Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1889-06-20
CLOSE OF WILLARD SPEECH,
The following was delivered at Port
land, June IA:


| "What the final result will be | do not
know. | shall certainly continue in the
future, as in the past, to use my best
cndeavors to hiiug about such state Of
things as will be satisfactory to the
stockholders Of two corporations and to
the people Of Oregon and Washington
territory.
! There has been reached such a devel-
opment OF transportation interests in the
Northwest that any effort. any attempt,
to mopopolise any part Of your country,
to shut out from any part Of this great
Pacific Northwest any transportation
facilities that may choose to come into
that territory, must and will be futile.
The transportation interests have been so
far developed that the only wise policy.
the only policy that in my opinion will
prove of benefit to the owners Of the
railroads, to the public in general, and to
the people Of Oregon and Of Washing.
ton, will be, that each corporation, each
common carrier, shall permit all other
common carriers to enjoy in common
with it what transportation facilities it
possesses in other words, that there shall
be the freest possible exchange OF traffic
at the lowest possible rate compatible
with the interests Of the owners of the
railroad companies. Applause.]
OUR TERMINAL FACILITIES RIDIcULED.
In conclusion I would like to dwell
for few moments on the subject of
local interests, and that i, your terminal
facilities on the west side of the river.
Applause. ASH have already said, I
came to Portland this time from the
north. On Wednesday morning / came
out Of car at the Northern Pacific
passenger station, and took n stroll
through the immediate vicinity, and I
must say I was utterly shocked and
disguised at the state of things 1 found
there. [Applause. l say so in the
presence Of the railroad officials that are
responsible for that state of things, as l
t,ke it. Laughter aud applause, /
think it is simply disgraceful condition,
state of things unworthy of the corpor-
atoms whose trains run into this city, and
unworthy Of the city of Portland.
[Applause.] think you have the
shabbiest terminal arrangements in the
whole country. Laughter.]
Most of you remember what plans
had. [Applausc.] l will freely admit
to you now that did go to far then
l discounted the future perhap, too
much. The passenger depot I contem-
plated was, perhaps. too large for the
present generation [laushter]; but l am
sure the several passenger shanties you
have are too small for the present
generation.
Now l hope the citizens Of Portland
and the representatives of these corpora
tons will get together and at the earliest
possible moment put an end to this
horrible. disgraceful, unhealthy, filthy
state Of affairs down in that quarter Of
the city. [Great apr,aese] 1 use
strong language but think no language
can be too strong TOR the nuisance down
there. Now | think there is good
opportunity for practical liberality on the
part of the citizens of Portland. think
the citizens Of Portland ough. to put
their hands in their pockets and help the
corporations in creating even respectable
and creditable passenger accommodations
l observe there is DO applause to that
sentiment. Laughter.]
But let me tell you you are making
the greatest mistake, citizens of Portland,
if you do not remedy this state Of things
as quickly as possible. l am satisfied
that these miserable passenger accom-
modations hurt you every dag; that
people coming here from the east arc
disguised, just as was, and turn their
backs on your city as fast as possible |
In this connection l will mention that | |
am glad you are going to have big hotel
worthy of your city. (Great applause.
| was told at Tacoma that the hotel
which l was instrumental in securing to
that city has done more than any other
influence to build up Tacoma; and
believe it is so. l say without hesita-
ton that l am satisfied tha. if this hotel
had been completed five years ago you
would have 90 600 more people here in
Portland to-day. [App'ause].
1t ouly remains for me to thank you
for your kind attention. hope I have
been frank on this occasion, as l have
l,r, ~, Aoo,, ,u..h