Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1906-06-21
LEWISTON AS IDAHO'S
COMMERCIAL CENTER
Elk City Mining News.

Probably no other state west Of the
Rocky mountains does more trading
outside and is more dependent upon
jobbing centers in neighboring states
than the state Of Idaho This is SO far
several reasons, chief of which is that
there are no large cities or commercial
centers in Idaho, while around the
border in adjoining states there are
large cities that are easily reached by
the people of Idaho. The people Of
northern Idaho pay tribue to Spokane
wholesalers and jobbers. principally.
though the territory outside the min
ing district, which is controlled by
Spokane men. is divided with Mon
tana merchants. The south part of
the state is Portland, Ogden and Salt
Lake City's territory with little bust
ness controlled by the small jobbers of
Boise. Pendleton and Walla Walla.
The people along the west central part
Of the state until recently depended
wholly upon Spokane as source of
supplies, but now the hustling and
promising little city Of Lewiston is
rising to claim her own in the COM
/ mercial world, and If being railway
center and situated in easy reach Of
immense water power Is indicative OF
the growth and Importance of town
there is plenty Of promise in and about
this little city of Lewiston to assure
the patriotic citizens of this section
| of Idaho that the day is not far dist
ant when we shall have jobbing and
/ wholesale center at our doors, and the
money that is now going to Spokane
merchants will be kept at home to
build up home trade.
There is much in Lewiston upon
which to base the hope of having a
commercial center within our state, in
spite of the fact that Lewiston has now
reached the half century year Of its
existence and ia still small place
Lack Of transportation facilities has
retarded it's growth. Eight years age
1t was a small place, but 1t took or
new life from the building of the rail.
road and the opening Of the rich Ne,
PIERCE Indian reservation to settlers
and now it is a busy. hustling little
city of several thousand people. ex.
erting an influence over all this sec
tion. with great promise for the future
The impetus the place received from
modern transportation facilities eigh
wears ago will be weak compared will
the boost 1t will get when the railways
now building shall have reached tn
city Lewiston is destined to be a grea
railway center. It now has two line
Of the Northern Pacific, with the Port
land and Puget Sound line building
down the Snake river, the work on tn
Culdesac branch being pushed {
Csrangeville. and the construction worl
on the Huntington Lewiston line Of tn
Oregon Short Line in full swing Thi
fine equipment Of railway service
to be enjoyed by Lewiston before an
other year, and in less than two year
the Chicago. Milwaukee & st. Pau
opening the rich valleys and vas
stores CT mineral OF the interior G
Idaho and linking the city with the IA
: east and the far west on the shortes
line between the two coasts will be an
other means Of transportation that wi
be enjoyed by Idaho's coming metror
: oils
All that Is in sight in the way Of ne
: railway facilities should not be tt
. end 81 hone OF the LewistOnite Wit
the different railway systems in cor
7 tiguous territory where before thel
was only one, competition will be kee
and will result in each company built
ling new lines and extending old on,
: until all the valleys Of central Idal
that can supply the tonnage win ha,
railway
This new territory will be Lewistt
= territory.
= With all these opportunities and q
!. vantages there IL much hope that
the near future Idaho will have cor
V mercial center Of her own. Northe
Z Idaho. from the nature Of the countz
3 win continue a. Spokane territory. b
= the Snake river and the Riparia o
y tension offer . fleld for the idaho ci
that has heretofore been monopoiis
BY Spokane.
lc No inland city h the northwest b
y the opportunities for future grsatne
p that Lewiston hos.
u
~ Per seeissyiNo end 6slisiews =
A. = .