The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-11-05
THE PEOPLE AND RAILROADS.


graphical condition of the Coast line
of Oregon with that of the ESQ miles
of corresponding latitude on the
Eastern coast. There nature has pro-
vided abundant outlets, and every
few miles city and port open their
gates to the Commerce Of the world.
Internal communications by railroad
and highways connect the interior
country of the Eastern States with
the outports by the sea. With every
centre of city life the force of COM
petition comes into play, and rival
railroads strive for as large proper
tion as they can secure OF the freight
age of the district, while competing
lines of steamers carry on the war of
rates.
Oregon is differently placed. The
one great outlet of the State lies
along it's extreme northern boundary.
where the Columbia river, with
Instructions only few and far be-
tween, offers a highway of seven
hundred miles to our growing trade.
The Willamette, noble tributary to
the great Columbia, during eight
months of the year, is also an open
road for the commerce of the State.
When the white men entered
Oregon and built for themselves
homes and founded cities and towns
and villages, their first communica-
tions lay along and by the borders OF
the rivers of the State. As civiliza-
ton spread, SO the needs of more
rapid and closer lying highways were
felt. Settlers banded themselves
together for common works on roads
and bridges, and what the labor OF a
few and the money of the struggling
pioneers were unable to effect, was
done by associated capital from out
side the State.
And thus the road companies, the
steamboat companies, the bridge
companies, and then the railroad
companies were formed. What had
been dedicated altogether to public
use what was, and would ever re-
main, in all essentials, public prop
erty the inalenienable rights of the
people for themselves and their de
scendants freely to travel the high
ways of the State, were of necessity
encroached upon to give capital in.
ducements TO come to this far West
ern land. Tolls were established or
roads and bridges; ferries were al
lowed to be fixed on the rivers
steamboats, commenced to ply fol
hire on the internal waters of the
State; then came the railroads
choosing the passes and crossings o.
our mountain chains, traversing oul
valleys; but hitherto seeking the Co
lumbia river at their extremity OIL
along their course to carry to the
outside world the freight and passen
gers they bore, or to bring in and
distribute through their means the
comforts and luxuries of life the
State was yet too young to furnish te
her children. But, thank God, oul
birthright has, as yet, been sold fol
no mess OF pottage. When mer
would form themselves into corpor
ations and so gain strength by asso
citation, the legislature rigidly pre-
scribed the method of such forlna
tion. Foreigners, whether citizens
of the State. or aliens by birth, were
not to dominate the State. All of the
Directors of most companies, and g
majority of those of Railroad and
Canal companies were to be citizens
of this State, and thus, by keeping
home interests involved, by retaining
the inspiring forces of the corpora
tions under the domain of Oregon
laws, and at the bar of Oregon pub
lie opinion control was exercised
here, at home, and a wise precautior
was taken, which we trust to see con
vinced TO all time, that where the
powers of the corporation were ex
ercised there they should be limited
aud confined by law.
But more; it is conceded on al
hands that the limited rights Of
ownership over the highways and
roads of State granted through the
Legislature of that State. Tin snch g
matter the representative of the peo
pie as whole) are to be exercised
primarily for the public benefit tha,
while contracts with a corporation
so far as they remain within the do
main of the law, ought to be rigidly
| respected, yet that a firm govern
ment be kept up against encroach.
ment; and the rights of the people
respected in the contest ever being
waged between the private rights o.
the individual citizen and the grind
ing principle of monopolies striving
ever after daily increasing power
and control.
| What are the points that corpor
alton operating and striving to con
troll the highways of the State. i.
certain to attempt to make its own
| First, To SO hold the naviga
ton of the Columbia river tha,
competition there by steamboat MAY
be impossible; and, to this end, eth
er to own every steamboat plying fol
hire on our waters, or by artificia
methods to cripple and drive off every
independent line. Do any natura
facilities exist which may be turned
to account for this selfish end ? LIE
the portages and the railroads ther,
reply. Have we never seen 80 anG
$4,000 tons of freight, waiting at ont
time for transit; stored where tn,