The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1893-02-18
EoUALIzE THE BENsF1Ts.

SATURDAY. FEBRUARY lS, 1893
EQUALIZE THE BENEFITS.
Eastern Oregon has for many years
considered Portland her worst enemy;
but this is mistake. 1t is true that
the rich trade of the Columbia river in
the past has been a great impetus to
the growth of the metropolis; but this
was in accordance with well established
rules of business, and would have hap
pened, under any other conditions,
with or without an open river. The
press of the metropolis have been
unit for some time IN favor of the i'm
provement of this great artery of COM
merce. and the Oregoasian has voiced
the sentiment of the people of Multi
nomah county in urging upon the leg
,islature the necessity of the passage of
the Raley portage bill When this
measure came to vote in the senate,
every member from the Willamette
counties outside of Multnomah, with
the exception of Hon. Ed. Hirsch, of
Marion, was on the side of the oppo-
sition, and the dwellers on the banks
of the upper Willamette must be con-
sidered the real enemies of the inter-
ests of the Inland Empire. To empha-
size this view of the matter we quote
the following from the Eugene Regis
ter of Feb. Sth: The Eastern Ore
gon press is a little childish in the
treatment of the Raley bill appropri-
ating $460,000 to build portage road
around the dalles of the Columbia,
which was defeated in the senate.
They are now urging their members of
the legislature to support nothing
wanted by the Willamette valley menu
bers of that body unless they will agree
to support the Raley bill. This is
high grade of legislation, and such
action would show some exceedingly
bright minds in that body" Our CO.
temporary should take into consider
alton the urgent necessity of an open
river to the farmers of Eastern Ore
gon, and that the portage road would
have increased the price of every
bsshel of grain grown III this region
from 8 to cents. 1t must also be
recollected that since 1859, the date
that Oregon was admitted into the
union, the portion east OF the Cascades
has received little or no recognition
from the legislature of the state. The
state university, penitentiary, insane
asylum, reform school, agricultural
college and all other public institutions
are situated in Western Oregon, and
liberal appropriations have been re-
ceived for these at every session. The
locks at Oregon City were constructed
out of public funds, and their purchase
from private corporation is expected
at this session at cost Of 5000, 900.
When the debit and credit side of the
balance sheet in relation to public ap-
preparations are canvassed for over
thirty years, and Eastern Oregon ap-
pears credited with her pro rata Of
taxes every year and debited with
nothing from che treasury, while the
Willamette valley has been the recip-
lent of millions during this period, it
is no wonder that the demand for the
portage road should take precedence
over. every other measure. Neither
should it be considered childish that |
members from Eastern Oregon should,
before voting any more money for the
Willamette valley, see that the region |
they represent receive some rec
ognition. The amount Of $460,000
to improve great river, in which the |
entire state is interested, is very little
in comparison with che sums that have
been appropriated for the capitol
dome, fish ladder at Oregon City, ETC.,
etc., that directly benefit only one por
tion of the state.