Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1903-11-10
OFFICE CORNER THIRD AND STREETS TELEPHONE: MAIN
LEWISTON, IDAHO " "

thing more. than a possibility. II will
require many months, perhaps years
to carry out the plans, but the fact lAr
a line of action has at last been decided
on will cause universal rejoicing from
Lewiston to the sea, and even farther
up the Snake and Columbia and their
tributaries. The river, or the rail route
which follows the river, will always be
! the base on which all freight tariffs in
Oregan, Washington and Idaho will be
established.
| Freight rates wherever steamboat
lines have come in competition with the
railroads have always been reduced.
The 100 mile stretch of railroad be-
tween Portland and Astoria cost So
100000 and yet steamboats, costing not
one fortieth of that sum make the
freight rates by which the railroad
must abide.
With an open river from the inland
empire to the sea- it is possible, in fact
highly probable, that large quantities
of freight would still be carried over
the Cascade mountains to tidewater on
Puget sound but the tariff would be
based, not on the cost of that expen-
sive haul but on the cheaper rate by
the water level route to tide-water.
Nothing but good can result from the
opening of the upper river. The rail-
roads make the claim that the present
rate is as low or lower than the traffic
can be handled by the boats. If expert
ence with the canal demonstrates this
to be the fact, the railroads will not
suffer. but the canal will insure for
all time any advance in rates. and will
be a perpetual check to corporate RAJ
pacity, which at times has retarded de-
velopment in various part of the Pa
cific northwest.
The exact amount that can be saved
on freight charges, assuming that a
saving can be effected is not all that is
involved in the open river question.
Viewed from this standpoint alone
the investment would lose -iucR of its
value, but it is as an fundamentally
for the development and the defense of
all the industrial and commercial in
terests of the inland empire that the |
open river project stands out as one of |
the most important improvements ever
on the Pacific coast 1t is to
be hoped that no difficulty will be ex-
perienced or time lost in securing the
right of way. With the possible ex-
ception of that portion owned by the
railroad company, it is hardly probable
that there will be the slightest objec-
ton to aiding the government to get
the great work under way.
Even with the railroad company it is
hardly probable that any resistance will
be offered, as the temper of the people
Of the three states at this time is not
such as would be conducive to a con-
linuation of pleasant relations with any
or individual who attempt
I'd to block the progress of this pet
project 1t will be remembered that
when the river and harbor committee
Visited the Pacific northwest last year
he o. r. & N. Co. did everything pos
;ible to assist the members in securing
Ill obtainable data. They placer spe
,ial trains and boats at the committees
disposal, and in many other ways dis
played friendliness toward the prof.
Ct. IN view OF Sucn dCtloIl, IL 10 HlSily ,
that no railroad distractions
will now be encountered in securing
he right of way.
Perhaps the most impressive thing
bout the aspect in which the matter ,
ONES before the country is the fact
hat its estimated cost comes within
he appropriation made, so that the
roject does not have to go back to
ongress for further action. The inn
rovement is. therefore, the lagacy of -.
he fifty-seventh congress, and mon
ment' to the untiring labors of two.
nen. and incidentally a third. who are
ot now in congress. The two are
, Q o o Q o o