Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-06-11
Senatorial Aspirants- Williams -Dolph-
Grovsr-Nesmish-T Railroad Boom
The Gauge Roads.
PORTLAND, May 80, lSS

might be. Trifes Light as air arc magnitiet
until they seem more forcible than proc
of holy writ. And all this rage and fury
seems confined to the newspapers and Tho
politicians, as the people go placidly about
their work and their merchandise, moi
really troubled much in spirit about the
fluctuations of the olfice-seekers perhaps
it would be better if they took interest
enough to control the primaries and the
nominations, and save the politicians the
trouble Of forming rings and manipulating
primaries as they have to at present, be
cause It is really too much work and re
sponsibility to be put upon few men, be
they ever SO willing. The worst misman-
aged business in the nation seems to bt
politics, and the worst of it is that there
is no cure for it within reach.
THE PROSPECT.
The tickets are now all in the field and
The heavy work is being done just before
election. How matters are to go is a mat
ter OF doubt, for while there is some hope
that the majority of votes are Republican,
there IS no certainty of it. The last cleo.
ton gave US divided return-the Gov.
eruor and Congressman being Democrats,
and the Secretary of State, Treasurer and
superintendent of Public Instruction being
Republicans-an the range of majorities
merely showed that the personal pop
Clarity OF certain men on each side
was greater than that of others. With
blns indecisive result in 1878 to judge by,
We might still feel confident of Republican
success, as there is no want of good feel
ing and harmony in the Republican party.
This not being year when there is a
United States Senator to elect, the aspi-
rants for that honor are not so especially
In the field as they will be in 1882, when
Growers successor will have to be elected.
'1ho unknown quantity that has to be cal
cuiated before it is known is the immigra-
ton and the exodus that have taken place
in the past two years. During that time
many have removed from the Willamette
valley to Eastern Washington, and many
more have moved into Oregon, especially
Eastern Oregon, from abroad. These
votes may be equally divided, and so leave
the political situation as they found it, or
they may throw the majority into the
hands of either party, and that is what we
of course don't know. After the election
these things will dawn upon us, but mean
while We can only bet on the result.
Each party predicts its own entire sue
cess, and | venture 10 believe that while
the presidential election will show Oregon
to be Republican, the spring vote will be
divided and return some of both tickets.
SENATORIAL AsPIRANrs.
Already we see indications that there
1ill be sharp contest made for the Sena-
torship in So on the Republican side. It
5 probable that the Legislature then will
be Republican. There are influences in its
favor that hsve not been so of late years.
The Oregon Steam Navigation Company
has been aggressively Democratic for many
years, and whatever influence that corpora
ion possessed was used that way, while
Che new corporation that replaces it and
possesses many times more power, while
not DESTROYS of being known in politics is
supposed tohave Republican tendencies, and
SILL at least not exert any influence for the
Democracy. 1t has been reported that, ex-
attorney. General George II. Williams
intended to return to Oregon this summer,
ana it was anticipated that he would be Oh
sand to work for a return to the Senate,
but hear of late that he will probably
rarnain in the practice Of law at Washing
ton, where he is doing 4 good business,
though not, as formerly, member of
she " Republican Court" He is told that
che prospect for return to the
Ssnate is not very secure. Williams was
undoubtedly the most distinguished Sena-
COR we have ever had in Washington. The
coming man, with Senatorial aspirations,
IS J. n. Dolph, who was long Senator
Aitcheil's law partner and to-day has
probably the best law practice in Oregon.
Dclph . prosperous and money making in
land transactions, as well as at law he is
attorney for the overshadowiug railway
and navigation company, and it looks as if
he would be the next Senator, unless
AIitchell's friends stand by him and can
get control On the Democratic side the
coming man Is not visible Grover will
lever see the light of political day
again, and indeed 1t is doubtful if
he will ever be well man again,
FOR he is not able to attend to his
Senatorial duties, and has not been near
Washington for months He is threatened
with paralysis of the brain, l am told, and
IS no doubt great sufferer. Whatever
happens to Democracy, and whatever in
dependent turn politics may ever take, it
g safe 20 say that ex-senator Nesmith will
never be heard of again in any high politi-
cal connection. 1t Is true that he was pop
ular in Washington, but it is difficult to
see where he ever accomplished anything
Of Importance for Oregon. Now he is so
unpopular with the thoroughbred Democ-
racy that their stomachs turn whenever
his name Is heard. He is witty and sar-
castle as of old, and employs his spare time
shooting anonymous squibs through the
Orcyonidr, all of which add to bis reputa-
tion, but don't improve it a particle.
THE RAILROAD BOOM.
and Sill the work goes on. The year
1850 will be memorable for the prosecution
Of great enterprises in the northwest, AID
will be followed by other busy years until
The work IS done. The Willard company
have the biggest thing of its size on the
continent. They control the navigable
waters OF the Columbia, Willamette and
Snake river almost entirely, and the
steamers to San Francisco, and are con-
strGc:ing a network of railroads that
shall drain the whole upper country of its
products. Willard has gone back East
bat ne has made great sensation in real
estate by purchasing quarter of million
dollars worth Of land on both sides of the
willamette south of Portland, where the
depots and shops OF his railroads are
to be located. The river is to be bridged
there and so they have secured land on
both sides This scale of transactions
causes great connection in real estate, and
a number Of persons have made good
strikes over it. This will have the effect
to draw the city southwards, and In time
30 plant great part of it on the east side,
where the land is better shaped, as on this |
side 1t already butts against mountainous
hills that are inaccessible. There is no
especial reason why real estate should
mount TO visionary nights, as there is room
enough IN sight for all the people that can
ever come, aud if the city realizes expecta-
tons it may in time reach up the banks OF
the Willamette on both shores for many a
mile, as does Cincinnati.
The NARROW GAUGE,
But while the broad gauge champion is
laying plsns, the narrow gauge enterprise
takes form and goes bravely on. The pro-
iect of our Scotch friends is no small one