Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1900-05-08
Over Wild Goose Rapids.

The steamer Lewiston made the run
over Wild Goose rapids Monday morning.
She started from the wharf in this city
Sunday evening at o clock with small
cargo OF freight for way points, and she
reached Couse creek at dark. From
that point the run was made to the end
of the route by o'clock Monday morn
ing.
1t was the intention to explore the
channel on the Idaho side Of Wild Goose
island, but no uotice of the fact was
given in this city. Capt. Ed Sullivan,
an experienced steamboat man and the
first assistant in Captain Conways office,
Travelling Freight Agent A. Macorquo-
dale were aboard the boat to assist in tax
ing observations at the time OF the trial.
The run through the slough was made
without difficulty. After proceeding
about a half mile the Lewiston turned
back and made the run to Lewiston,
reaching the wharf about 1890 yester-
day.
1t is now believed the o. X. & n. COM
pany will revise the conclusions an
nounced Saturday night and that de-
termined effort will be made to reach the
Great Eastern mine.
The Lewiston has gone over Wild
Goose rapid in the past. The o. r. & N.
company had made the run with other
boats before the successful run of yester-
day. The old Cayuse, boat built in
1862, made the run to Salmon river in
1868, taking 200 passengers from Lewis
ton on an excursion The Cavuse was
not able to pass the Cox rapid above this
city without lining. The passengers 100
strong went a,hore, took line, and pull
ing like athletes in. tug-of-war contest
pulled the staunch little steamer into
smooth water. This was the only fall be
tween Lewiston and Salmon river that
stopped the Cayuse in 1868.
The Tenino made the run to Canoe bar
ten miles above Imnaha, in 1865. There
were great many placer miners on the
bars of Snake river that winter, and Thu
run was made to supply their camps
winter.
: In the early days it was believed tn,
, upper rivers were navigable. Pittsbur,
Landing was selected at one time as tn,
! head of navigation. 1t was the intention
to land the freight for Warrens at Pitts
burg, because it showed on the map to b
nearer than Lewiston. Later develop
ments demonstrated the fact that rugge,
! Nn,,, l.
, trails for pack horses from that point, 81
the freight was stopped in transit at Lew
r iston, and there remained no demand 70
the navigation of the upper Snake river
The distractions in the stream betweel
Lewiston and Box Canyon seem to no
have been considered by the pioneer nav
igators. They stopped at Lewiston be
, cause the roads all led out from her
) then, as now.
: The development of mining interest
in the Snake river district has made a
: urgent demand for transportation facil
ties. Wild Goose is just in the edge c
the mineral belt. There are a doze
mines above that point that await trans
portation only to become producers.
On Deep Creek, Cherry Greek, Cotton
wood Creek, Imnaha, Divide Creek an
| III idNl CNSty lew HUH NdpldlU ION
Greek there are mines that would be sell
sustaining if ore could be shipped for
: reasonable tariff. With the ore Their
would be stone, lime, wool and live stock
together enough to equal all the bushes
of the company to and from points belo,
Wild Goose. If this route should
} opened and schedule established, whic
is entirely feasible, at least a cargo of s
tons daily could be secured for min
months in the year.
The extension of this route is matte
: of great importance to the business intel
9 ests of Lewiston. The Commercial Gu
should formulate data from reliabl
sources and make a strong presentatio
OF the facts to the transportation con
panies Of the country. A canvass of tn
, district could but reveal an amount {
. business that would induce capitalists I
open up river route before the end c
, this year.