Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1904-05-04

There are many reasons why much
significance may be attached to the
recent trips of the various railroad Of
ficials in this territory. The usual 81
lence with regard to the early construc-
ton of the Lewiston Riparia branch
has been apparent, but the forces are
at work. and the conditions are such,
that the matter has been brought to
live issue There Is one question that
has not been brought up OF late with
relation to the construction OF the Ri
paria line as well as other lines and
that Is the timber interests. 1t must be
realized that the timber industry is one
OF the most important factors In the
future railroad building OF this section. /.
The timber owners have passed the
subject up to the officials' and now that
the time is ripe for the long looked
for improvements the ofhcials have
visited the sections tributary as pre-
liminary move towards actual con-
struction work. In recent issue OF
The Teller 1t was announced that be-
sides the taking over Of the Clearwater
line by joint company that the build
ing of the Missoula cutoff was one OF
the possibilities. Information has just
reached this office to the effect that this
possibility has reached more serious
form and may become a reality during
the present year. 1t can be almost.re-
liably stated that the route of the cuton
will be up the north fork over the Nez
Perce pass instead Of over the much
talked Of Lolo pass. This determine
tion has been reached after thorough
investigation OF the country from a
traffic standpoint.
The vast timber interests in the
North fork and tributary country are
y undeveloped for the reason that trans
portation facilities have heen backing.
The timber people have endeevored 10
e secure such legislation as would enable
s them to use the streams for the rafting
Of the large volume OF logs but the
defeat of their object was only tenn
: porary delay. Realizing that the pos
h sibility of securing this legislation al
an early date was slim they have gone
to the railroads with the proposition
with the result that the matter Is fore
most in the minds Of the railroad ON
Gals and means an early campaign ir
construction lines. 1t Is reasonable Il
suppose that the line to Missoula viii
be built via the North. fork route. Their
is no great advantage to be gained II
going via the Lolo pass for the reasol
that nearly all the timber interests IL
r. this side On the other side and sur
rounding the Lolo route the govern
ment forest reserves have eliminate
the possibilities Of securing the tim
ber there for many years to come.
1t has been stated before in tn
tile to Spokane. that city has been hos
- tile to the railroads in declaring boy
. colts, favoring commissions and othe
W. abuses which the railroads are becom
al ing tired of listening TO. With all thes
things in mind the plans have bee
laid out for general campaign an
Lewiston is to be made the centr
.. point for distributions Of freight and Il
. general central point of operations
the interior country.
y" AS evidence of the fact that the tin
Der industry is one of the main induc
= mepts for the reorganizing of the raj
= road situation in this section. The TIE
Ter is reliably informed that with
three weeks a party of prominent tir
Der men will visit this city for :.
purpose of making their final calcul
tions for the establishment Of mi
here. There can be no question co
cerning the establishment of lumb
mills in Lewiston provided railroad
4 oil affnrdad This has he
pointed out by those prominently
terested and it may be said with eve
! assurance that Lewiston will get I
mills just as soon the fact that I
TRANSPORTATION problem Is solved. II
city is the best possible point for
establishment of these mills for
reason that the climatic conditions {
more suited to it's needs than any otf
point along the Clearwater river. I
logs will be shipped here by rail FRI
the timber belts and dumped into
sloughs of the Clearwater river at I
point and will be turned into lumh
One particular item that means mi
to the companies doing business is
fact that here the lumber can be dr.
before shipment owing to the excel
facilities for piling, and will be an
mense saving in the freight chars
Should other points be selected.
distance up the Clearwater, it would
impossible to secure the great shril
N. age in weight of lumber before sh
he ment out of the country that II deri
~ In this valley. This item is conside
y very seriously BY the timber intert