The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1881-06-17
YAQuIRA BArAND THE RAILROAD.

ed and opposed with extreme bitter
ness and unfairaess, commencing with
Hon. Sol. Hirch's statement in the
Oregon Senate chamber that Its pros
poets was fraud, and closely follow
ed by the miserablr tissue of lies sub
mitted by examiner. The high office
Secretary Of the Interior was prosti-
tuted, and Hon. Gail Schurz, under
the influence of capital freely expend.
ed to deprive the people of the Will
lamette Valley OF competition, was
induced to disregard both record and
precedent of his Office, and open a
question for no other purpose than to
disturb the title of certain lands, the
basis of the Oregon Pacific. The
price paid for this despisable piece oI
business was the editorial chair oil
the N. Y. Post, recently purchased
by Mr.. Willard. Gradually but sure
ly every opposing line has fallen into
the hands of the mighty, graspina
corporation. Some of the leading
newspapers, claiming to be the friend
of the people, have drifted into the
current of monopolistic favor, and
seem ready to drop the higher duty
of journalism and bend plant knee
to the great successful
The interests heretofore promr ting
opposition, have multiplied and be-
come intensified with each acquisi-
tion of property, and we may expect
no favors in the future, if we had any
in the past. II. w. Sukesdof, late
superintendent of census, speaks his
mind with candid honesty, and re-
fleets the opinion of nine-tenths of the
citizens of Portland. He says:
So far then, the equal, accessible
ty from the ocean, TO superior faclli-
ties Of communication with the inter
ior and the advantage in having a
good start, point unmistakably to
Portland as the great metropolis of
the future. The sooner this is ad-
mitted, the sooner all the pickering
and barking at her progress is ceas-
ed, the better it will lie for the whole
community. With the exception of
a few holders of town lots in aspir
ing cities, the great bulk of onr peo-
pie have no particular interest in the
r,sperty of this or that place, but
all are deeply interested that the trade
in commodities should flow smoothly
snl with as little friction as possible.
The common interest of every mer-
chant, tradesman, farmer and stock
raiser in the valleys of the Columbia
and Willamette demands that the
distinctions in the channel that con-
ducts his goods TO and from him
should be removed. Every obstrnc.
tion lowers the price of the prodnc-
er's goods and enhances the cost of
the same to the consumer
To open well our channels of COM
merce it were well to set aside politi-
cal clap-trap and intrigue, and pro-
ceed TO work systematically. Small
annual appropriations can only be
expected at present. Whether these
shall be frittered away here and there
for the purpose of catching a few
votes, or be judiciously applied
where it will do the most good to
the greatest number, depends much
on the intelligence, honesty and de-
termination of our citizens. Stripped
of all personal and political interests
that cloud such questions, it becomes
clear that the work of greatest i'm
portance to nine-tenths of our peo-
pie is the thorough or ming, of the
lower rider a J the necessary i'm
provement at the bar. Let our men,
bers of congress concentrate their eff
forts on this point, and let Cur logis-
lators enact suitable laws in regard
to pilotage and towage, and the
whole community will be benefited.
The interest of Portland ss the com
mercial center IS closely identified
with that of the interior, and it is alb
surd, or worse, TO try to antagonize
the two.
The independence Of such lam
guage leaves no hope. Suggestions
of this kind are only made by those
who feel certain of their power to
override the will of the people. AT
ter this no man having either "intelli-
gence or honesty" will dare urge on
congress claim for harbor improve
mert that will in any way affect the
Improvement of the lower Columbia
from Portland to the sea. Coquille,
Goose and Yaqnina Bays should ask
for nothing, and so far as the infiu.
ence of the opposition is concerned, it
will be used to prevent any further
favorable legislation. No man can
view the situation without alarm. as
the state is now in the condition of
many other states that in times pass
ed we pitied, the transportation con-
trolled~ by one company, the one
thing of all others on which the pros.
perity OF q country depends, manipu-
lated to enrich at the expense of the