The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-05-13
xaoraxAr1 rssE rilTlnE.
an interesting Eettcr Erosn Esn. Il. &.
George.
porrlASD, May ., 1881.

state Of feeling at Washington City and
the future prospects for appropriations,
etc, | desire to state that It viii be a
continuous struggle to obtain what is
Justly due Us. Ono formidable thing
We have to contend with Is the very
general indifference, not TO say opposi-
ton, on tho part of eastern interests t.
the concerns of the west. This indiiior-
enee to our wants is ON the part of those
whose cooperation it il essential for us
to have.
The River and 1larbor Bill, accord
ing to honored usage, originates
in the House. It is prepared by the
Committee on Commerce, composed Of
fifteen members, and 50 far as the House
is concerned tho decision of the Com
mittee is in nearly every case final. So
you see the labor is before this Com
mitts,e, and it IS Al tht highest degree
essential to success that our interests
be represented on that Committee Ex-
perience has demonstrated that those
States only WHO are unsepesented on
the Committee complain of its action.
Il is very important COMMITTEES for Us
in Oregon. yet it is seldom that y new
member is placed upon it. Il would
seem that some representation sheald
70 had on this Committee from ;hat
portion of our country drained hy the
great Columbia river and its tributa-
ries-a country. according to the last
census, as large as MI tie New England
States, with New York, New Jersey,
Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania,
Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Missouri
COMBINED, and capable Of supporting as
large a populations, with as great a Va
riety OF resources and much mildor
climate, summer and winter. | may
truthfully add thas the area of this
vast watershed Of country exceeds that
of the whole fifteen States represented
on the House Committee on Commeree
of the last Congress.
Much more would it seem that the
Pacific States and Territories combined,
/
and with them San Francisco, should
have a representative. How it will DO
in the next Congress no one can say,
but this much can be said, that in the
last Congress not a member west of the
Rocky Mountains vas appointed on the
House Committee. This IS one Of the
evidences Of eastern Indifference 10 rs
Of the west
In the face of these facts We have
all the harder to work. and surely IN
stead ef pulling AID hauling among
ourselves anl exl,iliting a spi.it 81
jealousy against the Development Of
any seetian Of CIR state, thus assisting
in tearing the work of each other down,
we should stand together and all IN the
upbuilling Of all sections. l. some
times seems that we little realize The
grand future OF this great North@est.
We talk ai,out terminus anl a great
commercial center in Oregon, Or "a the
Sound, but population throuehs.:t this
great Northwest alone can bring i, and
We will get population only when we
get direct railroad communication with
the cast, and with population will come
the great cities and towns of the future.
Il IS not much farther from Portland to
Newport, on Yaquina Bsy, tian from
New York and Brooklyn, with their
almost millions Of popuistion, to Dos
ton, with It's half million, or from New
York City to the great city Of BAlti-
more, and is about twice as far as 70
Philadelphia, with a population Of al
most ene million. to say nothing of the
many cities sithin the sane radius
about New York. each numbering
thousands more than nov inhabit the
city of Portland, and some almost as
many as the entire State Of Oregon.
Ny belief in the great future of osr
State has been mneh strengthened by
my observations throughout the eastern
States this winter. Leaving this val
ley as ] did after the worst of It's win
ter *as over, and then travelling and
being ia continuous snow and ice fields
f9r nearly two months, much Of the
time on latitude six degrees south Of
,s-the half even Of which never ex-
perienced in residenee in this valley
Of over quarter Of century, and
then leaving for home in a snow storm,
With trains snow-bouDd in the States of
Ohio and Illinois, and to arrive at nome
to find the trees heavily laden with TO-
liage, and good sized fruit upon our
cherry and peach trees-aIl this is not
calculated to inspire one with very
exalted idea of the superiority Of the
older States.
We have all that they have, and
much that they have not. Population
will come to US our growth will be
rapid and as sure as the sun will rise.
The improvement of all our rivers and
harbors is essential to our future deyel-