Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1889-12-18
The Old Salem and the New.
A Matter of Justice to the Oregon
Land Company.
SALEM, Oregon, Dec. 16, 1889.

years, anu U1OSC OF tne JlIue ITOIu tue
day when what is now the business and
residence portion was an unoccupied
prairie, and for this reason AM sup
posed to know something of her early
history and growth to this time.
The old Salem, after it had secured
the capital, state house and asylum in
a prolongued and determined contest,
quietly awaited its growth and ad-
vancement to town of commercial
importance, on the assurance alone
that the state capital and public build
ings, together with the State fair, was
all that was needed for further and flu
ture success. No effort towards pro-
gress was made by her citizens for many
years, nor was any effort seemingly de-
sired. For long time we had no con-
necton with the Atlantic States ex-
cept by the Isthmus, and until very
few years ago, no route was offered to
immigrants but the Central Pacific, and
the tedious and dangerous one from
San Francisco by steamer to Portland.
Days and years came and went, and
Salem quietly and peacefully seemed to
enjoy her fancied prestige. On each
annual return of the State Fair, spas
modic effort was made by some of her
citizens to secure few dollars as an Of
ficer or employe of the Fair, or in the
sale Of candy, watermelons and beer
during its continuance, but at its close
the peanut tent was folded, the booth
doors closed, the gates were shut, the
crowds of people left the city, and in
sadness for the loss of their temporary
business our people waited contentedly
for another twelvemonth only to re-
new the same feeble effort for its paltry
gain.
Bu! the new Salem has taken on new
life and vigor, and is no longer waiting
or dependent on the success of the Fair,
nor Is she longer willing to be content
with ,he advantage Of the public build
ings which have been erected here by
the people of the State, or the patron
age their location here may bring. By
hearty majority vote of her citizens,
free bridge, costing fifty thousand
dollars, has been built across the Will
annette at this place new capital has
improved her system of water works
with iron mains and themost approved
machinery second only to Portland and
contemplates in the coming season an
expenditure of thousands of dollars in
the further Improvement and extension
of the plant she has raised q twenty
thousand dollar subsidy for woolen
mill which is now completed and into
which new and the most approved ma
chinery is now being placed |; she has
raised and expended thousands of dol
lars in advertising her resources in the
East, and every train brings new COM
ers in search of lands and homes among
us her capitalists have already builded
a large fruit-drying establishment, and
are now considering plans for a vegeta-
BILE and fruit-canning manufactory
here she has builded within the last
year, and has in operation six miles of
street car line, and the graders are now
at work on an electric motor line two
miles in length, for which the rails
are being delivered, the cars being
now en- route for Salem she has en-
couraged and assisted in the arrange
ment of plans, and in the procuring Of
money to complete belt motor line
around the city, which in the near flu
ture will stretch away to Silverton, and
unite the interests Of that prosperous
section of our county with those of Sa-
lem, while all along its line will come
new life and blood, wealth and pros
perity, increasing its traffic and adding
materially to the business and CONNER
cial Importance of our city her citizens
and capitalists, with commendable fore
thought and enterprise, and imbued
with the life and vigor of the New Sa-
lem, have erected many beautiful and
expensive brick buildings, to replace
the old wooden moss-covered structures
which had become stain on the pro-
gress and advancement of our city ;
additions to Salem have been plated,
and new residences and public and pri-
vate improvements are seen in all di-
rections in and around the city, and
the New Salem, with all her increase in
wealth and population during the last
two years, Is still using every COM
mendable effort for further progress
and advancement.
AT this time, all attention is directed
to the efforts being made for railroad
connection with Astoria, either by the
way of Hillsboro, to which point from
Astoria a road Is now being construct
ed, or by the way of Tillamook, and a
committee to solicit funds for the COM
mencement of the same has been select
ed. As one of that committee, | find
the objection urged, that the movement
In question Is II plan, or SCHEME" as
some term II, of the Oregon Land Com
pany of this city to advance their tem-
porary interests In Astoria, and that
the liberal subscription they have al
ready made, $4,000 and the further eff
forts they are making for the success OF
this enterprise, are all mercenary, and
expected 10 accrue TO their advantage
only, and for this reason some have
80 far refused to enlist In the enterprise
or 20 add their subscriptions. NO
STATEMENT, WITH LESS OF
TRUTH OR JUSTICE, WAS EVER
UTTERED (! Two-thirds of the MEM
beers of that company are old residents
OF Salem all their property IN here, and
they have this year individually ex-
pended thousands of dollars In substan-
iial public improvements, with view
only 10 permanent residence In Salem.
The Oregon Land Company was organ
lied about two years ago, and at u
time when Salem was but little known
and when her property had deprecia-
ted aud uncertain value, and they be-
gan NJ once 20 make known the adyan-
tages of our city and county for Invest.
ment, aud they have earnestly laborcd
"a . a l.. "A