The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1882-02-24
TIE Oregon PACIFIC 3. Il.

The close observer has not failed
TO perceive the marked tendency to
activity in real estate transactions,
of late. Indeed, the indications OF
a general and healthful business ac-
tivity, in the near future, in our town
and county, are regarded by our best
informed business men as almost an
assured fact. The carly completion
of the Oregon Pacific railroad is
not questioned by those at all
acquainted with the purposes OF the
energetic and intelligent business
men engaged in the enterprise. lie
completion ofsaid railroad will open
mp, to the people OF this valley a
permanent and competing line OF
transportation, via Yaquina Bay, to
San Francisco and the worlds mar
kets, thus cheapening transportation
and correspondingly increasing the
prices of our Surplus commodities.
Ii is these considerations mainly, we
believe, which hage supe:induced
the present promising business out
look, and which. unless We are great
" mistaken in the signs of the times,
argue a more enviable and posper-
ous future, for our town and country,
than has been anticipated, in the
past, by the most sangEhe observer
The good people of this valley are
bv no means insensible TO the fact,
that the question of cheap transpoi-
tation is one of the most vital in its
bearing on the general welfare, OF all
the issues demanding solution at
their hands. Turn over the. regula
tion of the rates of freights to soul
less corporations, a;:d you forge a
g.. chain, which will bind the producing
bone and sinew of The
<eountry, into a condition of hopeless
sservltude, little, if any, better than
African slavery, as it existed, prior
.te.the war, in the cotton and rice
fields ofthe south. If transportation
coaspanies may dictate the price of
wheat, to the farmer, he may fix the
price, so low as to impoverlsh the
latter, TO such an extent, as to rob
him4ef the means of ordinary sub
sistence, of shelter for his family and
OF eedEcation for his children. Is
there an intelligent man in this valley,
who can contemplate such a condi,
,tlon Of things with complacency
The very trainers of our constitution
:and government, would turn, un
easily in their shrouds, if such a d..
lplorabls condition of things was even
probable or imminent. 1t was Il
avert kindred evils which threatened
the inalienable rights Of the people
and especially of the laboring man
the worlds main prop and natures
nobleman, that the scar-worn vet
earns of the revolution, waded
through eight years Of blood, and
gave to us, the immortal declaration
of independence and the peerless con
stitution of the United States.
Now the man who, in the face O
existing facts, can insist that there
is no foundation for apprehension
concerning the encroachments o
monopolists and bloated million.
aires, will not enhance his reputation
with u, for sagacious foresight, no
elevate our opinion of his candor O
common sense. The fact is, the cor.
slderation OF these and kindred .ques
tions, is at this moment, attractin!
the attention and engaging the in
tellect of the best philanthropist
and statesmen of our age and coun
try. Will it besasked what the rem
edy is, in Oregon, with which to aver
the evils above indicated The ans
wer is apparent. The people hav
the remedy in their own hand:
Let the people of the state encou'
age the building Of the Oregon p
cifc lailroad, thus insuring perms
nent, valuable and powerful compt
ting line of tfansportatio and secu
ing to the people, enhanced va'ue
for their sure!us products, bushes
for the, unemployed an increased It'd
OF immigration and the general d.
velopment of the material resource
of the country. Should this not b
.effectual, the people, who are til
source of all civil and political powe
can concrete their aversion TO I'll
encroachments of grasping monop'
lies, by securing the enactment I
such laws, as will protect them
their inalienable rightsand secure,
themselves and children, the heritae
-of a free country, unrammeled b
the unconscionable encroaehmen
and Sh locE ayautiono of 1aat n lp