The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-09-23
4 LITTLE INSIDE HISTORY.

I Today for the first time in her history
The Dalles has connection with Portland
for freight and passenger traffic by a
portage railway and an independent line
of steamers. While few Missionaries in
Portland and elsewhere have been figur-
ing on giant schemes for opening the
Columbia river that involve an expendi-
ture of from two to five million dollars
the little town at the head of navigation
on the middle river has gone quietly to
work and practically solved the question
of an open river for herself 1t is only
another illustration of the adage, Heaven
helps those who help themselves.
Henceforth let no man dare to say there
is no enterprise in The Dalles. The very
men who have been denounced hund-
red times, by disgruntled local sheet,
as mossbacks and Silurians, are the very
men to whom we owe the fact that we
have an open river and the highest honor
that can be given them is the attestation
that they have put $50,0 in an enter
prise from which they never expect to
receive dollar of direct benefit.
The initiative in this movement, as
the Telegram of last Monday says was
taken by The Dalles merchants when
they, through Senator George Watkins,
introduced y bill to provide for portage
way at the Cascades. The bill made an
appropriation of $60, 600 to be used in
constructing and maintaining portage
road from the upper to the lower land
ing. At the previous session of the leg
isiature a similar bill was introduced and
promptly killed; but two years had
made q wondrous change in the senti-
ment of members and the well known
favor with which Governor Pennoyer
regarded it had much to do in influenc-
ing members of his own party in sup
porting IL. The result was an agreeable
surprise to the friends and advocates of
the measure, as the bill passed both
houses, by handsome majority. The
with capital stock of $4,000. Port
land was asked to subscribe $4,000, but
she contented herself with the paltry
sum of s., 400. All the rest has been
raised at home. As the Telegram truth
fully remarks, "The manner in which
Portland dealt with this company forms
IL chapter in her history which will in
time be read with shame. The gentle
men at the head of the company were
told by Portland merchants that this
city (Portland) would attend to the river
between Portland and the Cascades.
That Tho DolIoo cho,,1l r,,t ~, boo4
from there to the Cascades, and Portland
would attend to the rest. With this as
surance they went ahead and let con-
tracts for the steamer Regulator, to cost
$4,000. Portland was to put ut least as
much into boat at this end. Time was
was flying and The Dalles people wanted
to know what this city was going to do
About this time the $4,000 scheme
was on hand. They were STAYED off
Portland would open up the entire river
The scheme came to naught and is
dead issue today. The Dalles theI
raised $40, ,00O and wanted Portland t.
raise $40, 900 more. A committee wal
to make up this amount. Mr.. a. S
McAlister, who was pushing the matte
on the part of The BALES, undertook
while in town, to raise some of tn,
money. In few days he had 81, 400
The chamber of commerce committe,
did not raise a cent. This s., 400 is al
Portland has in The Dalles, Portland 1
Astoria Navigation company" Thes
facts are not new to the CHRONICLE
though we have not, hitherto, suppose,
that any benefit would arise from parad
ing them before the public. The 81, 40
was headed by w. S. Ladd who, gener
ously, as The Dalles directors thel
thought and still think, put down hi
name for $500. Nineteen persons sub
scribing 800 each, made up the remain
der. These are, the cold facts and ou
readers may draw what conclusions the
please. But in view of what has bee
accomplished, at time when there wa
a remarkable stringency in the none
market, we can only say that the coun
try tributary to The DalIes owes q DEB
of gratitude 10 the stockholders of Th
Dallos, Portland and Astoria Navigatio
company that ran only be repaid by
hearty support Of the new line OF trans
portation.