The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1892-08-20
THE DALLES PORTAGE.

that presents itself for producers OF
Eastern Oregon to solve, and this
has agitated the people for many
years. High railroad charges have
been burdensome on the sheep-raiser
and grain, grower, and have been a di.
rect tax on the soil which had to be
liquidated before any profit could be
| realized by the farmer With the Co.
lumbia river easy of access, it has been
no Idle dream with our population that
an effectual remedy could be applied
to monopollstic tariff oppression, and
when the locks at the Cascades were
begun, an open highway to tide-water
was expected at all early day. But
for over sixteen years the work has
been carried on, and it's completion ap-
parently is yet far distant.
The urgency of the use of this water
way was such that a temporary expe-
dient, until the locks were Completed
in the shape of a portage road-was
constructed out of funds appropriated
by the last legislature, and this has
proved very beneficial to shippers.
But it has only afforded relief to the
region in the vicinity of The Dalles
tributary to the river. To make the
river the great commercial highway
for the Inland Empire some improve
ment should be made to overcome the
impedlments to navigation above this
city, and, as the government has failed
to do anything in this regard, the peo-
pie must have recouroe to the legisla-
ture Of the state.
1t Is not asking too much of the
commonwealth to request an appropri-
alton at the next session to build
portage road from The Dalles to Celilo,
so that producers residing in the in
terror of Eastern Oregon can enjoy
the same advantages as those living in
this vicinity. 1t is well-known fact
that nearly all public institutions are
situated west of the Cascades, and it
would only be giving to the vast re-
gion of country east of the mountains
some benefit for the amount of taxes
annually paid into the state treasury
to pass bill appropriating sufficient
amount to build and equip this portage
railroad. If the matter is properly
presented to the members we appre-
hend no difficulty in procuring the
subsidy.
1t may be the people of the state do
not understand our necessities, or the
burdensome tax in freight rates under
which our producers suffer, and the
press of this region should be unit
in spreading information on the sub
ject as broadcast as possible. The visit
of the Editorial Association next
month will be an available opportunity
for our citizens to impress upon these
moulders of public opinion the re-
sources of this country, and that the
greatest drawback to development is
the lack of cheap means of transporta-
tion. By working earnestly with this
object in view, and taking advantage
of every available factor of informa-
ton, we can secure victory next
winter in Salem which will add largely
to our permanent advancement.
The ultimate object should be an
open river to the sea, when craft can
carry the wealth of productions to sea-
board without breaking cargo; but in
the meantime immediate relief should !
be sought by portage roads around
obstructions to navigation.
At the Cascades the road built by the
state has been of immeasurable benefit |
to farmers and made opposition boats
practicable on the middle river, and
with similar Improvement above this
point, the same will be true of the
bordering on the upper
Columbia.