The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-03-13
THE GOVERNOR AND THE
WAGON ROADS.

The press of the state is very much
divided on thequestion of the governors 8
veto of the wagon road bills. We notice
that the bed rock democratic papers gen.
orally stand in with the governor, but
not always, and geographical location
has more to do with opinions on this
question than political partisanship. In
the old valley counties, the native home
of the Siiurian, where roads are easily
built, and where the people have had,
for many years, all the roads they want,
they all pat the governor ON the back.
But it is very different in the newer
regions, as for example the sparsely set
tied counties of Eastern Oregon, where
roads from many important points are
little better than trails, and the people
wholly unable to improve them. Here,
in this county we asked small appro-
priation to build road over Tygh noun
tain. The road has long been one of the
most important ones in Eastern Oregon.
1t is the direct way from The Dalles to
the Warm Spring reservation. 1t is also
the old direct route from Walla Walla or
The Dalles to Barlow's Gate, and the
Barlow route over the mountains.
United States mail passes over it
six days in the week. The present mule
trail, for it not a road has an activity,
IN several places, OF nearly four feet to
the rod. 1t is an outrage on civilization.
1t is barbarity, murderer of horse
flesh. Yet the people living in it's
neighborhood can scarcely be said to be
able to build new road without outside
help, and when the legislature twice
made provision for building it the GOV
ernor interposed each time with his
veto.
An appropriation was asked for
another road, partly in this county and
partly in Gillian. 1t is over a long
stretch of country between two import
ant points, where immense freights of
wool and hides and supplies require to
be transported. The country between
its two termini is not settled and what is
more it never will be settled. 1t is a
rough, broken sheep range, Astounding
In deep ravines and precipitous noun
talns. The people need the road. Tbev
cannot possibly build it themselves. and
the governor by his veto SAYS: 'sThen
you must do without it,
But this is not the worst of it. When
this state was United into the Union
the general government made a dona-
ton to the new state of $500 900 for
roads" and other internal improve
ments. Years ago the legislature granted
an appropriation of 5000, 200 out of this
fund for building the locks at Oregon
CITY The Silurians of the valley have
Iattened on the fruits.of this donation.
Ihere is not an acre of land in the vii.
lamette valley, from the head of nayioa-
Slon on the river to its mouth. that has
not enhanced in value bv reason of this
appropriation. There is not farmer in
the valley who is not bettered by its
having been made, yet when we. over
mere In Eastern Oregon, who have never
oenehted a picayune by this OUTLAY.
asked little from the same fund. for
relatively as important
TO us as the opening of the locks at Ore
son Clty was to them, the members
rom the old, rich valley counties by
'nelr vote, and the governor by his veto
say, You cannot have any of it,
Two years ago Governor Pennoyer al
owed lot of wagon road bills to be-
,ome law. If it was right for him to
10 SO then it would have been equally SO
low. AS 1T is he has only succeeded in
1vetlng hopeless inconvenience on
many sections of the country, and contri-
'uted to the retardment of the progress
If the state.
To allow the wagon road bills to be-
'ome law, would be ''looting'' the
reasury, the governor says, but it was
he correct thing for this same governor
o approve bill for an appropriation of
'ver $4,000 for improving the capitol
the greatest portion of which
s to be spent in dome, which is moth
Else than useless and expensive orna-
nent. We wish his excellency no i'll
out if by any change of fortune he should
ose his job as governor and be reduced
% the rank of farmer or stage driver it
would give us peculiar satisfaction to see
llm compelled to drive six mule team
With load of wool, from Mitchell to
Antelope, or span of balky horses,
1itched to loaded wagon, up the Tygh
lill
Twenty men are at present employed
It the ShODS where thera xuara d5a fIis