The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1903-02-17
STATEMENT BY MR.. THOMPSON
a" Interview Published to Show Why he Is
opposed to the Clearwater Timber len.
pany Franchise.

An interview Published to Show Why he !,
Opposed to the Clearwater Timber l.sm.
pany Franchise.
ihe Clearwater boom bill controversy
has awakened such general interest in
the question that that the contest now
On at Boise is watched with much con.
Germ
The Boise Statesman in placing the
matter clearly before its readers and de.
inning Mr. Thompson's position in its Is
sue OF Saturday had the following:
The general public does not under
stand fully the proportions Of the in.
terests involved in the developments Of
which the proposed works are 4 part
The desire in Lewiston is to have a great
numbering industry established there.
Along the upper Clearwater are great
forests of white pine and other timber,
the pine being the finest in the country.
The manufacturing of this timber into
lumber will make vast industry. II 10
understood to he the plan Of the Weyer-
hauser syndicate alone 10 cut from Ao,.
100000 to So,ooo, 900 feet year. That
syndicate owns enough timber along the
stream and its tributaries, it is said, to
keep plant OF such capacity running
for 40 years
ut is the Weyerhauser syndicate that
is back Of the Clearwater Timber com.
pany. Through that company the syndi-
cate will operate in that section. The
reader will therefore see at once that gi-
gantic interests are involved in the ques.
tions raised in connection with this bill.
I'm view Of the criticism Of Mr..
Thompson's position in connection with
this bill contained in the resolutions
adopted in Lewiston, The Statesman
Thursday sought an interview with him
on the subject Mr.. Thompson was
asked what the facts were upon which he
had acted. In reply he said:
- When the measure was sent to me
at Boise by Mr.. Babb Of Lewiston, at.
torney for the Weyerhauser company.
suggested that it be so amended as 10 al.
low the. passage Of logs Of others through
the company's boom, thus preventing Z
monopoly by the company Of all the tim
Der tributary to the Clearwater river
The physical conditions there are such
that the proposed boom at that point
would give the company an absolute
monopoly unless it were obliged to pas,
logs of others through in payments o
tolls.
ITO determine whether such an
anne ndment would be satisfactory to tn,
company, telegram was sent by Mr. Por
tel, the Weyerhauser representative, to thu
company's attorney at St. Paul asking /
change would be acceptable if dolla
tolls were provided. The attorney 70
the syndicate replied it would be i'm
possible to consider the proposition.
Ut seems only lead-pipe cinch o
nothing is wanted.
"'Ihe bill as introduced does not agre
to do anything for the right granted.
secured in its present form it will contro
the only available site 1t Lewiston 70
booming and mill purposes. It nigh
make improvements. or otherwise. as II
interests dictated. and at no time, how
ever, whether improvements were mad
or not, could they be used for the genera
public.
est would effectually bottle up III
vast timber belt tributary to the Clea'
water river. Besides hundreds Of srttle,
who have claims in this territory, III
state has several townships OF timber Ian
which would be affected. a. the bi
especially provides in section 4. Nc
shall said corporation or its succe ,sors
required to receive or hold in or pa
through its said works. logs, timber, etc
belonging to others.
The position is taken by the adv
Gates of the measure that the state
| IuauQ uluSt dIoW AhsS "hu cNuSs '"'As','
companies to dictate the policy upo
which they will do business in its Dor
Iers. Up 10 date. at least. the iun,b
companies do not own ard control Il
politics and policies Of this state, al
until they do they cannot bottle up
natural resources.
81 will say. SO far As Lewiston's j
terests are concerned, that others cot
panies are willing to guarantee It mil
: and booms and grant at the same tin
equal rights 10 others. large amou
of money is necessary to make practic
Iimpr. vements at Lewiston for boom n
mill purposes; and a good ressonat
charge should be allowed for toils. II
people are willing 10 pay such charg'
aud the privilege should be gran,ed al
not denied them. Such grant wou
add to Lewiston's material advanceme
and at the same time protect hundre
Of poor people who have taken up hon
s,eads or timber claims with the hot e