Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1899-12-20
The Government Not a Phllan-
thrOpiSt.

Lewiston s contention concerning
the location of the proposed federal
building for Northern Idaho is
that such a building should be
located al the natural business and
commercial center of tie district to
be benefited. Public buildings |
are not erected for ornamenta,ion
but tor public utility. While one
of Moscow seven hills might make
a very beautiful site for a public
building. what public utility would
be promoted by the location OF
such federal building at Moscow?
If the time is ripe for the loca
ton of a federal building in north-
ern Idaho there is nothing that
would indicate that Moscow has
any claim upon it. A few years
since Moscow was thriving pros
porous town. A few OF its mis-
guided citizens doomed the town
too death. Brick blocks sprang up
on every hill top. Lind values
ran to enormous figures. During
tt is time politicians with a pull
secured the location of the state
University and of a term of the
u S. federal court. The crash
came fictitious values disappeared,
the prosperous town dropped back
into All over grown village. It's
huge brick blocks stand as empty
monuments to bankrupted fortunes
and misguided ambitions of the
men who built them. The state
university aud one term of the
federal court are all that are left Of
Moscow $ departed greatness. The
depth OF mid in its streets does
not nearly equal the depth of gloom
which stiles over the business out
look for The town.
Should the government by mis-
directed judgment be prevailed
upon to place federal building at
Moscow it would stand tenantless
and deserted. Another would
have to be built at some central
point for public utility. If The
time has come for the location Of a
federal building in northern Idaho
to assemble all the government
business of this section of the state
under the present showing such a
building should be at Lewiston
The governments business out side
of the federal court has centered
here from natural selection. The
government as matter of economy
. has found 1t eXpedient to locate
here. The Lewiston post.ofiice is
the central distributing point for
the mail facilities of the interior.
The business done here is al
, present one fourth larger than the
business done at Moscow and in
!, the near future will be double OF
treble that done in Moscow. The
land Office for the district is located
, at Lewiston, and the govel nmeni
has found it expedient to locate
the collector of revenues and
United States marshal for this dis.
trict at this place. A government
building here would subservt
some public interests. Lewiston
will soon be firmly installed as the
business center of northern Idaho
1t is a railroad center and dis
tribuiing point. The government
is not Ill the philanthropic business,
' its grants for public buildings are
made not to ornament isolated
!, towns but are granted to serve
public interests.
Lewiston has no wish &c disturb
the present location of the court a
Moscow pending the development
OF the country which is to show
. where snch a building should be
located but if that time has com,
Moscow must yield to the ravage.
of time that have played sad havo,
with her prospects.