The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-01-31

/ the worst rapids on the river are the
Hummely below Kennewick, the Una
tilla, and Squally Hook. AS we go
swinging and Keeling through the
foaming waters of the last named,
with vicious looking rocks jutting up
| in most inconvenient places, it GER
| tainly seems as though the steamer
would strike somewhere. But Captain
! in bed, moves his tiller swiftly here
and there, conversing entertainingly.
meanwhile. He remarks that he is
dealing with three of the most unsta-
Bile elements in nature, wind, water
and steam. Yet he has met with few
accidents and no serious ones in his
over forty years of steamboating.
Reaching Grants we bid the Noun
tain Gem with her courteous and gal
liant crew goodbye and take the train
! for Portland Unless one is in hur-
ry, railroad ride is poor substitute
for the delights of a steamboat trip.
While in Portland a conversation
with Joseph Teal gives many interest
ing facts about the present state Of the
work looking to the opening Of the
river
These facts may well be proclaimed
to the inhabitants of the Inland EN-
pire, for they are Of the utmost mo-
ment. Mr.. Teal tells us that the Open
River Transportation Co., is now per-
fecting plans for placing steamers on
the upper river and connecting regu-
| larly with the boats on the lower river
| over the Portage railroad.
1t seems that it will be a ''sure go"
this time, and that the coming summer
will witness a genuine revival of
steamboat life on the Snake and Co.
lumbia rivers with all the results that
may follow. We of Walla Walla have
become so accustomed to enduring
eXorbitant freight rates that we do not
realize what may be expected from
liver competition
Look at this statement: Freight on
sugar, canned goods, and hardware
cents per hundred in carload lots, in
1898 In 1905 the rate was ten cents.
What made the difference? 1t was the
canal at the Cascades and the open
river. Now just suppose we get the
canal at Cello, and even the partial
benefit of the Portage road, and cor
responding decrease in freight between
Portland and all points of the Inland
Empire, and have we any clear con-
will be? A years saving would mean
millions of dollars. A saving of five
cents a bushel on wheat alone with
crop for export of 20,000,00O bushels
would mean saving on that one item
of a million dollars.
interests Are in Common.
Mr.. Teal wished the fact emphasized
that the interests of the upper and
lower river were in company. The
completion of the jetty at the mouth
of the river is as essential to COM
plete development as the opening of
the Cello canal or the improvement of
the channel of the upper river.
He spoke also of the fact that the
of ;pfo
selves by making trolley lines to the
river. The road from Spokane to
Snake river, traversing the entire Pa
louise country, is an illustration of the
process that must take place all over
our fertile valleys. A trolley road from
Walla Walla to Wallula would furnish
this connection and would undoubted-
ly pay abundantly.
Mr. Teal thought tnat people of
the Inland Empire hardly realized
the vast Importance to them of the
open river movement and their own
responsibility to further it, Many seem
to suppose that it is the necessary
business of the Open River association
to put boats on the river and assume
all responsibility. But it should be
remembered that this association is
purely voluntary one, their work is a
labor of love, and their profits, only an
approving conscience, while their out
lay of both time and money has been
great. To these men, among whom we
may be proud to number Dr. Blalock
Of our own city, the country owes a
debt of gratitude, not appreciated now.
but which will be understood in
future years. No better investment
could be made bw Walla Walla capt.
tai than in an electric line to the
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