The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1884-02-15
oREGoNrACIFIC RAILROAD.

There is no matter in which the peo-
pie of Western Oregon have such a vi
tai interest as the construction of the
Oregon Pacific Railroad to point to
connect with the Oregon Short Line or
ssme othear of the lines traversing the
continent. Much delay has been met
by those who have this enterprise in
charge, but ali obstacles seem to have
been overcome, and the work ia now
progressing, and public confidence that
this work will be pushed forward 10
completion is fully established. A
arge force of men is nav at work and
when spring opens they will be increas-
ed to two thousand.
A large territory, comprising the
great wheat growing regions of the
Willamette Valley will, upon com
pletien of this road to this city, thus
be afforded safe and easy outlet 70
the sea with her teaming wealth Of
wheat and other agricultural produce
tions. By the way of our present out
let to the sea, the distance from Alba
1 nv to Astoria is about enc hundred and
iehty miles. From Albany to Va
quina Bay BY way of the Oregon Pa
eifc will be about seventy miles. II
proper appropriations shall DO made
by the present Congress to complstS the
work of improving the Yaquina Bay,
We feel safe in saying that much of the
next years crop of wheat in the Will
lamstte Valley will End its way to
! Liverpool by the way of the Oregon
Pacific and Yaquina Bay. This vii
develop Western Oregon and especially
!. she Willamette Valley to an extent
, hardly dreamed of heretofore. 1t now
costs the farmers of the Willamette
Valley who ship their wheat from Al
bany to Portland distaace Of eighty
miles nine cents per bushel. 1t is be-
: lieved that under the healthy competi-
tion afforded by the completion of the
Oregon Pacific our farmers viii DO Gu
. abled 70 reach the s,aboard with their
3 wheat at an expense of not more than
IS four or FIVE ceuts per bushel. Hereto
II fore, the people of Western Oregon hav'
3. been subjected to the fear tha. the Ore
goa Pacific would not be pushed Wig
:. orously and completed soon, but that
fear is now removed and practical, un-
animous confidence in its early compile
ton pervades the public mind.
The people now are gravely anxiou.
With reference to the course Congress
], may take with reference to making ap
n propriations TO continue the work @
10 improving Yaquina Bay Harbor. Here
= tosere the appropriations for this i'm
!. portant work have been limited and nj
b work of consequence has been d,ne OF
it since last Teptemoer.
It would be an act of folly on th
part of Congress- nov to withhold a lib
eral appropriation, for the work Is vel
under way, and it is doubtless subject t
damage and decay 10 its uncomplete'
= state. The great agricultural and ship
ping interest of Western Oregon call
ialoud for hefs in lis present lockel and
n TRANSMITTED condition. Every consider
: alton of fair dealing and equity toward
d the people of Oregon who have beer
}. isolated and cnt Off from all transpor-
t tation facilities, demand that Congress
should make liberal appropriation foI
this work.
= Our senator's and members of Con-
gress are expected to see chat this mat
ter is presented to Congress in its prop
er light and they will be held to stric
accountability for any shortcomings il
9 and about the matter.