Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-01-10
OPEN RIVER FORCES THE 0.
R. & N. TO CUT RATES
Smith Tells How Portage
Railway and Boats Will Help
Lewiston

In reply to the request of the pres
ident and board of directors of the
Open Rive Transportation company,
for a statement of results obtained
by the opening of the upper Columbia
river through the construction Of the
Portage railroad and the operation of
boats on the river, Superintendent
Frank J. Smith says in part:
with a relatively small expendi-
ture, compared with the benefits
which would result therefrom, the
Columbia and Snake rivers cold be
safely navigable for steamers Of large
capacity the entire year from Cello
to Priest Rapids and to Lewiston. 1t
is quite possible that the legislature
of Washington will aid in this work
to the extent of $350,O0O the ap-
season.
1.-THE extension Of the Portage rail-
way to The Dalles will be of inesti-
mable benefit in both lowering rates
and expediting handling the traffic"
Will Force Lower Rates.
1t has always been the argument of
those who have looked into the open
river proposition that once the Port
age railway became a matter of fact
and that there was a river COMPETE
hot
forced to lower their rates, and that
Lewiston would reap it's share of the
results by realizing an increased COM
merce with the outside world.
That the arguments Of these people
were right, although many were free
to deny the assertions. is attested to
by the statements and figures which
form the report Of Superintendent
Smith Aside from the comparative
tablet showing the marked reductions
which the o. r. & N. has been forced
to make along the Columbia because
OF the operation OF the Open River
Transportation company. the report of
superintendent Smith is as follows:
River Rates and General Benefits.
During the present season of the
fall of 1906. the Open River Transport
tation company handled considerable
grain at a rate ranging from 80 to 40
cents per ton less than rates in effect
on rail line.
Merchandise was transported to
river towns and also to interior points
received their shipments at saving
of from 30 to so per cent below rail
rates to the same point. Interior towns
have used the water haul for over $50
miles and hauled by team 20 miles in
land at saving over rain rates.
"The farmer and merchant on the
banks of the river have received large
benefits. 1t has enabled them to not
only market their produce locally, but
to procure supplies promptly and at
reasonable prices. Unused land that
has been in pasturage for years is
now being farmed since the boats have
given the purchaser means of trans
portation. A number of new towns
have been started along the banks of
the river at points where wagon roads
reach out to the farm lands of the
interior. Old towns that have retro
graded since the early steamboat days
have been inspired with new lease
OF life
Electric Lines Are Built.
Electric lines from the interior
reaching to the Columbia and Snake
rivers have been organized and in
many cases much of the right of way
has been freely given.
"The open river movement has been
directly responsible for these projects,
the names and locations Of roads are
as follows:
Spokane Inland Railway from Spo-
kane to the Snake river.
Walla walla and Columbia Electric
railway, from Dayton to Wallula on
the Columbia.
Bickelton and Northern railway
from point near Mount Adams tc
Alderdale on the Columbia.
"The Columbia & Northern railway
has surveyed line from Hardmar
through Gillian and Morrow counties
to Blalock and some right OF way Sc
cured.
"A line has also, been surveyed from
Prosser, on the Yakima river. through
the noted Horse Heaven wheat belt
reaching the Columbia at Patterson
opposite Irrigon-
Rail Rates Reductions.
AFTER the Portage railway was built
and just before steamers were placed
in operation. a reduction of 40 cent
per ton was made on wheat from krl
Il A. - xrfx !.