long
been famous. Apples, pears, peaches,
grapes, apricots aud every known fruit
u the temperate climate, yield
and 10 perfection.
It's climate is perfection and is in itself
an Involvement to live here. The peo-
pie never seem to grow old and men
and ladies l knew twenty-five years ago
are as natural to-day as they were then.
For men with muscle. brains and a
little capital inducements for business
are many on every hand.
1t is virgin field and now is the time
for the young and energetic to 60 there
and take their place and grow up with
what must Of necessity be eventually
the center of untold enterprises.
The feeling amongst the people is one
Of concentrated unanimity and they are
making up for the lost past in wonder
ful manner. The wave of progress hav-
ing reached them it is extending in every
direction and farmers and others outside |
the city join hands for the common well
lare. 1t has always been a favorite
axiom Of mine that success depends
more upon the people than upon the
and when we have both peo-
pie with enterprise, as well as q rich
field for operations, success is absolutely
certain.
As an inducement for the railroad
company to extend its lines here the peo-
pie guaranteed bonus OF 10 per cent. of
he assessed valuation of their property
Ind the willingness with which they
have signed the necessary papers to OBJ
ain the required amount is cheerful to
by any one having the in
crest Of the country at heart.
The citizens Of Spokane Falls have
TODD in with Lewiston gloriously and as
consequence the best Of feeling pre-
'ails. Spokane wants all the territory
be can obtain. us is natural, and her as
istance Is q mere matter of business
'olicy. but none the less acceptable and
will bear fruit beneficial to both.
But what Spokane has done on one
and Walla Walla can do on the other,
nd should attempt without delay. Our
soard ofTrade and Chamber of Com