The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-09-01
THE INDEPENDENT.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER /, 1883.
A GOOD STATE.
Portland Daily Standard.


prosperous, and her wealth is Of char
acter which IS only in its infancy of
development. She is one of the most
productive agricultural States IN the
Uuion, Offering superior inducements
to the tiller of the soil as well as ample
range to the stock raiser She is ricl
in mineral resources, gold, silver, iron
and coal, and her forests unsurpassed.
Her State government is based on the
most rigid economy, and she owes not
dollar she is not ready to pay. There
is no bonded debt against the State ex-
cept such as is payable ont Of a specified
fund, not subject to being raised by
general taxation. While it would seem
that her taxation is high, in truth it is
very low. Property Of every descrip-
tion is rated at such low figures that it
is only high in consequences of the val
uation of property. The real as well as
personal property of Oregon is not val
ued for taxation at more than one-third
its actual cash value, and OF, this yalu-
alton the rate has averaged about lS
mills on the dollar. Were property
valued at its real price, the tax for
State, schools and city purposes would
not reach one per cent. This under
valuation is in a measure becoming Ger
lected and in time a better state of
affairs will undoubtedly exist There
is no danger or need of higher tax,
from the fact that our public buildings
are really all erected, and this was
done under the past low valuation as
we'll as low taxes. The penitenfiary
and insane buildings, at an expense Of
a half-million dollars, have been com
pleted, while the capital building is so
far advanced that no extra tax will be
required for its completion. A State
so rich in resources as this and its gov
ernment being of the most economical
character, is one in which the capitalist
as we'll as the farmer need have no hes
itancy in investing their money. Be-
sides this, there is probably less Of the
commune element in this State than
any in the Union. The people are OF
an industrial and economic character
and have little time to devote to any.
thing that tends to disorganize business
er to endanger the general progress oi
the State. What We say of Oregon is
applicable to the entire Nerthwest
With the opening Of travel across tht
Northern Pacific, we expect great in
fux Of population. This we need We
want an Industrious and enterprisine
people, aud a class which will come
here to build up homes and add to the
prosperity of the people. The State Of
fers to that sort Of population all that
other States can. Our school system
both private and public, is as good as
any could wish. The permanent fund
for public school purposes is large and
constantly increasing; our people are
liberal in their support of all the re
ligious denominations, and our facilitle.
for travel and transportation are fully
mp to the demands of the people. Oul
climate is of varied kind. Withir
our borders we can furnish almost AM
climate desired. IT is neither too ho
nor too cold, while the valley may be .
little too moist, which, by the way i
has not been fer the past two months
the objector can go south or east of th,
mountains. There is no State in tn,
Union which offers the same induce
ments to an Industrious person, an,
there is nothing such one needs in OF
der to make him contented and pros
porous. The climate is healthy an,
the mortality of the State rates abou
the lowest in the Uuion. There is am
pie opportunity for investment of larg
or small sums, and there is no DANCE
of a depreciation Of values. These fact
will become more understood as tn,
country becomes better known, and We
think tho future of the Northwest il
the brightest Of any State in the Uuion
We have presented no overdrawn pic
ture. Oregon and the Northwest only
need to be represented in their tru,
character. We do not hesitate in say
ing that this vast empire of the North
west is destined to become the richest
and most prosperous portion Of the ter
ritosy of the Union.