The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1902-08-07
NIL AND MELLEN HERE

NIL AND MELLEN HERE
Railroad Presideats Visit in Lewiston and
Tsks Trip Up the Clearwater Valley 10
CesaseviIle.
Tuesday evening about s o'clock Presi-
dents Mellen and Hill Of the Northern
Pacific and Great Northern railroads
came into Lewiston ON a special of six
coaches drawn by large main line
passenger engine and left about II
O'Clock that night for Grangeville.
President Mohler Of the o. K. & N. in.
tended to visit this place also hut was
called to Portland from colfax. Yester.
day the big railroad n,agnates inspected
the Camas prairie country and returned
to Pullman last night.
The party was met at the depot here
by q delegation Of prominent citizens
headed by Mayor Skinner. President
Hill came from his car as soon as the
train stopped and in comrany with Mayor
Skinner made tour Of the business por.
tion Of the town. Mr.. Hill said that he
had heard Of Lewiston Is town with
bright prospects and the conditions a. he
saw them bore out these statements. He
spoke quite freely about the lewiston
Riparia cutoff and for the first time in
the history Of the question brought out
the fact that the o. K. & N and North
ern Pacific would own the proposed road
jointly. each having half interest. He
showed great interest in the Lewiston
country inquiring into the soil and crop
conditions in this section.
President Mellen cf the Northern Pa
cifc stated that there had been no def
nate arrangements made for further con.
struction work in the Clearwater valley
but that they were going up the Sites
line and on his return definite plans
might be given out. He said that the
Snake river valley road would be owned
and operated by seperate company but
the plans for operating the new road had
not been worked out. The only positive
fact that can be stated that the road
from Lewiston will be constructed with
out delay.
Included in the pr. sidentisl party was
the chiei engineer Of Great Northern and
Northern Pacific, Mr. Cooper assistant 10
President Mcllen. and President Hills
son. Traffic Manager Hanaford an
nounced that there had been reduction
Of ten per cent In the grain rates. both
east and west, from this section as we'll
as eastern Washington and il was his in
tention to put this into effect about the
middle Of this month.
Survey on Reservation Line.
The department of the interior has
ordered third survey Of subdivisional
lines in township 81 n ranges i, and )
west. lying on the northern b,rder Of the
old Nez Pcrce Indian reservation be-
tween . point miles west Of Teokean
and the section line ) miles west Of
Potlatch creek. The original survey
was made 80 years ago when the north
ern boundery Of the reservation was first
located.
When the Indians relinquished their
title to unallo,ed lands Of the reservation
the surplus was opened to settlement.
A number Of settlers took up lands in
the townships mentioned, which bordcred
on the old boundary line. It SO hap
pened that no Indians took allotments
along this boundary. and at the request
Of settlers ON the north Of the boundary
subdivisionsl lines were run subsequent
to the opening. Through error in
plating, the lands north Of the boundary
line were plated to overlap, on lands
within the former reservation. Trouble
emsued, aud the surveys were examined
and found incorrect. A resurvey was
ordered, and this only served to compli-
cate matters. On further complaint, the
secretary last summer had another in
vesiigation made, which has resulted in
the order for final survey. In view of
the complications, and overlapping Of
holdings. this survey will he in The
nature Of compromise. and will finally
determine the rights Of the several inter-
ested settlers.