The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1890-07-05
COLD FACTS.
The S,sadav Welcome, of Portland

The Sunday Welcome, of Portland,
speaks very truthfully when it says:
The Dalles does not appear to be
enjoying the full share of prosperity
that its citizens think the place is en-
titled to. The real trouble with The
Dalles is the lack of self-dependence.
1t has relied too much upon the favor
of railroad company to make the
town a growing and prosperous place,
and Il come of its leading residents
would divest themselves of mossback
ideas and go to work to build up their
city Independent of railroads or any
other corporation influence, they would
succeed in making their city all that
they hope for. The project of estao-
llshing an independent line of steamers
on the Columbia river is a move in
the right direction toward making The
Dalles more important place than at
present. There is no use waiting for
the completion of the locks or the
building of portage railway. Get in
and rustic for yourselves and don't
wait for the government to improve
the river. If you do, it will not be In
this generation, or the next that The
Dalles will see the prosperity 1t de-
serves.
The Importance of The Dalles as a
shipping point is known all over the
state, and no city has more natural
advantages for growth and de-
velopmeDt if proper enterprise were
exercised. These facts cannot be de-
MED, and the truth of the whole mat
ter is summed up in the terse language
of the Welcome, that if our citizens
had self-dependence our future may
be all we desire. For many years we
have depended upon corporations
whose interests were elsewhere, and,
In consequence, while other towns,
with not nearly the resources, have
been prosperous and progressive, The
Dalles has simply held its own. But
new epoch has begun in our history.
Hereafter this city will be completely
divorced from the railroad company,
and we must either stand independ-
emily or fall by reason of the lack of
individual strength. We must look
these facts squarely in the face, and
make some preparation for the emer-
gency. During the last month the
city has lost over $50 consumers, who
monthly sent in circulation from
$4,000 to $4,000. Many of these men
had families and pleasant homes in
The Dalles, but have now gone else
where. Something must be done to
supply this deficiency. or else we shall
find business on the down-grade. with
no chance to hold the brakes. A
woolen factory of itself would employ
nearly as many men as the o. R. e. N.
Co. shops did, and, by reason of
its gain to the producer and cur
failing the constant stream of money
sent out of the county for goods. would
be doubly beneficial to the community.
A beef and pork packing establish
ment would answer the purpose of
retaining money in the city and sup
porting an increased population, and
SO would fruit cannery. If opposi-
tion boats were placed on the river we
believe these industries would follow.
With the transportation problem
solved and the above factors of de-
velopment inaugurated it would not be
long before The Dal]es Southern R.
R. and the branch to Goldendale
would be constructed, and then The
Dalles would be the center of trade
for large portion of the Inland En-
pire. This point is especially adapted
to be the market of Eastern Oregon,
and has also all the natural facilities
for manufacturing industries. The
time has come when the city must
either 60 forward or backward; when
business will either increase or de-
crease, and it depends upon our busi-
ness men which of these it shall be. If
we desire life and commercial and man.
afacturing activity, we must exert our
selves; If we prefer death and business
depression we have only to remain in
he same state of chronic inertia
Ind moss backism in which we are
low.