The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-04-27
OPENING NAVIGATION.

and the more you favor our section OF
the country, the more you will help
will bring your city large quantities of
wheat and wool now shipped to the
Sound
THE LOCKS AT THE CASCADES.
''The Dalles is lightweight miles from
here and the Cascades about half way.
Our legislature at its recent session ap-
propriated $50, 900 to build portage rail-
way around the G 'scades where the gov
ernment locks are being constructed.
They have been seventeen years in course
of erection, and are but little more than
half completed. When Uncle Sam fin
ishes those locks steamers can pass
through, and there will be no impedi-
ment to navigation. But until they can
be completed something is needed, and
to afford that relief the state proposes to
build portage railway a distance of
three-quarters of a mile around the Cas-
cades. This will connect with deep
water above and below the distractions
at the Cascades, and for this purpose
the state has made the appropriation of
$60, 900.
THE PORTAGE RAILWAY.
''The building of this short road must
br authorized or permitted by the gov
ernment as it runs across the land set
apart for the locks Major Handbury
has inspected the plans and premises,
approved the survey, and sent report
to the engineer department at Washing
ton, recommending the scheme. When
that report is approved, the state is then
ready to construct the road, which must,
of Major Handbury, as a government
engineer, and meet with his approval.
NEW STEAMER LINE.
Between the Cascades and The Dalles,
distance of about forty five miles, the
Columbia is deep stream, free for the
navigation of large steamers. Yet upon
this grand stream there is not single
steamer, except what the Union Pacific
has control of, and is keeping tied up,
thus having the, entire monopoly of
travel and freight.
. "In order to secure the benefits which
will accrue to us when the state builds
the portage railroad at the Cascades, and
give us river transportation from The
Dalles to Portland and the sea, we are to
have constructed at our city, by one of
your boat-builders, a steamboat which
will carry from 250 to 800 tons. She is
to be completed in 100 days from the
time the contract is signed, which will
probably be in two or three days.
WOOL AND WHEAT.
p by that time we hope the portage
railway will be constructed and then
you may look for plenty of wool and
wheat coming from The Dalles to Port
land. These products are now brought
to our city from distance of nearly 100
miles north and south of us, as well as
east. At present this is carried over the
railroad, but such excessive rates are
charged that the producer realizes but
little profit, and is working almost for
nothing.
s'This keeps the country poor and pre-
vents it from rapidly increasing in popu-
lation and wealth, and thus works
against the interests of Portland. Not
withstanding this, many of your mer-
| chants and business men fail to realize
the situation and instead of helping us
overcome the distractions are supremely
Indifferent, thus keeplngius back and in
reality injuring themselves.
THE UPPER DISTRACTIONS.
"For a distance of fourteen miles
above The Dalles to Cello, the rapids
and natural obstrugtions in the Column
bia river prevent navigation.
"To overcome this IN some manner is
why the recent convention was held in
! your city, where an organization was
! formed, which proposes to raise capital
sufficient to construct a portage railway
for fourteen miles, connecting with deep
water at Cello on the upper end and
The Dalles at the lower end of the rail-
way"
IMMENSE RIVER FACILITIES.
sWhen this is done, there is then a
natural highway opened for BOATS an
I immense distance. You must bear in
mind that Ainsworth, at the mouth of
the Snake river, is 142 miles above Cello,
and from there the Snake is navigable
for steamers of 300 tons to Lewiston, a
distance of about 240 miles. Thus, you
will remember, that there is now moth,
! ing to obstruct navigation on the Colum-
bia and Snake rivers from Cello to Lew
iston, a distance of 382 miles.
/ HUp the Columbia above Ainsworth,
at the mouth of the Snake river, it is fif-
teen miles to White Bluff rapids. Even
bthese can be passed by steamers, except
at a very low stage of water. Then up
the Columbia the river is clear for a
great distance, or until Priest rapids is
reached.
r. "You now see the Importance of open
i ing navigation or overcoming the OBJ
I struct1ons. With a portage railway of
fourteen miles from Cello to The Dalles,
another of three-quarters of mile at the
Cascades, and there is an inland empire
opened up blythe Columbia and Snake
rivers down which would be transported
thousands of tons of wheat and wool, as
well as other products, and Portland g
/ trade would be wonderfully increased i.
for most of it would come here -
| The following statement from Mr.. w.
B. Denny, well known dairynan of
New Lexington, Ohio, will be of interest
! to persons troubled with Rheumatism.
/ He says 81 have used Chamberlain , g
Pain Balm for nearly two years, four