The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1905-01-13
Faith and Good Works
portland Evening Telegramo


Every now and again the pessimistic
man, the fellow who feels that 1t is
part of his mission in life to find fault
with the conduct of great public or pri-
vate enterprises because they are not
accomplishing all that he imagines
they could If they were under his man
agement. or run according to his in
dividual ideas. INDUCES in a general
criticism of railroads with the express
purpose of showing that the interests
Of these corporations are never identi-
cal with those of the communities they
serve in the matter of transportation;
and that as a matter of fact, they have
little or no concern in the growth of
such communities except as there may
be immediate and direct realization OF
profit. Every now and again this class
of men get a severe jolt by the mani
festation on the part of railroad cor
porations of policy as different from
that which they are fond of painting in
the blacklist colors as cheese is differ
ent from chalk.
The Hartman interests in the Pacific
Northwest, as they are represented by
the Oregon Railroad & Navigation
company and the Southern Pacific Ore
gon line, announced n policy yesterday
that will have just this effect on the
chronic anti-railroad grumbler. 1t is
true that the policy is to be experiment
tai, but these roads evidently have faith
| that it will attain to more or less per-
| never be tried. There is to be reduce
ton to homeseekers, who desire to set
tie in Oregon, Washington and North
ern Idaho. from Missouri River points,
of fifty per cent of the present rate on
movables to the Willamette valley, and
thirty three and one-third per cent to
Eastern Oregon and contiguous terri
| tory; which means that this great rail-
road system is about to supplement its
| extensive and valuable advertising of
this section, that has been so ably car
ried on for the past two years or more,
with a supreme effort towards induc-
ing immigration by offering favor to
the prospective newcomer of the most
substantial character.
The mere statement OF THIS reductions
is simple matter but when we stop
to consider that often the serious prob
lem confronting the man who would
like to settle in this Northwest coun-
try, is the alternative of disposing OF
his livestock and personal effects at a
sacrifice or paying more transportation
charges for the long haul that is nee
essary than he thinks he can afford, its
Importance will be readily appreciated
1t Is not to be denied that whatever
cause the people of this section have
had to complain of railroad admins
tration as they have been affected by
1t on this system, it's vigorous and in
telligent prosecution of an immigration
campaign within recent years has beer
and will continue to be invaluable
Success has crowned the railroads eff
forts up to the present time. 1t has
faith in the ultimate greatness of the
region with which 1t has alh, interests
that are enormous. 1t has proven it,
faith by active participation in the ex-
ploitation movement that has grown Sc
enormously since the projection of ths
Fair. and this recent announcement in.
dicates the proffer of good works tha
are commensurate.