Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1889-12-09
THE CAPITAL CITY.
Salem a Capital City in More Than
One Sense of the Word-Her
Past and Future Progress.

For many years prior to 1887 Sa-
lem was not much noted for her
public spirit and enterprise, and
seemed to content herself with TAX
ing slow though sure course for
advancement and improvement.
With all her natural advantages
to make this one OF the foremost
cities o1 the Pacific slope, this
course was wrong, and everybody
knew 1t could not last. Finally a
desire began to spring up for some
definite and concerted action look
ing to the more rapid growth of the
place and the advancement of all
its varied interests.
The building of the free bridge
across the Willamette, to accommo-
date the vast trade knocking at our
door from the West side, was the re-
suit of united effort on the part of
her citizens, and was perhaps the
first out-cropping of the general feel
ing that Salem was not making the
best of her opportunities. Since then
the flood gate of progress has been
open, and our city has been active.
Money was then literally subscribed,
a Board of Trade was organized and
plans perfected for general push all
along the line. The advantages and
recources of our city were well ad-
vertised in the East, and the result
is already felt in the rapid increase
of property and improvements in
Salem. This effect has not only been
felt within the city, but for five and
SIX miles round about. These are
facts which no citizen in or out of
Salem will attempt to deny. What
has brought about this change?
There is but one answer, PUB
Lie SPIRIT AND ENTERPRISE.
What is worth having is worth
asking for In other words, if it is
desirable to have large and pros
porous city it is nee essary to stretch
out with a liberal hand and help
bring about the results. The Lord
helps those who help themselves.
Whatever is done for Salem is done
for each citizen in proportion to his
interests. Just because we have su-
perior natural advantages over any
city in the great and grow
ing northwest, is not sign
that we can lay back and let the fu-
ture take care of itself. Even Para
disc could not flourish under such
conditions.
We have abundant proof of the
good results of our effor 8 80 far, and
there can be no question but that a
continued concerted effort will pro-
duce greater and far more important
results advantageous to our city and
all the surrounding country.
Let us all work to secure what we
believe beyond doubt can now be
secured by continued united effort
"A RAILROAD TO THE SEA! 1t
will give us vast trade which has
virtually been lost to us since the
completion of the West Side road.
1t will bring to our city much busi-
ness and traffic from that side
which we never before enjoyed. 1t
will give employment to hundreds
and thousands of laboring men, and
add life and vigor to every known
business, besides increasing the
values of all property from the day
of its commencement. In addi-
ton to all this it will give us
the permanent advantages of a
business and commercial center.
This is worthy our earnest and
united efforts, and the JOURNAL has
sufficient faith in the nerve and
good judgment of Salem's business
men to believe this enterprise will
be pushed triumphantly to the end.