The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-01-23
1.-THE SPIRIT ar PORTLAND"

= THE SPIRIT Of PORTLAND"
Portland is a maratime city, although $50
miles from the ocean. The annual river and
harbor improvements which open the way
for deeper ships. increase the commerce of
this port. Geo. HI. Atkinson in Daily
0regonian, Jan. l, 1880.
Farmers of Central Oregon, this is my text
What have you given to make Portland a
maratime city: Since 1912 the profit de-
rived from your toll and labor has gone to
make Portland what it is. You built the
first river boats, and gave capital to open
up the Columbia river trade. You have
begged and voted annually money to open a.
thoroughfare to and from that city, you
asked and obtained subsidy for railroad
and gave it to the East side company, and
have been paying 40c per ton on every
pound of freight going and coming on that
road, simply because the wharves OF Port
land happened to be ON the West side of the
Willamette You gave 100000 of a sacred
fund to find relief from the burdens imposed
by monopolies; you have encouraged and
built up the great papers of this maritime
city, and to what end? For years Central
Oregon has been working against the spirit
of Portland, for another outlet, one free
from ice, and one nearer and cheaper, ON the
seaboard. In 1876, VIM. Reid, secretary of
the Portland Board of Trade, used his in
fuence against State aid for the construc-
tion of the w. V. & C. r. R. In 1878,
taco gears later, in his annual report as secre-
tary, he referaed to the narrow gauge from
Corvallis to Philomath as 'sfeeder to the
Westside, thus treating subject of vital
interest with studied contempt.
Mr.. Mccormick, in his Almanac, has a
map of Oregon look at it. Trout lake"
is noticed, but Yaquina Bay is ignored. A
place like Trout lake, only connected with
the ocean by small stream in the WINTER
MONTHS, is carefully mapped out, while va
auina, a point of commerce since 1860, with
every acre of land occupied and the certain
ty of railroad connection with Central Ore
gon, is omitted I ask you, in all candor,
to be charitable, and yet say this is ignor-
ance.
Again, nearly two months have elapsed
since Capt. Wood, U. S. Asst Engineer,
made his survey, and since Mr.. Wallis
Nash's interesting letter on the merits of
that important survey was published and
promptly copied by the interior press. l
ask you, who subscribe to sustain the Port
land press, if you have been able to find a
cheering line. word even, to strengthen
your cause You have no doubt seen re-
commentators for aid to every other point
not in conflict with the wishes of the "mar-
itime city" Please observe the Willamette
Farmer of January 9th, paper supported
by the real advocates of cheap trausporta-
ton, after complimenting it's patrons in the
valley, this advice is offered, (farmers) need
then to work for mo, Improvements on both
upper and lo,cer Columbia and Willamette,
and select men to Congress acho are capable of
aoorhing for these results successfully" This
is all very good, though an appropriation for
the upper Willamette, with railway on
either side, is not as necessary as in years of
yore; but why not mention improvements
that are of public notoriety and urgently
demanded? Why not give che members
NOW in Congress, who are asking informa-
ton, aid and strength to carry out the
wishes of their constituents?
In view of this stubborn, persistent dis
position to treat us like children unable to
understand our own wants, I humbly sug-
gest if it is not time to display a little indie
tion needed some times to teach respect.
The press of Central Oregon has done nobly,
but aside from the Astoria,e you are clear
ly without friends. The right of petition
remains, and why not exercise it? Call
meetings in every town, select speakers,
rally the willing and anxious people and
discuss the question of an appropriation for
the improvement of Yaqnina Bay. This
will insure railway saving 22l miles of
distance and 36 hours of time between the
interior and San Francisco, giving you.a har-
Dor accessible at all times, and sufficient for
all purposes of commerce local and foreign,
o. HistI ItiHiC pOiuJ tlst1 Will HOb fSquiEe all
annual sum to get to it and another to get
away, a route giving choice of shipping,
lowering rates on present lines, and afford
ing permanent competition. Have COM
mittee. frame resolutions, setting forth all
and singular, the facts and interests of COM
merce. give it wide pull licity, and furnish
our Senators and Representative reports.
They solicit your aid give it cheerfully,
truthfully and energetically, and if the press
of Portland, aiscays ready to encourage eater
prise, fails to notice your struggle for the
right, and add an atom of its power or in
fuence in support of your claim, you will at
least learn and understand the Esprit of
Portland" r. A. BENsELL.
. Newport, January IA, 1850.
DEATH IN rHE CANYoN.-From Dr. Calan-
der, who returned home last Tuesday, we
gather the following particulars of the death
of Lieut.. Shelton, who died in the big can
yon, in this county, very sudden and mys-
terious,y, while travelling through on the
stage It appears that the Lieut.. was ON
his way from Fort Klamath to Walla WalIa
on leave of absence to see his wife and
baby, and had arrived this far on his Jour
uev when the sad end came The sfz<,e Ia; II