Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1900-02-24

haul grain down the Columbia river a,
far cheaper rates than the railroads
Aud yet, mp to the present time Spo-
kane people have heard little of this en-.
terprise which promises SO much to this
city, and have but vague ideas of the
| plans OF the promoters who are going
about their work SO quietly. For this
reason Treasurer Frank IL. Graves was
requested by the Chronicle to state the
facts as to the progress that is being
made. In reply to the reporter question
Mr.. Graves said:
THE grading OF the road will be com.
pieted by the Ist of April The steel
will be laid Immediately thereafter The
rails have already been furnished. The
rolling stock has been purchased and
will be on the ground as soon as the road
is graded. We have already OIL the
river one boat, We shall build two
Others on the upper river and two on he
lower river
How will the rates of your road com.
| pare with the present rates OF the rail
roads ?" asked the reporter.
"We have published our diagram sheet
of the ground covered by our road and
boats the present year. will give you
a few illustrations of what the work is
doing. For instance, on grain from Una
tilla Junction our rate is "a. so, the present
, rate is $3.50; from Blalock our rate is
s.. IS, the present rate is s.; from Riparia.
Snake river, our rate is sass, the present
rate is $3.50 Substantially the same
decrease is made in other classes of
freight. The decrease on the incoming
freight from Astoria will be greater than
on outgoing freight y
"How soon will the road be ready for
operation 2''
The road will be ready for operation,
approximately, on the Ist of June. Mouey
to build it is all provided The road is
without bonds or Indebtedness of any
kind. Stockholders subscribing the
stock furnish the money"
"The stockholders of the road are
Senator Turner, Col |. n. Peyton, w. J.
Harris, w. J. { Wakefield, Paul Il. Mohr
and myself. The president of the COM
pany is MIR. Harris; the general manager
MIR. Mohr; the secretary, Geo w. Woos-
ter, and | am treasurer
"In regard to speed of transportation.
| how will it compare with the railroads."
There will be but little difference in
| any point OH the river reached by our
| boats. We will carry freight to Port
| land or Astoria and common points In
! about the same time the railroad now
J carries it. 1t might perhaps be all hour
or two difference against us. OF course,
you will understand that in carrying
ordinary freight this small difference will
cut no figure. In regard to up-river
freight, the difference against us will he
somewhat greater, hut not enough to be
a matter Of any importance
| = Al.
river You will reach by June n
| Owe will reach Lewiston on the Snake
and as far up the Columbia as the bust
ness permits. probably to pasco,"
| do you intend in the future to so W
any farther than that"
! IT am not prepared TO answer tha,
question.
"Will you have any trouble in compel.
ing with the railroad?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Well, in the first place we can haul
cheaper than the railroads can haul 10
all points where the river can be reached
In the second place don't think tina,
the railroads would care to get into rate
war with us. In the third place We are
entitled to difierential on account oI
water transportation. This is recognized
by all railroads in the United States
which have to compete with water haul
The o. X. & y which will be our prin
cipal competitor for business, claims thi.
diferential between Portland and Astoria
against them. In the first place if tn,
railroad wants to get into a rate war will
us they can have it; but | don't think
they will want it; i'll fact, have no doub
hut that they will allow us otr inst diff
ierential. | do not believe that care t.
say any more about this port. | will
add, however, that we will have no bond
or Indebtedness, and our fixed charge
will therefore be very small. We hav,
no fictitious capitalization and no fame,
salaries. The business of our compap,
will be run upon an economical, honora
BILE. straightforward business plan
"Will you reach enough points direcil'
with your boats to furnish You with
profitable businesss"
YES"
, what else can you say in regard I
the roadl"
, II want to say, now that you have az
, preached me upon the question, tha
this road is a certainty. We are nc
/ building it for the purpose of selling
, out to some other company, but are con
4 mencing the development OF a transport
4 alton scheme which will ultimately reac
: all of eastern Washington and Oregon
The central idea of the scheme is to us
the natural waterways of the countr,
: Railroads are used only as accessorie
. We think that our road will ultimatel
= haul to the coast great bulk Of the cerei
products of the country.