The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1874-08-21
BRIDGE ACROSS THE sANrIAM.

unity w tlle ludll liiNo OA-NA"hSPoAe~ va
tion running through this State, is be-
coming more and more apparent. 1t
is fact, which only needs to be mem
TONED, that the wealth of country
depends almost entirely upon the de-
mand of that which it produces. This
is the case not only with nations and
States, but is equally as true of smaller
and more isolated districts.
The old doctrine of Political econo-
my that demand and supply must of
necessity be in equilibrium, is being so
clearly and forcibly shown in these
days of railroads and canals, that men,
and especially farmers, are giving the
subject more attention at this present
time, than at any period in the past,
The by 10 means inconsiderable dis
trict of country known as the Forks
of the Santiam, is great agricultural
region, and is as we'll adapted to the
producing of vast quantities of grain,
as to the growing of fine herds of
stock. Now, since our granaries will
be full, this Fall, of wheat and oats,
which we shall offer for sale, the
question will be, Is there any demand?
Of course, there is demand now, and
men are riding through the country
trying to engage our grain. And if
we refuse % engage to them, they ask
us to store with them ION certain con-
ditions, until we shall have succeeded
in producing such an equilibrium be-
tween the laws of demand and supply
as will justify US in selling our grain.
But where are the farmers of the
Forks requested to store their grain, if
they store; or to DELIVER it. when they
sell? Where are the compelled to
haul it when they dispose of it either
by sale or otherwise! To the railroad,
of course.
So far all is legitimate and right,
and the shortest and best road to the
track on the other side is the one to
take with your loaded wagons and
teams. But if you sell now you may
not get, the highest price that your
grain may, after waiting a while,
bring. Then, what will you do? There
are but two alternatives; and these are
either to store at some available point,
and tnen to wait until the price is reas-
enable, or to let your grain remain in
your barns till you see fit to dispose of
it. Now, which of these alternatives
will you take? say store. And fur
ther; store at Jefferson. Why store at
jefferson? Why store? Because your
grain must go to the track any way,
and you had better haul it before the
winter rains set in and render the
roads and river almost. if not quite,
impassable. But the question further
arises, Why store your grain at Jetfer-
son? Simply for two reasons: The first
and most important is, you will then
have two lines of transportation in
stead of one, which is better for rea-
sons clear and impressive; the second
is, because, Jefferson is the most avail
able point in two aspects: 1t is the
nearest polnt-for the greater number
as good u road-and those with whom
you store will pay your ferriage,
Now, having shown that the farmers
of the Forks should store their grain
at Jefferson, if store at all and haul it
there when they sell it, we proceed to
the main question of bridge across
the North Santiam at or near Green's
ferry. 1t is a question that we shall
take as admitted, that, where there
is a river that is impossible for a great
portion of the time, o bridge, if it can
he had at an available point, is far, yes
infinitely better and more safe than a
ferry.
The difficulty of building bridge
across the Santiam is all overcome
when a place is found where there are
no intervening sloughsi and the land
is sufficiently elevated to rise above
the level of ordinary high watermark.
All these advantages are met with at
the point we have mentioned. In case
of intervening sloughs, the trouble is
this: the Santiam being a rapid
stream, is like to, from the effect of
the vast amount Of drift-wood that
runs in it, change its channel, and
where there are no sloughs, the chan
mel is very apt to remain fixed.
A bridge at the point before mem
toned can be erected, we think, for
ten thousand dollars, and my opinion
Is that the money can be raised. At
least let some one, make an etforC in
that direction. Such an enterprise as
this, if successful, will be Il making
of the town of jefferson; and we pre-
dict that its beneficial effects on the
Province of Canada, will be felt till
the latest time.
W. r. BILYEU.
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