Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1899-01-21
AS Others See Us.

opportunities for the making of a CITY
here at the junction of these rivers, will
you kindly allow HE space to make a
few suggestions to the citizens of Lewis
ton that impress me as pertinent and
timely.
Most fortunately the rival railroad api-
tation and development have advertised
this section throughout the United States
i'll manner seldom equalled, and availa-
Bile i'll no other way, even to a much larg-
er place.
Usually cities of any note, anticipating
warranted and available growth naturally
resultant under such circumstances have
taken time by the forelock by the sub
stantial business and moneved inter
ests, unitedly putting the shoulder to the
wheel and pushing it along
AS Ill mans lost opportunities, so with
places that should have been cities tina.
are now nursing their blasted hopes.
Men make cities more frequently than
strategic positions,
With all the smoke and buster since
last summer, steanger coming here has
his ardor dampened by finding little
Improvement i'll progress of the substan-
tial and inviting kind.
What have and what are your people
doing to hold and merit their splendid
patrimony--of nature?
l will tell you. They have doubled
and trebled the price of real estate; they
have done substantially the same thing
with store, Office, house and room
rent i'll the past six months,
and is not only relatively but
actually much higher than most cities
you have discounted and aspire to rival
of twenty-five to fifty thousand popula-
ton.
You claim and are reputed to be the
wealthiest place of double its size west of
the Rockies, still your material develop
tnent is not to be compared with your
sister city of Moscow; and the idea of
your citizens improving business property
with buildings of more than one or two
stories at most seems to exceed their men-
tai limitations.
The'filth and mud of your streets, par
ticularly Main and Railroad, would lead
one to think your city fathers had gone
fishing, and should be abated without
delay.
The railroads upon which your future
largely depends, observe, instead of be-
ing encouraged and given right of way,
etc., by property owners, or at least for
reasonable compensation, are held up
so to speak, and subjected to extortion in
stead.
You may have "lead-pipe cinch" on
the metropolis of North Idaho, but verify
should they will otherwise, you might
have the same experience of Boise on a
spur; of Yakima, Wash. of Port Arthur
Canada, which has grass growing OH its
streets; with Fort William, nearby the
termini Of the Canadian Pacific road and
destined city; as President Van Horne
said would be the result of the selfish
dog in the manger policy of the citizens
ofPort Arthur,when refused proper recog-
milton.
| understand that one Of your most
substantial property owners that was
reported as about to erect four story bust
ness block, has instead fired her tenant
because he would not submit to the
doubling of an already exorbitant rent,
and decided not to build but charge the
same for the shack as if properly inn
proved. Such people are a detrinent
rather than benefit to community,
and ought to jump into the river and say:
"Here goes nothing!"
One "M'' has made some suggestions
in the morning paper recently that
would seem much more appropriate i'll
the securing of town hall at country
cross roads than for the purpose contem-
plated.
But the Tribune itself has done some
able and good work in the past few
months. Its principal weakness subject
to criticism is that of many metropolitan
clergymen who, after being taken to task
for bearing down too hard ON their
focks for their fai1ings and shortcomings,
modify or take it back on the following
Sunday.
You should support and build up your
commercial club, and make it a represen-
tative organization in fact as well as in
name, for such body's potency for your
general veal is almost incalculable.
Such body you should and must have,
with committee therefrom of your most
wide-awake business men and property
holders to interest outside investors and
provide for new corners and new enter
prises, and give aid, money and land
bonuses to legitimate jobbers and manu-
featuring concerns and identify yourselves
with them.
Say 20 the railroads: "Come and build
your division shops here, and we will do
nate the site or aid you all in our pow
err"
1t is undisputed that scores of people
have come and gone from your city since
the advent of the railroad for want of en-
couragements and business and living &C
comnlodations, and as a result have filled
up your adjacent towns.
Within the next three months your