Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-02-16
WANTS $4,000
FOR OPEN RIVER
Commercial Club Sends Bill
To Boise For Benefit
of Snake

A draft of bill appropriating $685. !
600 for the improvement of the Snake !
river has been sent to each member
of the Idaho legislature. The measure
was drawn up under the auspices of
the Commercial club.
The draft of the bill is accompanied
by a letter which seeks to set forth
the manifold advantages Of an open
river The letter, which is signed by
Mark Means, Fl. L. Powers and ].
Howard Howe, and attested to by
John o. Bender, president OF the club,
and r. c. Rohrabacher, secretary,
reads in part as follows
Importance Of Movement.
"The Importance Of this movement
in its bearing on the future develop
nent Of Idaho, can scarcely be over
estimated. The benefits to be derived
win not be limited to riparian owners
or to the country adjacent thereto.
Tributary to the navigable part Of the
Snake river. touching Idaho is a vast
region. embracing a territory wonder
fully rich in varied resources. the de-
veiopment of which is vital1y concern
ed in the Improvement Of water trans
portation.
'"The era Of electric railway build
iup has already dawned for idaho, and
with the open river It IS hut a ques-
ton Of time until electric lines will
bring the nroduct of practicaIlv all the
interior country to the baeer Or the
great drainage system that feeds the
naviRabie SHvaters ~ this state II &c
manifest that the futuye welfare Of
producers is Intimately involved in an
omen waterway that will render n, nos
crate .indenAodentiv ~ stean1 rs''rna1s
in order that equitable FREIGHT rates
may be obtained a ns*~j
Promise Of Electric Lines.
There is now assured for northern
Idaho an electric line that will bring
the products Of section unsurpassed
in agricultural and timber wealth tc
the steamer docks at the head of all
year navigation on the Snake river
Another electric line promises to oper
up a country to the south that is M
less rich in agriculture and timber
and that possesses almost fabulou!
undeveloped mineral wealth.
According to affidavits secured il
an effort to estimate the present ton
mage tributary to this proposed line
there are more than 36O,00O acres trib
utary to this road.
Productiveness of Country.
Nearly 10000 acres of this wer
seeded to grain and hay at the tim
900 acres We're classed as tillable bu
not seeded; $4,000 acres are credite
with producing 1900 tons of hay; 65.
600 acres with producing 100000
bushels or $4,000 tons of wheat; "a
acres with producing nearly 100000
bushels or over $4,000 tons of oats
$4,000 acres with producing more tina
100000 bushels or over $4,000 tons {
barley; $4,000 with producing $4,000
bushels or more than 10000 tons {
fax
In this territory It is estimated thu
there are sold and shipped each yet
5000 head Of cattle and more than so
600 head of hogs, representing ov,
10000 tons. This makes q grand tot
Of more than 2s5.oo0 tons that tn
road would handle In IL months at II
present estimated production.
Rich Mineral Deposits.
What this production viii amou
to Ave years after the completion
the road would be hard indeed to est
mate. but that It WIN be enormous
Increased, the experience OF electI
railways establishes beyond any que
ton
we have said nothing Of the go
silver, copper and lead that lie dc
mant, awaiting only the contact
cheap transportation to yield millio
to enterprise and add untold wealth
the state. There are iron depos
equal In extent to the great iron fiel
Of the continent.
There is a zone underlaid with
mammoth vein OF high grade lign
coal, extending from the weste
boundary Of the state, on the sna