The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1892-02-02
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The method of overcoming the OBJ
structions' at the dailes, bymeaHs of boat
railways and lifts, as in vogue'in certain
places in Europe and proposed to be
used by Captain Fades in his isthmian
railway scheme involves an estimated
expence of s., $3.50, $685. to. be followed
by an annual expenditure of $50, ,OO0, 90
for operation only partsof each day. Al
though the senate endorsed this method
BY passage Of a bill, during the last 'ses-
sion Of the .5Ist congress, the house
committee looks upon such schemes as
an experimental innovation. Those
ideas, together with contemplation of
the amountsof money involved. bars it
from consideration. ~ sa szt
= Major Handbury estimates that it will
cost 1874, 1856 to construct locks and
canals and improve certain portions ;of
the. obstructions to secure open river
navigation. The length of time, such an
undertaking would involve tor its COM
apletion, to say nothing of the mere bag
atelfe OF three and three quarters of q
million dollars puts It without the pale
of possibilities or probabilities now.
The rapidity with which work has pro-
gressed upon the locks at the Cascades,
inspired the belief that if the HaRdbury
proposition: should by any means at any
time be adopted, the crack of doom
would be at hand before the undertaking
has fairly began The portage railway
scheme is therefore the only available
project which can now be urged with
any hope of success. Until the 10th of
February the matter will remain open
inents. The committee desires, if it
does not demand, more than mere seuti-
ment as the substance of the considera-
tions which shall move them to favora-
bic action. Mr.. Hermann's petition has
been fortified by presentation of letters
and statistics he has received from
Washington, Idaho and Eastern Oregon
and from the governors of those, states.
The moral support of those communities
has been helpful to his cause. We un-
derstand that certain mail, soon to ar
rive, will bring him further>supply of
data from which he hopes to be able to
authoritatively state the number of
bushels of grain raised, quantity trans
ported now by rail and river, amount of
freights and tolls. This, together with
other documentary evidence exhibiting
possible or probable savings to the
fo nd I,
helpful.
In the absence of delegations of infiu-
entail citizens properly accredited from
the Dalles who could give personal en-,
dorsement to the efforts of your repre-.
sentative, Mr.. Hermann has very diff
ficult tack before him. Such bodies of
citizens are continually being sent from
remote as well as near by states, and are
usually effective in promoting needful
legislation, as for example: Last year
special delegation came from California
to urge a consideration of the needs of
the people who desire improvement of
the Sacramento river. They were re-
markably successful and that without
any merit which will compare with the
claims of the Columbia.
Your congressman has urged the rep
resentatives from Washington and Idaho
to come to his assistance, but SO far has
fought for his measure without their ac-
tive support, he believes, however, they
will be. enlisted in the good cause before
it is too late. Thus far he has availed
himself of the presence of every Oregon
ian visiting the capital and obtained
their views for members of the commit
tee, prnverbiaiiy speaking; no stone has
been left unturned and now he feels free
to express the hope that he will succeed
in obtaining substantial recognition and
endorsement for the proposed railway.
MAC HINE.