, 1868-04-24

causes In oregon2 The st. Louis Democrat, Of
December 23d, states that tract Of three hundred
acres Of land located near st. James, twelve miles
north Of fRola which a short time previous could
have been bought perhaps at government prices,
sold for $40 per acre, owing to the appearances in
that region of the Pacific Railroad. All along
the route according 70 the same authority, the
value of land is enhancing with unparalleled
speed.
Local Prejudices and Quarrels.
Why then should California so far have out
stripped Oregon in her attainments or material
wealth 1t is not pleasant to be forced to con-
fess 1t, and yet it is true, that the citizens of
! Oregon have lacked that union of feeling and
harmony of sentiment necessary to the success
| full commencement and prosecution of great
public enterprises. The tone of the newspaper
press affords convincing proof of the fact,
which is still further auested in the melancholy
confession that with ten million acres of produc-
tive lands she cannot boast single railroad or
canal within her borders. California's produc>
tive area is no greater, hardly as great. The
mean temperature of California is about $40
that Of Oregon 500, so that 10 the matter of
climate there is nearly an equality. Oregon
produces wheat rye, oats, Indian corn, tobacco,
wool, potatoes, and numerous articles of do
mestic manufacture, besides being the finest
fruit growing country in the world. She also rSses
orscs, horned stock sheep, asAes and mules, hogs
ETC., and has made beginning towards the manu-
facture of woolen, cotton, and other fabrics. In
other respects her soil has been uutried Grapel,
cotton, elk and numerous industries belonging TO
California, will be introduced into her borders in
time. In minerals, Oregon has everything to boast
that belongs to California, with the addition of her
larger forests aud coal and iron fields, which will
some day yield revenue greater than would pay for
all the railroads that may be constructed within her
limits for the next half century. II the two States
lying side by side, with equal facilities for procuring
each its proper share Of the benefits to be derived
from the China, Japan Atlantic and European trade,
We're actuated by corresponding degrees Of ambition,
enterprise and industry, there is reason why ore
should not become equally great and powerful as the
other In order that Oregon may not be behind her
sister, let us forget that there such things local
differences local prejudices, and local squabbles 1t
is true of States and communities it is with in
dividuals, that they accomplish nothing without
acting harmoniousy, and for a single purpose. Our
grand effort should be such to secure the first
railroad. without reference to the selfish and OBJ
structve question to whether this or that section
will receive from it the greatest advantages. 1t
would be impossible to build such work in any
portion OF the State that would not advantage every
human soul in it. In the light of taxes derived from
it, there broader views Of the subject, the
benefits conferred must be general in its nature but
its example would stimulate 10 the construction of
other roads capital that had got start in that
direct ion wOu continue to flow into tie State unit
it would fnd each and every of its rich valleys
traversed by net work OF roads, such must offer
market to the most distant and obscure corners of
the State.
Benefits to the Regions Traversed.
The remarks which have gone before have
been made chiefly with view to show the
large and almost certain profits secured by
railroads to their stockholders. 1t now re-
mains to speak of the incaculable advantages
conferred by such enterprises upon the coun-
try through which they pass lst. They
attract immigration. The industry, bone
and sinew necessary for the development of
the wealth of the soil are usually possessed
by the poorer classes, anxious to secure for
themselves permanent homes. In the older
States, where public improvement have en-
HANGED the value of lands enormousl y, the
poor man can enter into no competition for
their ownership. He must look farther west
to those States and localities where lands
may be had at nominal prices where devel-
opments have just begun and the hope OF
wealth rests in the progress made towards
furnishing convenient markets. I'd. Where's
ever there is population there must be inns
provement it is one of the concomitants of
civilization 10 have many wants, No soon
er is a community established than the ex>
change of neighborhood civiites commence
and follows. The dwelling is indispensable
for health, security and comfort. Its interior
departments demand furniture, and in the
enumeration it embraces articles of luxury
and expensiveness. Next to the dwelling
comes fences to protect the growing crops.
These in turn require machinery for their
proper cutting and gathering, aud graneries
for their storage TO promise these conven-
fences lu uber must be obtained, and to OBJ
tain it mills are erected. Water power is
thus brought into requisition, and the sur~
rounding forests rendered tributary to the
needs of man. Then follow the store, the
carpenter shop, the blacksmith, and a huu>
dred nameless occupations, all hinging upon
the primary idea of civilization as connected
with population.
Sd. Orchards, vineyards, factories, cotton
planting, tobacco growing, silk culture, sheep
and stock grazing follow as natural conse-
quence. Now supposing this delightful state OF
| affairs to exist in particular portion OF some
new country like Oregon, it will be found simply
that the means of subsistence have been provi-
| ded and life made measurably agreeable, moth
| ing more. There is yearning principle in the
| human mind that aspires to something beyond
something higher and grander in human enter
| prise-and which seek to break from an exist
/ ence, Whlcn thus IeItereu anu clrcuInscrloeui Is
little more than semi>animal We find that its
first t'essays will be to enlarge the scope of its
| actions This it will seek to do by extending its
n cans of communication with other localities for
a mutual interchange, not only Of sentiment but
of trade. Crops and manufactures beyond what
will supply the home demand, are useless if they
cannot find a market; and that market once
found is more than useless, unless the traffic it
| Invites is attended by remunerative profit.
The extent of profit is regulated not only by the
certainty with which articles are transported /;
but also the speed the time of the producer is an
object, and merchandise, if perishable, is valuas
Bile only because of the rapidity with which it
| can be taken to market Therefore while turns
pixies may enable the farmer to carry on local
wagon IL ade with his neighbors, and thus realize
sufficient to pay ais taxes and provide the neces-
sary wants of his table. While they furnish
necessary facilities for intercourse between hams
lets, townships, cities and counties while they
create demand for few sacks of wheat, a few
! bushels of potatoes, few dozen of eggs, few
pounds of butter and few fowls. To the rail
road belongs the province of opening up distant
markets, where produce is purchased in bulk, at
prices enhanced ten fold and in which the de-