Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1900-05-16
Navigation of Upper Snake.

The Walla Walla Statesman of
last week, through the medium OF
a Baker City correspondent, finds
serious fault with the Lewiston
papers for passing resti lotions upon
Captain Harris report on the upper
Snake river. Just why the Oregon
and Washington people should de-
iend the disparagement OF one quar-
ter of their respective States is a
subject beyond comprehension.
That Captain Harris report is
biased, if not false, is self-evident
What motive, incentive or induce
ment that may have influenced this
United States engineer i'll sending
out report containing damaging
statements which physical facts re-
flute may be Legitimate subjects for
discussion at this time, but any de-
Tense of his assertions as well as
his general conclusions would be
untenable. The statement that
Asotin is village of perhaps 100
souls Is not less a variation from a
fact than many Of his extravagant
assertions. The school enrolment
Of Asotin is 225.
The correspondent of the States
man exults over the fact that the
steamer Spokane failed to cross
Wild Goose rapids as a corrobora-
ton of Capt. Harris report that
Wild Goose was an insurmounta
BILE obstacle TO navigation. The
fact that the Lewiston crossed this
rapid one week later is not noticed.
Perhaps this fact is purposely con-
cealed from the general public.
The fact that at least six boats
have passed the Wild Goose rapids
aud ali the other distractions be
tween Lewiston and the Salmon
have been repeatedly crossed Is
purposely kept from the public b,
Capt. Harris and this Statesman
correspondent, who are interested
in depreciating this section Of til,
interior country.
Capt. Harris says the fall be
tween Lewiston and Huntington i.
seven feet to the mile, aud he ar
CUES from these figures that the fal
from Lewiston to Pittsburg Land
ing would be the same. The fac
is the fall between Lewiston ant
Pittsburg is less than four feet t,
the mile. This physical fact con
troverts much of Capt. Harris re
port. He reports a fall of twslv,
feet al Wild Goose in 900 yards
The fact is the fall is only FIVE fee
in 900 yards. He says three RAPID
OF almost equal velocity, whicl
means equal fall, occur in one mil
beginning at Wild Goose. His re
port would indicate a fall of thou
sands of feet between Lewiston
and Pittsburg, when in fact the fal
Is less than 400 feet. 1, would b
impossible to get fifteen or even
ten-mile rapid in river OF the vol
ume of Snake river every few mile
with only an average fall of on
feet to the mile, or even seven fee
to the mile. In other words, Cap
Harris report is made out false b
physical conditions taken fror
facts stated in the report. The re
port is false on its face.
The history of navigation on tn
Snake proves Capt. Harris repor
to be radical exaggeration, if nc
false deduction. Steamboats, hav
repeatedly run from Lewiston owe
these worst rapids without linin
or without special difficulty. No
one of these steamers could hav
climbed a rapid that gave ten
mile current or a ten-foot fall in
mile. This is physical evidenc
that something is wrong with tn
history of navigation on Snax
river or with Capt. Harris report
1t is a fact that Snake river |
navigable tor three months in III
year to Salmon river. This no on
can dispute. For the purposes O
this article this fact disposes @