The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-12-29
OPENING THE CoLUMsIA.

This is one OF the greatest issues be-
fore the people of Oregon. Next to
opening the Willamette, the people of
this congressional district feel a deep
interest in the work at the upper dalles
of the Columbia. The reports of the
government engineers on that work,
when compared from year to year,
show that mere contemplation of the
distractions to be overcome seems to
magnify them.
In ten years the estimate for improv-
ing the rapids with canal and locks
has increased from half million to
three and a-half millions. Between
two and three millions has been spent
there with no visible result. Indeed,
good authorities say the government
contractors in summer repair the raw
ages of the preceding winters flood. No
doubt most of the money is stolen.
What are the people to do? Is the
world to stand still until the government
or the war department finishes the
work? That would take half a century.
Are the people to wait until honest
officials or contractors can be found?
That would be to wait for the millenn-
ium. Obviously the people must act.
They must send to congress ut the next
election two congressman for open riv-
ers. They must act upon the present
congress. They must send down petit
tions to Washington asking for specific
relief. Our proper state officials at
Washington must demand for the
people of Eastern Washington and
Oregon prompt and immediate action
by congress to secure temporary relief.
If the locks or boat railway cannot be
built within ten or twenty years, port
age railway must be built at once.
The people of Oregon have built one
portage railway in the past year at The
Dalles and can build another if need be.
The state of Oregon is showing con-
gress that a portage railway is the most
practical solution of the problem, and
that with three men at $500 month it
can handle all the business at present in
sight at The Dalles. A conductor at
800, an engineer at 500, and a brake
man at $50, leaving $40 month for oil
and fuel. The portage is mile long and
in two trips a day handles the freight.
II an appropriation for temporary
portage railway at the thirteen-mile
rapids and falls of the Columbia cannot
be procured of the present congress the
people should know the reason why,
here in Oregon. What will it cost?
The government reports show that the
sum of $431 800 is the engineers esti-
mate for singletrack portage railway.
Captain Powell's estimate is $3.50, 900,
and the state could undoubtedly build
the portage road and equip it for $780,
900, and operate it for $1,000 month
The boat railway is undoubtedly the
the thing most to be desired in the end
for the permanent improvement of the
Columbia, but it will always be more
expensive than a portage railway. ~
The engineers estimate for the boat
railway is 50, $50, 900 to build it and $780,
600 year to operate on half time. To
pass forty boats each way in twenty-four
hours, will cost $275, 900 year to oper-
ate it.
If congress will not come to the relief
of the producers of the great inland en-
pire, what can be done2 To secure
speedy results we should say make It a
political issue in this state and pass
bill through the legislature at it's next
session for a portage railway. Open the
great waterways to the sea, and in one
year the the enterprise will have more
than justified the expenditure Salem
Journal.