The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-03-26
HERMANN DEFENDED.
Malicious Attacks Upon Him
Ably Refuted by Hon. r. A.
Bensel1.
NEWPORT, Or, March 10th, 1896.

IL Iue Iuleof.-CH bHS 1fIn udy OF 4 sD-
ruary, 1896, I sent the following letter to the
Daily Oregonian for publication. I left it
there until about March 9Th, and asked to
have 1t returned, which was done with
! statement that had omitted something i'm
portant in the heading. So Immediately on
| receipt of their objections, I wrote letter
| of apology and supplied tho deficiency in
my former communication and mailed it on
March 9th, with request to print in the
daily. It has not been published, nor is it
likely to be. and I now appeal to you for
fair play as it is just and proper that the in
formation desired by correspondents in the
Oregonian should be answered, as they are
OF pu bile interest and importance:
1t is strange that so many men, in their
extreme anxiety to defeat the presentation Of
facts and figures heretofore presented, ilumi-
| nate their ignorance Of legislation methods
and requirements. "Querist" intimates that
possibly Washington senators and represen-
tatiyes rendered some assistance. How
could they? The people of Oregon, not
Washington, pstitioncd and memoralized
congress for the improvement of the mouth
Of the Columbia; tho bills for that work, as
for all others mentioned, had TO originate in
the house. I detest the necessity for this
kindergarten instruction for the benefit of
writers who would presume this, and even
attribute Mr.. Hermann's obedience to the
expressed wishes Of this constituents to soma
selfish or personal end. No doubt Washing
ton delegates voted for Oregon bills, as our
delegates voted for theirs, but Mr.. "Querist"
ct al, please remember that the dspening of
the water on tho Columbia bar was sstab-
fishing rival to Puget Sound, and the as
sumption that Washingt mem bsrs jumped
over each other in their haste to vote on this
m sasure, is about as unreasonable and ridicu-
lous as to suppose the cham Der OF commerce
at Portland would memorable for deeper
water at Yaquina Bay.
Now, "Querist" etal think the Willamette
river has bean neglected, and the valley
made an unnecessary sufferer; that Mr.. Her.
mann has been to blame in this one particu-
lar. Has he?
About the time Mr.. Hermann took his
seat in congress, the Oregon Pacific railroad.
after years Of struggle and opposition, COM
menced carrying freight to tho new port of
Yaquina bay. The ratos were so low, COM
pared to those of the past, that farmers in
the heart OF the valley received nearly as
much per bushel on grain, as they had for
merly been able to sell for in Portland. It
was a grand, positive and valuable reduction;
a direct saving to the farmers OF the Will
lamette valley. The river for FIVE years was
almost forgotten, SO secure did the people
feel from further embarrassment by exorbi-
tant freight charges. A competing line Of
railroad had changed the whole freight con-
ditions in the Willamette valley, and greatly
for the better. Yaquina was to be the val
ley's port Of shipment, hence its improve
ment became the the valleys special care.
"Qnerist" says Hermann has neglected the
valley and devoted too much attention to
other points ON tho coast. Did he? Some
time in February, 1895, IN officer of un-
questionable ability in charge of tho public
works in Oregon, wound up his report on
Yaquina bay. by saying: "It was beyond
the power OF man to further improve the
BAR" Ii was like thunderbolt from clear
sky. The valley people without an excep-
lion were alarmsd. Only q few days re-
mained Of tho 53rd congress; the river and
! harbor committee had finished their work
and held their last nesting; every member
| OF that committee Of fifteen was anxious
after his individual measures and had no de-
sire or inclination or even reason to open up
| new questions Of improvement. This was
| the critical situation at Washington when
| the report of Capt. Symons' reached Her
mann. Without word of advice or inn
portuning from any ono hs sxerted himself
to get the scattered committee together again
mo small task, aud one that no new MEM
Der could have accomplished. After much
hard work he had the committee reconvene ,
| and thoy reported for "Commission OF
three officers, none TO be below the grade OF
captain, who wero to examine and report on
a new project for improving Yaquina bar" !"
The valley people felt indsed grateful for
this timely action of Mr.. Hermann's, and on
the 11th Of last May, at Newport, the Will
lamette valley was ably represented before
ths commission by delegates from Salem.
Albany, Sunction, Eugene, Corvalli, and
Eastorn Oregon. Statistics in abundance
} were tnefo, showing eue RioSS saving she
valley had realized since tho improvement
had commenced. Strong arguments were
made by representatives from the
various valley towns, and there was nc
mistaking the earnest, vigorous expression
of the valley press. What was the result9
The commission, with all data before them
and a survey made after their appointment.
reported a new project for deepening the wa
ter on the bar at an outlay Of 81, $50, 900.
hope Mr.. Hermann's opponents will not at
tribute this special effort in behalf of th'
i Willamette valley to his presumed intsres
, in town lots. The safe, certain and unques
f tionable meaus Of regulating freights for
large part Of Oregon, if not all. depend
lunan ~ 10 ports instead o. one, and com
peting line of railroad.
"Querist" says, il I will name some ont
who opposed Senator Dolph, and is now
, ( candidate for Hermann's place, / will do hin