Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-04-16
following report was submitted and


Whereas, The great Northwest terri
Dry, comprising the states of Oregon,
Washington and Idaho form one nat
lral and vast water shed, and the fer
lie fields of Walla Walla and the Pal
use, Clearwater, Potlatch and Snake
r,vtr valleys, with those of Yakima,
t<lickitat and the Big Bend of the Col
lmbia and Umatilla form chain Of
.rable lands known as the valley Of
oiumbia river basin, an area equal in
tent to whole of New England and
he states of New York, Pennsylvania
I'd Ohio, and capable of supporting II
population as dense as is now MAIN
lined in the states named, and which
alleys are now known AS the richest
Rain producing region of Anueri,
md perhaps in the world. the market
values of whose products are well
known in the United Kingdom and
the continent of Europe, and
Whereas, It is for the welfare and
prosperity of this great region that the
cost of transportation Of its products
the markets of the world be reduced
a minimum, "a that the great waterway
of the mighty Columbia forms an out
let unequaled in any land, and it is Of
the utmost Importance that this great
natural highway to the Sc. be mad
available to every producer and con-
sumner, agriculturist, laborer, frui.
grower, merchant and miner, and be
opened rs Il free river to the sea AS rap
idly as possible, and the crop of 1890 il
not entirely remov Il at this dat.
owing to the lack of sufficient and
cheap transportation.
Whereas, The state of Oregon by an
act OF the legislature has pla, ed in the
lands OF the commission suf1icie,
unds to provide transportation by
means Of u portage railway over til,
cascades of t. Columbia which CT.
70 placed in operation within the ne.
'inety days, which practically leave.
portage around the obstruction a
The Dalles to be carried by a railway
md believing that the distractions in
he Columbia can he surmountcd b,
he building of u railway, and this rail
'ay to be equipped with sufficient 70.
ng stock to transport, say 1000 tons
# freight per diem, and which road
lay be used and employed until til.
'r,nanent improvements conten'
p tied by the government of tn.
United States in the establishment of Il
e Ilway from The Ds,lles to Cello be
completed, and completion of the
canal and locks at the Cascades of the
Columbia is made; therefore be it
Resolved, That. it is the sense of this
meeting of representatives from the
everal states named that the work
,uilding the railr ad and suitable in.
clines from the beginning to the end OF
he distractions at The Dalles he under
t-.ken as speed ~ as possible.
Resolved, That, in order to build
nd construct the railroad referred to
with necessary inciines, a corporation
Z Ne organized under the laws of the
state Of Oregon with following til.
powers to build, construct ana own
and operate, or lease or buy a line Of
railroad, to be operated and propelled
by steam around the distractions at
The Dalles and Cello, on the Column
bia, with power to establish and own
necessary steamboats,, barges and
wharves, and to operate and maintain
in the states of Oregon, w shington
and Idaao; to borrow money, buy,
own, operate or lease a telegraph line,
and to be used in connection with the
said railroad or steamboat line; to
build, construct and own, and to use or
lease, all necessary depot buildings,
engine houses, shops and
1ther buildings necessary for the pur-
pose of maintaining the said road, and
to have other incidental powers per-
taining to railroads and transportation
and to have power to oper-
ate and maintain all necessary inn
such corporations shall be
perpetual and. shall. have capital of
- ,000, 600 divided into $4,000 shares of
US each; that as the stock of said COM
oany is subscribed, such stock or the
power to vote some shall he placed in
he hands Of such trustees rs may here
liter be determined by said stock
holders and selected to perpetually vote
'ame to the end; that only such per-
sons shall be elected and retained on
he board eff said company as shall be
entirely committed, and said road and
ts inclines and other works in the in
terest Of shippers, with the view and
purpose of alone charging and exacting