Weston weekly leader. [volume] (Weston, Umatilla County, Or.) 1878-189?, 1885-05-15
ZEE sASgA4G 29cEs.

iave never been particularly zeal
'us in improving the navigation
# the Columbia, which they re-
,ard as Of most vital importance
N developing the vast country
which is drained by it and its trib-
utaries. How this impression was
made in the first instance and how
it has since been deepened into
conviction, is useless discussion at
this time. The 1yeacs is fully as
sured that at the present time there
is net rational business man in
the city who is familiar with the
country wa.ered by the Columbia,
and the character Of the obstruc
tisns to its successful navigation,
that is net heartily in favor of the
removal Of the latter.
Had the people of this city taken
TIE sarse interest in the rem oval of
obstruclions in the Columbia that
the people of Galveston have in
securing appropriations tor the i'm
proynmsnt of their harbor, the sb-
structiens at both the Cascades and
The Dalles would probably have
been obviated before this time.
But there has been too much apathy
and indifference heretofore which
must now be supplantsd by the
liveliest interest and most ensr-
getic and aggressive action.
4
The above extracts, though sorae-
what incompatible, are trom enc
article in the Portland Ne,cs Of
May llth. Whatever doubts the
NeDs man may have on the sub
ject, the people of Eastern Oregon
are quits clear As to their reason
for supposing that Portland was
not only not particularly Jealous
fer iIoproving the navigation of the
Columbia but that it was actually
opposed to the completion of the
work at the Cascades. The princi
pal newspaper of Portland has not
hesitated to say time and again that
it was sheer waste Of money t.
expend 1t on the Cascade locks, ano
while it and the Board of Trade
have been bending all their ener
gies for the Improvement Of the
lower Columbia, the completion o
the work that would be beneficial
to Eastern Oregon has been either
ignored Or discountenanced. Tn,
apathy and Indifference and oppo
) sition Of Portland to the improve
ment Of the Cascades have been to-
7 marked to be either mistaken o
concealed. During the reign Q
!. Willard when Portland was favore
I by the railroad influence and Eas
9 ern Oregon was powsrless to resis
u the exacti0ns of Portland's greco
u that commission town did not eve
L attempt to conceal it's contempt,
% Gus Indifference to the interests {
y Eastorn Oregon. The Neacs ma
'' who is comparatively recent a
70 rival may not realize the force
u all this, but the people Of Easter
&c Oregon are amply able to give
&c reason for their .distruss of Por
J land. That a change would CON
b. over that proud city's dreams tt
II LEADER takes no credit in havis
% foretold. Ths indications were
u plain that the business man, eve
though a Portlander, could n
fail to see them. Our railroad co
II nection with ths East, the confer
4 plated completion Of tho Casca
10 branch of the n. P, and the pa
L. tial withdrawal of railroad fav
'h from Portland compel that city
" 90 something conciliatory to reta
Sc the trade of Eastern Oregon.
10 purely selfish motive it is impos
y bic to disguise, and it would
p just as well to have that thorous
III ly understood and acknowledged
IN both sides. The completion Of
work at the Cascades is now a m
q ter Of mutual benefit and we &
pleased to see the NeaCs enlisted
its favor; but if work On the G
ms cade branch of the N. P. was to
: a suspended and that company "
ar to gain control of the lines of t
of o. r. " n. Co. we fancy the Ne
ter would feel quite lonesome ON t
tbs question of Cascade locks. {
I'll these things are not likely to hi
he pen, ard the people of Eastern o
lat gen will be pleased to have {
tes hearty cooperation of Portland
las securing a free and open hi.hv
al to the sea.
ht.
EHATILLA AND MORROW.
nd
~ 0nnf Nv