The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-07-24

ToIOTInt new HlctuOQ5y nov AOCe@o oAA0
general progress seems to be the order
of the day, permit me to ask if it would
not be subeervient of the public good if
some of this spirit of progress which has
recently been evinced in Portland, East
Portland and Albina would extend to
the Government works at the Cascades
and points above on the Columbia
River, and take supervision and control
of what has heretofore and is now, under
the direction of the Circumlocution office,
and governed by principles and methods
of chow not to do it."
1t certainly appears singular that
work the non-completion of which is
barrier in the way of our natural ad-
vancement-a work hich has had the
open door of the United States Treasury
at it's back for--I am afraid to say how
long-almoet generation at least-is no
further advanced than it now is, and
that the people have nothing of utility
to show for the millions which have gone
into the rapacious NAV of this greedy
political hobby horse.
The application of the smallest amount
of business sagacity, it would seem.
would solve the problem of how to bring
the question of an open river to sue
cessful solution.
1t certainly does not appear from pres
ent indications that this generation will
see ii accomplished under the present
method of working; and IL is doubtful if
it eUer would be done; if there be not an
entire change in the system now en-
ployed.
My idea is that the entire work, at the
Cascades and above. can be accomplish
ed in from five to seven years, if common
sense business principles and practices
are applied to the enterprise.
The method / would suggest, and
which to me appears perfectly feasible
is this: Let the general government
make survey and estimate of the work
to be done, fixing and declaring the
amount of excavating and water build
| ing to be done, and stating in detail each
item of labor and material to be employ
ed in the prosecution of the work. After
this has been definitely settled, let the
work be done by contract. Let bids be
invited for the completion of so many
l lineal feet of excavating, wall building,
or what not-no award to be made for an
amount of work greater than a contrac-
tor can reasonably be expected to accom-
plish in given time, say two years, and
each successful bidder to be placed under
good and sufficient bonds for the faith
full performance of the amount of work
awarded him. By this means the work
will be divided up and many will have
a direct pecuniary interest in the com
pletion, whereas the only object now ap-
parent in the prosecution of the enter
prise is to kill time and squander the
public's money without rendering any
thing in the way of quick progress.
1 make these hasty suggestions feeling
that something should be done to expe
dite matters in this direction, either by
the means named or otherwise, if Il bet
ter plan should present. Patience il
connection with the work on the Upper
Columbia has long since ceased to be {
virtue, and it is high time that the
rights of the people should receive some
of the attention that they have
reason to expect from their legislators
1t may yet be that long suffering peo
pie may call some one to account for ne
glect, willful or otherwise, OF what the,
were profuse in their promises to dt
when asking the support of the idea
people," whose wishes and interest
they now presume to ignore.
United effort among the people o
Eastern Oregon and Washington ant
those resident upon the Columbia rive
in Western Oregon and Washington cal
bring to bear remedy for the evil com
planned of, by the selection of represen
tatives to our National legislative bodie
, who are known to be good men an,
true, and who are pledged to make
speciality of effort for the completion O
/ the work upon our great water way
Then and only then can we look tor any
+ thing substantial in the way of perma
nent improvement; then dalliance vii
give way to energetic labor, driven witt
purpose and in from five to sevel
years at the utmost, the Columbia vii
be open to commerce, from its moutl
into the British possessions where tn
} Canadian Pacific crosses Arrow lake
, distance of 800 miles; thus opening t
/ the outside world a region of unsurpas
; sed richness, at present almost unknown
} except to the venturesome prospector 0
? trapper, and affording an uninterrupte
l channel of transportation to a peopl
> who are now denied that boon, and t