Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-02-19
FRENCH PLEADS FOR OPEN
RIVER.
OPEN

Congressman French made d speech
In. the house Of representatives the
other day in which he uttered a strong
appeal for liberal appropriation for
the Improvement of the Snake and
Columbia rivers. 1t was during the
consideration OF the rivers and har-
bors bill. and many notable speeches
were made but none was better receiv-
ed than that Of Mr.. French. He has
taken a great interest in this Ques-
ton ever since he first entered con-
gress and was in a position It'd furnish
many interesting facts in support Of
his claim for river improvements.
In a clear, unassuming, but forceful
manner, he told OF the commercial inn
portance of the northwest. and how
the development of that section, so
rich In everything that goes to make
country great and prosperous, is
retarded in its growth and In its pros
perity by excessive freight charges.
He asserted that the best way TO
cheaper railroad rates was I'd improve
water transportation. On this he said:
we talk Of the regulation of rail-
road rates. We place laws upon our
statute books for the equalization Of
the charges made. we accomplish
splendid results through the vigilance
OF our Interstate commerce commits
sion; But, sirs that which would avail
more than all the laws we could pass
and all the commissions we could ap-
point for the regulation of railway
rates would be the adoption dc broad
comprehensive system for the devel-
opment OF the waterways Of our land
and the speedy execution Of that poll
cy." FY
Mr.. French showed how water com
petition made cheap rates between
Chicago and New York and gave other
examples and claimed that the people
Of the Inland Empire were entitled to
just as cheap rates and would gel
them If the Columbia and snake rivers
were opened to navigation He spent
some time in showing how the locks
and canal at Cascade and the portage
railway at Cello Falls had o14apenef
rates despite the fact that 1t MAS nee.
essary to transfer the freight TO ar
from the portage rassway wafcl ontail.
much unnecessary cost; and how al
this has been broaght abolt by very
meagre appropriations for improve.
ment of the Columbia river Tie elaine,
however that railroad rates i'm north
ern Idaho are much too high. and pro
ceeded to tell how this condition cal
be improved:
THE only remedy for this injustie
is the Improvement of our waterwa
from the mouth of the Columbia [
Lewiston, idaho, and to The uppe
Columbia in the state OF Washington
Later improvement win follow, bu
this is our imperative need We wan
the Cello project completed and !
win require a little more than $500,
900, according to the engineers repor
TO do that work. We want obstruc
tions in the upper Columbia and tn
Snake rivers removed. We wan
water communication established be
tween the head OF the great milan
empire and the Pacific ocean. Thi
Inland empire is distant from on
nearest coast market from 200 to 70
miles. To haul our grain to this mar
ket the railroad charge is somethin
like IA cents per bushei or from 4
!. 5 cents per bushel per 100 miles. o
the Mississippi river between s.
Louis and New Orleans the rate pc
bushel per 100 miles is little les
than cent. In other words we al
compelled to pay from three to fnu
times as much for freight az we woul
need to pay could we get water trans
portation. And think what savin
this would mean 20 the producers {
khe inland empire. We ship to coa'
points about 4oeOo.Oo0 bushels {
wheat every year. Could -v4 save o
this shipment 10 cents bushel ever
year we could still be payire hight
rates than those paid for like shiT