The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1892-02-02
From Our own Correspondent.

tns I1OA. "A. NOltner, OF Cne PemOcraGlc
State Central committee of Oregon, who
was {last week. visiting this city as q
member of the national committee of
his party. In response to a particular
request of the congressman, Mr.. Nolt-
ner remained in town until Monday, the
25th instant, when he was introduced
to the house committee on rivers and
harbors. There was full attendance of
members and the citizen from Oregon
held their undivided attention for a good
half hour. His argument for an open
river was based upon facts and figures
which were stated clearly and with great
felicity of expression.
He gave brief but graphic sketch of
the vast valley of the Columbia and its
chief tributary, Snake river, and then
entered into more or less detail respect
ing resources of the country destined to
be developed by removal of obstacles.
impeding the navigation of the great
water highway. Among other facts the
committee learned, during this talk,
that twelve years Cor less) ago the cereal
crops grown in. that part of the world,
happily designated "The Inland EN-
pire," were SO inconsiderable as to be
unworthy of especial attention. The
mountains was then devoted to grazing
cattle, sheep and horses. The popula-
tion, outside the towns, principally en-
gagged in pastoral pursuits. Wool was
then the only staple article of export.
The agriculturalist had more recently
come and planted wheat. But that cul-
tivation, at first experimental, had de-
,veloped a permanent tiffage of the soil
for the production of breadstuffs and
had, generally speaking, destroyed the
peculiar grass of the region and driven
the stock man from the plains This
could scarcely be considered an evil in
view of the prolific crops which followed.
the farmers toll. The yield so encour-
aging to agriculture was, to put it at a
minimum rate, from thirty to thirty-five
bushels to the acre, and he (Neltner)
knew of localities where sixty or more
bushels had been harvested, per acre.
but did not care to dwell upon excep-
tional instances.
Harvests for the entire region now
yielded. in the aggregate, from thirty to
thirty-five millions of bushels, per an
mum, which output might be trippled if
the farmer could gain market so as to
sell for an average price of fifty cents
per bushel
The several mem bers of the committee
piled him with questions and subjected
him to a searching examination, but he
answered each to the point and impaired
valuable information.
Delegates from several boards of trade
of towns in the Pacific. northwest, now
here in attendance upon a meeting of
OF the National Roard of Trade, ap-
peared before the committee this week
at the request of Mr.. Hermann and
made a very favorable impression. The
fact that the people of Oregon would not
alone be benefited, but the states of
Washington and Idaho are likewise in
terested in overcoming the obstructions
of the Columbia has been made manifest
by testimony and established as fact
which was before only approved by ref
erence to the map. All these persons
disclaimed any service of personal end,
by their advocacy of an, open river but
cheerfully spoke in behalf of their
fellow citizens of the inland empire.
The railway portage at the Cascades,
recently constructed by the state of Orr
egon, had already demonstrated its
great value to those who practically
tested its ability and a similar portage
at the dalles could not but prove inf
nitely more advantageous to the mater
ial welfare of the farmer who could avail
himself of its facilities for moving his
crops to market.
Whenever any proposed measure for
the improvement of rivers and harbors,
public buildings, everything in fact
needed for the advancement and deyel-
opment of the country is more under
consideration, it must be borne in mind
that the Holman resolution, recently
passed in the house, is lion in the way
constantly staring at every project no
matter how worthy. Notwithstanding
that handicap Mr.. Hermann is pledged
to use every honorable means to secure
an adequate. appropriation for oyercom
ing the obstacles to navigation near The
Dalles. He assures me that after ma
tnre reflection, and carefully canvasing
with his colleagues of the committee he
has abandoned, as impractiacable, any
attempts atsthis time, to secure even a
hearing in behalf of any other improve
ments of the river, between your city
and Cello, than by means of portage