Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1898-12-02
The Railroad Situation.


many developments in the railro ad
situation. At the same time there has
been continuous activity and con
fiict of flying rumors every dav of the
week. The o. r. & n. company has
been locating lines in and about the
city. The purposes of the company
are yet mystery. A large amount OF
building material was hurried forward
by boat to this city, but 1t lies at the
wharf.
The company has had surveyors in
and around the city for a week or
more. They extended line up Clear
water on the north side. This line was
run last spring as far as the Sicott
place, opposite the "point," which
was then selected a. q bridge site.
Some work was done on the proposed
bridge site this week, too; but the ex-
tension Of the line beyond the north
terminus would indicate q change Of
plans and a desire to either enter the
city on the west, or extend feeder up
the Clearwater and build the bridge
for branch down Snake and to meet
the conditions of the gateway" bar
gain.
The Northern Pacific IL actively en-.
gagged in construction work on the
Clearwater cut off. The contract has
been let for the Immediate construction
of sixty miles of road, and large
number OF subcontractors are on the
ground with their crews and outfits
some Of them are already at work.
Hundreds of men have been shipped in
over the Palouse road for this work.
1t is estimated that five hundred men
are already upon she grounds on the
Clearwater and on the route of the
Lapwai spur. A force of men began
grading on the Caldwell plsce last
Monday. The conflict of title sud land
rights have delayed the work on the
Lopwai spur. The government
authorities interpreted objections to
undue haste and the railroaders prop
retors decided to pursue red tape
routine rather than antagonize the
rights of others.
Mr.. Greenough the active business
manager of the firm of Wren e. Green
Tough was in the city Wednesday.
He said his company bad the con-
tract for the Lapwai spur and for the
Clearwater cut off from the junction at
the mouth Of the Polatch and the
mouth of the I.apwai. They were not
limited as to distance. They contract
ed to make the gradeat no much per
yard. Their winters work would be
limited by the condpon of the elm
ate. They hoped to finish the valley
division on both roates this winter and
they expected to press on into the
higher districts - the snow disap-
peared IN the spring.
i Although Mr. Greenough processes
to have no deinite idea of the business
# he railroad company it was plainly
indicated by the condition of the work
in hand that both the Lapwai spur
and the Clearwater cut off are assured
} facts. Both will be pushed forward
with considerable haste, the cut of TO
la Montanaconnection and the spur to
Camas prsrie.
Wren d 6Greenough will have general
supervision of the work. They have
let out sections of work to subcontract-
ors alresdy and will sublet all the work
In sections. The subcon tractors are
already on the ground. The company
has been delayed some by the fomal-
ity of securing rights of way from the
government over allotted lands. This
1t is believed will be regula ted soon.
The large force of men now engaged
will oe greatly increased as soon as con-
ditions will permit and the men can
be secured.
Five railroads are rushing toward
the Seven Devils mining district.
! This great camp is one of the items of
of wealth of this Empire of which
Lewiston is to be the gateway. The
0. II. Il n. railroad Is one Of the roads
that is reaching out for this mineral
district and their policy of down grade
hauls will bring the traffic of the Seven
Devils to Lewiston. This down grade
principle is factor In transportation
must be recognized. This principle
makes Lewiston natural gateway
equal to Ogden, Denver or Kansas
City.
. Already laborers are coming into the
. city with complaints that they connot
obtain satisfactory work with con-
tractors on the rail road. The wages
: are 81, 75 per day and board is 81 per
, week. The old complaints by the old
= plaintiffs is now heard. The board is
= too high, wages are too low and work
; too hard The city as consequence
, is filling up with dissatisfied men
, The contractors advertise for men and
= say all can get work. 1t will be wei