Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1904-10-22
Especial to Evening Teller.)

CHARLESTON. Wash, October ga
II there is anything in which the av-
erage citizen Of Charleston and Vine
land is interested 1t is the ''open river
question. Nothing else would cause
members of The Commercial club to
stop during fair week and discuss ways
and means for work. They have Just
had a visit from J. l.. Blalock. special
agent of the Open River association.
who is so enthusiastic over the possi-
bilities Of this scheme, that he Ia de-
voting his time and energies, gratis. to
going through the thirty three coun-
ties Of Washington, Idaho and Ore
gon. arousing the people to the import
ance to taking immediate action. Thus
far he has been through eight counties,
since October s, when he started out
on this tour and he says he finds the
people greatly interested in the gi-
gantic undertaking and he firmly be-
lieves that it will eventually be brought
to successful elimination. AS is gen
orally known. the object of this organi-
zation is the Improvement Of the CO.
lumbia and Snake rivers and their
tributaries. as navigable steamers and
the immediate opening OF navigation on
| the Columbia to Priest Rapids and on
the Snake river to a little above Clark
ston by urging the state Portage Com
| mission of Oregon the necessity of
| prompt action and by giving them such
| financial aid as might be necessary to
complete the Portage road, thereby
| tho al Vxso tor NJ M
Cello Falls. with the navigable waters
below The Dalles rapids. 1t is admit
ted that the immediate result Of the
building of the Portage will be the es-
| tablishment of boat lines on the upper
Columbia and Snake rivers. thus ar
| fording relief to the producers and
| shippers from the present excessive
| freight charges. The state of Oregon
has already appropriated $165,000 for
this big undertaking, conditional, that
enough funds be provided to complete
i the great job. 1t is now estimated that
\ $205,0OO will do the work, leaving $40.-
900 to be raised by popular subscrip-
tions. Already a right of way has been
procured for the portage road which
has been turned over to the state OF
\ Oregon. A force Of surveyors will be
Immediately put to work and now, all
. that remains to insure the completion
Of the important work. is the raising
Of the $4,000. K. II. Libby, president
. Of the lewiston Charleston company OF
Charleston and Jas. f. Babb. of Lewis
ton. are members of the executive
board for this region and with sucf
: representative men at the head OF tht
grand movement. there can be little
doubt but what 1t will be made a "go.'
Mr.. Blalock Is a brother of the we'll
e known DR.. N. @. Blalock, OF Wallf
r walla, who is known all over the in
: land empire for his hustling qualities
I and he is devoting all his time to push
e ing this project to a successful issue
I as. he realizes that it means grea
n things for all this inland country.
eI The Charleston Commercial club ha
3 already taken hold of the matter fl
: earnest and when this aggressive or
e ganixation goes after matter OF thi
: kind it usually does things" A gen
eral committee for the whole of Asoti
county has been named, in the person
of Chas. Isecke. president of the ne'
Bank of Asotin county. of Asotin. an
Greenviile Holbrook president of tn
Charleston Commercial club. Thes
gentlemen will act as a steering com
0. mittee and It Is expected that the al
of many persons will be enlisted in th
most important cause and that Asoti
county will have made a most exceller
showing, when the returns are all i
Il for 1t Is realized .that no better caus
could possibly engage the attention !
!, our people. In fact the possibiliti,
te which the "open river unfolds to tn
m immediate vicinity are greater than OF
= can begin to imagine.
II Frank G. Morrison is back from
hard trip which he and Joe Bankse
took up into the Salmon and Rice cres
country. in Idaho. They went to lot
after a lot of fine cattle which
-. Morrison has had on pasturage UP tn
way, for some time past. Some of q
hardships endured by the riders sa'
ored OF the strenuous life. For instan
:, for nearly forty hours at a stretch tn
of did not get out Of their saddles. exec
r. to eat meal. Then had twelve hou
ne OF steady downpour Of rain to pa
sh through. OF course Mr.. Morrison fet
es. and shows the effect OF the hard II
NJ ana II will take him few days to :
mn cover nom the effects of 1t. tn
he drove the cattle back this way and \
&C. i lGorrisonfs ma a1hspherd dog. SEQ
rendered most valuable assistance. b