The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1869-05-22
Railroads as Ciyilizers.

history iufhish the most ample proofs of
the truth Of this assertion. Turn to
written history, in any age Of the world,
and wherever you find city or nation
that has, for a length of time, command
ed large share Of the worlds commerce,
either by the strength of arms, or by the
energy and enterprise of its citizens, there
you will find that the arts and sciences
have grown and flourished, and left their
most splendid and enduring monuments
Cast your eye over the history Of the
past, and read of the '.nlistrcss of the
world--imperial Rome" She held in
her grasp the commerce OF the world, and
ali nations PAID tribute to her. Greece
and Rene have long since lost their
is lost to them, but the ruins of her past
grandeur to-day furnish the best schools
for our poets, orators, sculptors and paint
ers But to come down to our own times
look at the great cities OF Londcn and
Paris, and mark what commerce has
done for them What has been accom-
plished for these vast human hives
through the agency of commerce, is being
daily rcinacted for cities, towns and vii
lagos in our own glorious country, on a
grandcr or lesser scale. This is an age
Of progress. The age when the highest
ambition Of the artisan, the mechanic,
the farmer, to do as their fathers did be-
fore them, to use the same tools, to piow
with the same old wooden mold boards,
and harrow their land with a tree-top or
bundle of brush, has passed away for
ever; and he who would not be counted
drone in life's busy hive must keep up
with the new innovations" the new
helps to labor that science, skill and in
genuity are daily offering to the world !;
must discard old and exploded theories,
and adopt the latest developments of
science and skill, or be left tar in the
rear in the race for wealth and ease.
The chief instrument of commerce in a
State is her means Of transportation. IF
these are ample and swift, her CONNER
cial prosperity will be rapid and sure.
As an instance Of the rapid development
of a State in material wealth and prosper
ity through her transportation facilities,
glance at the great State of Illinois,
4 few years ago she had but one railway
that leading from Naples to Springfield,
some sixty miles in length-was deeply
in debt, with population of less than a
million sThe era of railroads dawncd.' %
Her citizens, seeing the immense benefits
accruing from we'll regulated system of
railroads, gave aid and encouragement to
all such enterprises. AS consequence
she is to-day chequered all over with
railroads, with million or two of dollars
lying idle in her treasury vaults, her
broad prairies and lovely valleys dotted
with cities and villages, and boasts of
population verging on to three millions
of happy and prosperous people. This
grand achievement is the result of her
| enlarged commercial relations, brought
| about by great system of internal i'm
provements, chief among which are her
railways. The great Central Railroad
traverses the entire length of the State
from north to south, paying tribute OF
seven per cent. to the State, which sum
goes far towards iquidating the yearly
expenses of the State government. What
railroads have accomplished for Illinois
they will accomplish for Oregon. Build
railway through the Willamette valley
and in twelve months after its completion
| land lying on either side of it will have
doubled and thribbled in value products
| of every kind will have increased in g
corresponding ratio, because every mar
| will have>a market at his own door fol
the various products he may have fol-
sale. The great want of Oregon to-day
is increased facilities for quickly trans
porting the vast amounts of produce tha
her rich soil renders SO easy of attain
ment By all means let us give aid ane
comfort to all enterprises having for theil
object the opening up of commercial re
lations with our neighbors. They vii
hasten the growth of our State in popu
lation, and open new channels of wealtl
and prosperity to her citizens.
SAvAGE.-A Red Republican journa
of Tarragona, Spain, makes the following
humane suggestion: "We have oftel
said that Spain will never enjoy true lib
erty until she has achieved it IN tn
| midst of an immense sea OF blood. Spal
cannot consider herself as federal re