Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1889-02-15
THOSE FISH LADDERS.
In the Cause of Justice This State
ment is Made.

In the CAPITAL JOURNAL of Wed
nesday the following article appear
ed under the head of "Fish Ladders!
"This matter is of interest to all who live
: above the falls. 1t is truly wonderful tC
think how matters ofsuch importance are
neglected in this region. The following
from the Portland Welcome is timely, and
the Albany Democrat seconds the motion
, A few years since the Oregon legislature
appropriated $4,000 to construct n fish.
LADDER at the Oregon City falls, and placed
the sum by law In the hands Of the then
governor for disbursement for that pur-
pose. The money came to his hands, and
there never has b en- such fsh-!adder con-
Btructed, other than a pretended attempt
by a contractor for $3.50, and lasted only a
few weeks as a show, which we are inform
ed has not been settled for within $500.
Those interested in the culture of salmon
in these waters, especially of the upper
| Willamette, should agitate the present leg
islature to investigate this omission and
demand an account OF this fish-ladder
fund"
Not being quite familiar with the
question and the reliability of the
author, we supposed the endorse
ments of the statements made were
reliable, and thinking fish ladder
was needed, we published the COM
ments of the papers named. But
on examination of the facts and
the records at the state house we
have abundant proof that the whole
article is not only contemplate in
it's insinuations but absolutely false.
The facts are these:
In 1882 the legislature appropriat-
ed $4,000 for fish ladder at Oregon
City and authorized the governor to
appoint commission whose duty it
should be to proceed to the erection
of a fish ladder at the falls of the
Willamette at Oregon City. The
then governor, Moody, appointed
Wallace Baldwin of Corvallis as
commissioner and he proceeded toin-
vestigate the matter, but finding no
ladder could be constructed in a |
substantial manner with the money
at his command, took no action but |
reported his doings to the legislature
at the next session following. The
Legislature of 1885 appropriated $1O,-
75O, and Mr.. Baldwin proceeded to
obtain contracts, ETC., and a ladder
was constructed. In February 1887,
the committee appointed on the
part of the house, at that session,
as follows:
"After careful examination we find
that the amount of the appropria-
ton was $40, $50. That Mr.. Wallace
Baldwin was appointed commits
siOner with authority to authorize
the construction of said fishway or
fish ladder. We find in our ex-
that Mr.. Baldwin ex-
pended to the San Francisco Bridge
50, $50; to Mr.. Webber for
survey, plans and superin-
the work during cOnstruc-
ion, $3.50; attorneys fees, $50; to
Wallace Baldwin. salary, 5000; to
Wallace Baldwin for travelling eX-
penses, 1915. Leaving n balance
still on hand of $40" This amount
If $40 balance exactly agrees with
he report of the secretary of state
made to the legislature at that
session.
Thus it will be seen that the course
md conduct of all concerned was ,
lonest and honorable, and that the
appropriation made was honestly
How any paper at all
onversant with the history of Ore
on for only three years back, could :
'ublish such n batch Of c0waTdly in
mutations and contemplate false J.
oods we cannot tell. We have
My been a resident of Oregon on :
his coast Il short time and Were led
lto its publication by the endorse
lents it seemed to secure.
The ladder was destroyed by the n
oods and drift of the winter of 1887, 1
+ so much damaged that the state Il
as SO far taken no action for its re- g
air. "
WeeXceediugly regret theinjustice u
one, and improve this early oppor- II
nifty to make such amends as to us II
'em Just and right.