The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1892-03-25
THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST.
A GREAT FRUIT REGIoH-A GLIMPSE OF THE
FUTURE

"a UAsA-<AA rn.OAA hEGlO-t-A VI XII r
FUTURE.
The Pacific Northwest includes for our
purpose, treating it as a region for the
growth of fruit, a scope of territory that
fully equals in area and natural resources
some of the great empires of Europe to-
day, and that must in time not distant be-
come the home of many millions who shall
be occupied in the cultivation of its rich
sells and the development Of its great and
as yet undeveloped resources.
The Columbia river and its mighty tribu-
taries drain this vast territory, and only
with the past decade have facilities for
transportation come to assist development
and make possible the era of progress and
improvement only now commencing, that
must go on and work out destiny equal to
that of any portion of the North American
continent. Fifty years ago the tide of i'm.
migration had not set towards the Pacific,
and exploring parties were fitted out to in.
vestigate aud report to the nation. The
greatest minds in our nation at that time
"'se W. h0oiO SouoCpViou VI tuO bdluO vi
Oregon, which included then all the Ameri.
can interests on the Pacific ocean. When
DIR. Marcus Whitman tried to make Daniel
Webster comprehend what Oregon might be
in l843, that great statesman refused to be-
lieve that the destinies of the nation could
extend thus far, and it was entirely due to
the efforts of the Oregon pioneers that the
empire borders the Pacific for l,5OO miles
as it does to-day.
What we are to-day here in the Occident,
compared to the isolation and wilderness of
1912, bears about the same relation to the
future of half century of progress that
is to come, that the date given bore to
our own day, for, as the mind of Webster
could not grasp the facts and progress many
of us have witnessed and aided to accom-
plish, SO the mind of to-day may fail
to grasp a true idea of what the
Pacific Northwest may become when
another half century shall have wrought its
changes.
West of the Rocky mountains there is to-
day about the same population as occupied
the Atlantic shore in 1875, when the
colonies asserted their independence. Look.
ing back on the pages OF history, we see
rapidly eliminating events ard wonderful
progress that leave all the old times be
hind. In all the arts of war and peace the
world has made wonderful progress since
the first immigration came to Oregon in
1912. There is no reason to doubt that in |
vention and skill will unlock natures |
secrets and furnish similar progress in the |
half century to come.
1t IS true that we possess here soil of un-
fertility and clim ,te that is un-
squaled on this earth. AS to resources, no
portion of the Pacific coast equals in wealth
ound in this region. When development |
shall reach maturity and population shall
De apportioncd to resources, then this
Northwest of the Pacific will hold the
'cepter and dominate this western world.
The thousands of water powers that come
rom our mountain ranges, the mines of
ron, coal, copper, and immense forests form
! means of wealth, prosperity and success
quail to anything the world can grant to
my people.
Only yesterday, as it were, tie INLAND
empire was but stock range, and Western
oregon and Washington were scantily
'eopled and had no foreign commerce. Il
) not the same world we knew ten years
go, and ten years from now we cannot
ecognize it again. Within few Years the
hole Pacific region has become more Or
sss land of orchards, producing semi s
ropical fruits and those of northern zones,
nd it is only lately discovered that oui
'uit lands equal III richness of soil ant
the most productive soils OF ,
alifornia
Ten years ago this industry was almp-
nknown, and the value of our fruit land, ::
as not understood. Enough is known a y
lie result of experience already had to :,
low that we have future in it-growing
Iual to that of any section in the world. :;
! the future development of our section,
is great resource will become an import Il
1t element. The man who fears there ct
i'll be no market for coming products G.
nply fails to realize what time has in =
ore for us. @,
Before many years can pass, every known
dustrY will be successfully employed fr
long us. Great cities will grow to en-
urage human labor. Development will
nvert our mines and forests into avail.