Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1899-01-07
Railroad News.

engineering force in this part OF thc COIN
! try. Every move now indicates indrppn-
/ dent action ON the part " this road 1t
i, believed 4 road Will he built down the
Snake during the coming summer.
The Northern Pcaliic authorities i'll this
city say the claim Published in the morn
ing paper that this road has abandoned
the suits in the district court is entirely
without foundation in fact There is no
doubt about the standing of these cases
i'll the state courts as the supreme court,
III a Ncz Perez county case, maintained
jurisdiction over the property rights of
the Indians in allotted lands. and besides
this there is a case of record where the
United Strtes commissioner and Secretary
lIoke Smith both passed anirnativclv on
the question Of state condemnation of
| railroad rights of way across on Indian
allotment iii an exactly parallel case,
Salt Lake Tribune OF Jan, says
the commissioner Of Indian affairs
through the agent of the Nez pcrcc res
ervation has stopped the Northern Pa
ciic railroad from extending its line
from Lewiston to Grangeville, Idaho.
across the Nez Pcrce reservations and has
also forbidden its extension over the
Indian allotted lands. The railroad COM
pany has appealed to the Idaho delegation
to secure withdrawal of the prohibition,
giving assurance that if allowed to cx-
tend their linc to the point desired they
viii willingly agree to whatever require
nents the interior department thinks
proper to protect the Indians rights.
Senator Hcitfeld will tomorrow see the
commissioner Of Indian affairs and
secretary Of the interior, and will en-
deavor TO ascertain what arrangements
can be made that, while fully protecting
the rights Of the Indians, will also give
to the settlers the benefit of the railroads
The O. K. * n. is taken on new life
The legal status Of the situation seems to
be fairly determined, The right of way
question is left to congress by both roads
according to dispatches. The legal fight
has been shifted from Lewiston to Wash
ington, d. G. There is no doubt about
the outcome The roads will get all the
government concession they require
There is, however, question of delay in
volved. The @. r. & n. cannot build
over the reservation till they build 90
miles between Riparia aud Lewiston.
Ii the Northern i'll the meantime should
have free access to the eservatiou that
road would derive advantages
from the early extension which would
be hard for the Opposing road to remove,
coming on the field as it must six months
later. The O. X, & N has a lobby in
Washington working for delay, The
Northern is now fighting to overcome
the influence cxerted 10 procrastinate
government action. The O.R. & n,
anticipating the near end of this DELAY
are Fastening the construction toward
Lewiston. Work will begin OH the six
mile section above Riparia next week.
"Ihe o. X. & \, company is doing a
lot of building in southeastern Washing
ton, said Frederick R. Marvin, in Spo-
kane, to Spokesman-Review reporter.
| ''lt has surveyed a road from DAYTON out
| through the wheat district of Coyello and
| lwill extend it on TO Delaney on the Pom
eroy branch, thus placing DAYTON on the
main line between Spokane and Portland
at the same time avoiding the heavy
grade of the Alto hill. Work on this
branch will be pushed rapidly Work
OH the line from Wallula to Riparia will
also be pushed. Wallula has commenced
to take on the air OF a bustling place as
men are gathering there to go to work as
soon as the weather will permit There
seems to be but little question in that
section but that the o. r. x n. intend.
to build on up the river to Lewiston and
into the central Idaho country. This Is
a field that has long been theirs and they
do not propose to lose ii. However ac-
tive the Northern Pacific may be in build.
ing in that section ii will find ii has q
powerful competitor. The people of til al
section have friendly feeling toward
the O. X. < n. and with equal facilities
it can always command good portion Of
the trade. II will require much work on
the part of any other road TO get the bus.
mess away from them met lumber
of men from the Buffalo Hump country d
few days ago, in Dayton, aud they say
that with railroad facilities no camp eyel
discovered in the northwest will equa
that one, and they expected none. The,
are old time prospectors, whose names te
any claim would give ii market value
Most of the loeators there are 10th to le
90 now, feeling confident that before an
other year that camp will be as promi
nent before the people of the Unitee
States as was Cripple Creek a few year
ago.
II Fred Adams a night waiter az III,