Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1904-11-24
this case, built and operated a por-
tage road around the distractions.
This section at that time practical

this case, built and operated a por-
tage road around the obstructions.
This section at that time practical
ly undeveloped, and the country
all along the river was in a very
much less advanced state of devel-
opment than it is today, but the
figures relative to the portage road,
even at that early day, and at that
undeveloped state Of the country,
c0nclusively show the immense
benefits to be derived from. such
project. The effect Of that portage
road on freight rates is shown by
the following figures:
Wheat, per ton, So 80; wool, per
ton, $40; sugar, per ton, S. 40; salt,
per ton, 81 40; wire, per ton, S7.40;
grain bags, per ton, $3.50.
Rates made by boats after the
construction of the portage road:
Wheat, per ton, 50; wool, per
ton, 81; sugar, per ton, 50; salt,
per ton, 81; wire, per ton, So; grain
| OnSc, POI COu, OOs
Since regular service by boat was
established from The Dalles to
Portland, the railroads have been
forced to reduce their rates to the
rate of the boats. SO that the por-
tage road in this instance brought
an average reduction Immediately
in their freight rates Of more than
one half.
The effect OF the portage road is
also seen by comparing freight
rates from The Dalles to Portland
where boat service is had, with
freight rates, at points above The
Dalles which boats do not reach
and which are served only by the
railroads. The distance from The
Dalles to Portland is lightweight
miles; the distance from Arlington,
above The Dalles, and not served
by boat, TO Portland is 142 miles.
The following are the rates from
The Dalles to Portland, and from
Arlington to Portland:
Dalles to Portland-frst-class, So;
second-class, "a; third-class, SO. 60;
fourth class, So. Wheat, sl.50.
From Arlington to Portland
first-class, $15 60; second class,
1880; third : class, Sl2; fourth
class, 5000. Wheat, 50 80
The benefits shown by the figures
relative to the former portage road
built at an early day can have no
comparison with the benefits which
We would receive now when the
territory is SO largely developed
and the traffic so greatly increased.
1t is estimated by the Open River
association that the portage road
to the open river, bringing compe.
tition in transportation will reduce
the freight on wheat along the ter.
ritory affected, an average of 3
cents per bushel A crop of &c
|, bushels to the acre is fair average
; for this territory. This woulc
mean an annual net gain to th'
! farmer by the construction Of thu
portage Of $l.50 per acre on hi
wheat lands, and corresponding
, increase on his other grain produc
, ing lands. $3.50 is interest a
1 more than 7 per cent on $40 in
I yestment, aud the value OF farm
: land should be increased almos
i 500 per acre by such reductio
e in the freight rates. The portag
d road means to the farmers of thi
f. territory a net gain of $24O pc
9 year per each $l60 acres over the
}, present income, and each farmt
O could we'll afford to subscribe tt
i full amount which he would r.
9 ceive for one year in order to ha,
y the road constructed.
b At present the grain OF the il
land empire is dependent for i
70 market upon the markets OF Il
,e orient, and in consequence we r
ID ceiye 60 to 70 cents bushel Il
ID wheat, while wheat raised in Il
N middle states is bringing from 81
Dr. S1.25. With the open river to Il
L. sea and the completion of the Pa
anna canal we would have a wat
9, route to New York and Europes
II markets, with a freight rate prob
I bly, no greater than that prevailil
}" in the states of the middle wei
I'd and we could have two markets +
q. our grain with corresponding i
X creases in price, where we nc
g. have one.
" The collection of the subscri
re tions in the Clearwater COUNT
es will, by request, be made throui
as the Lewiston Commercial clu
in The forms prepared provide th
- each subscriber shall make his gu
- sdription contingent on the col
pletion and operation OF the ro
within definite time. That t