Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-05-07
LEWISTON AND CHARLESTON.

IL IS ilhc SOluS uOm0 LOT man
from Oregon to step into Lewiston.
From its very inception over 40
years ago Lewiston has been init
mately associated with Portland.
Levi Ankeny filed upon its townsite.
and every Portland merchant of the
last generation carried the names Of
Lewiston dealers upon his books.
Portland and Oregon people had a
large hand in its early history and
some of It's best-known citizens
reached Lewiston by way Of the
Beaver State. 1t is therefore only
natural when Portland people pay
an official visit to this enterprising
inland metropolis that they should
be given warm welcome-though
that welcome must be felt to realize
how warm it is.
The opening of the Riparia cutoff
line to Lewiston, which brings that
city into direct railway communica-
ton with Portland, is the most sig
nificant event of Lewiston's recent
history. 1t means that instead of
flying in the face of nature, the rail-
roads are now following the lines
which nature originally laid down
for such traffic, and through 1t Lew
iston is placed on water level
grade clear to the sea. 1t is entire
ly probable that Lewiston is now at
the actual beginning of it's railroad
history. A line down the Clearwa-
ter seems one Of the inevitable out
comes, not because of Lewiston, but
because of the economic advantages
to the railroads themselves.
Situated as it is. at the junction
of the Clearwater and Snake rivers,
1t is logically and geographically in
a commanding position. That 1t
should become great inland me-
tropolis is almost inevitable. The
city itself is awakening to its COM
mercial opportunities. It is begin
ming to get ready for good streets
and other public improvements. II
its people will only do for the city
what the city does for itself through
its location. the future Of Lewiston
will be assured.
In grape culture Lewiston enjoys
pre-eminence that will not easily
be wrested from it. 1t has climatic
advantages as we'll as the men who
know how in such happy combina-
tion that 1t will be next to impos-
sible to take away from 1t it's ascen-
dency. In Charleston, which Is
across the Snake. In Washington
from Lewiston, 1t has been demon
strated for dozen years past that
fine fruit can be raised. In Lewis
ton, therefore. where the work Is
now being started on large scale.
there Is no need for argument to
demonstrate that 1t will be success.
A company organized and financed
in Portland Is working marvellous
transformation on the high plateau
back of Lewiston. At vast expense
It has brought water from neigh
boring mountain and impounded 1t
in a great dam which, when finally
completed, will rank among the
great dams OF the world. Through
this pressure Is secured for irrigat-
ing many acres Of land. This land
is divided into 10-acre plots ana
each plot Is surrounded by a tight
wire and board fence painted White.
which gives very attractive APP
pearance to the whole enterprise.
While this is but part OF the re-
sources back Of Lewiston. ana no
mention is made of its wheat, notn-
,rv hu. a cursory glance is needed
- show that Lewiston is now only at
the inception of its real career
Portland Telegram.