Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1898-11-25
The Railroad Situation.

There was some excitement over the
movements OF the railroad engineers,
agents, and large force of graders at
Lapwai last Friday and Saturday. At
one time clash of interests and au
thority seemed imminent. The Indians
were aroused with desperate fear
were to be desecrated by the graders
and railroad builders. The redmen APP
pealed to Agent Fisher TO protect the
homes that are sacred as the heritage
of their fathers. Mr.. Fisher also had
charge OF the agency reserve through
which the road was sought to he built.
In the incident excitement the condi-
ton of affairs was reported to the GOV
ernment at Washington and the ques-
ton of military force for use in case of
resistance by the railroad people was
offered was discussed. This incident
was exaggerated till the report became
current that the military was called
out and this rumor found its way into
the psess dispatches. All of this con-
fusion resulted from misapprehension. :.
The railroad agents and managers had
no intention of attempting to overstep
their legal rights in the premises. In
the haste to enter the territory for
which there il contention at this time
a contract for grading the first section
of road was let for immediate construc-
ton in anticipation of speedy adjust
nent of the question of right.of-way
both with individuals and with the
department of the interior. The delay
in this routine work caused the belief
that the company intended to proceed
without first securing the necessary
right all around. The engineers say
tie company never had any intention
OF acting otherwise than in harmony
with the government and with Agent
Fisher.
Interest centers il. the probable
course of the O. II. & n. company
after reaching this city with line
along Snake river from Wallulu
The Oregonian is generally conserva
tive and tins is prediction from that
paper:
The o. r. & n. is not giving away
its game to its adversaries, but there
are hints that the fight will be carried
through the state of Idaho into Mon
tana, and it is among the posSihilitiet
that line may be built to Billings t'
connect with the Burlington"
General activity is observed all along
the line between Lewiston an'
Wallula. Active work has begun on
the lower river where grading Is unde
way. Building material Is besng dis
tributrd along the upper river, and l
is believed the graders will he on th
ground in "a short time.
There is a general scramble in TIL
interior for rIghts-ot way lato the farm
ing districts and the mining camps
The O. r. q n has fotce of locator
divided in squads III the different SEE
tions Of the district which 1t is desire
to tap and the \. p, besides hayin
active engineering corps iii the he'd
have large forces waiting for the righ
to begin grading toward t. trade cen
ter of the Clearwater basin.
Th n. p. company has practscaIi
secured all the private rights Obtain
: able between Lapwai aud the ol
Caldwell ranch at the head OF LanW'
creek. This section is in the hands
the contractors Messrs. Wrenn Il Goot
: nough, of Montana. The ohlectiN
: point of this branch is the Nezperce {
, Cold Springs prairie and the Cama
: prairie country. This is also on lii
> toward the Dixie, Buffa'o Hump an
; the Florence camps.
: The reorganization Of the l, L. sy
= tenn gives impetus to the project OF I'll
: Snake river extension Of the orego
, short Line. The L. Z. has assume
a coutrol of that line and this makes tn
,lT, =. desire good grade to the Pacli
= coast. The extension to the SeVe
= Devils brings that system sixty mill
, nearer Lewiston, and assures II
early extension to this place to come
with the .. r. u \. here.