The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1896-09-12
A GLANCE BACKWARD AND AHEAD
Forces That VIII Make Great city or
The Dalles.

| Inc DaleS.
From time immemorial The Dalles
has been natural trading and tribu-
tary point, and for many years the
surrounding territory from Boise to
Astoria paid tribute. These halcyon
days have passed; other and mightier
rivals have sprung up, and today Port
land dominates the commerce of the
Inland Empire and casts her shadow
OF commercial supremacy over all in
spring communities. This NAV be
"the survival of the fittest" but to one
who looks below the surface and can
read between the lines there are other
more potent reasons. The govern-
ment evidently had faith in the fact
that there was a grand future in store
for the vast country east of the Cas-
cades and supplied unstinted millions
to unlock the key and open the gate
way of the Columbia to the sea. Like
Tantalus the cup of sparkling water
has been oft set before us and as oft
eludes our grasp. Rip Van Winkle
equalled If not surpassed, and an under
taking that corporation with divi-
dend at stake would have completed in
not less than two years is still in pro-
cess of completion. But at last the
turn of the lane is reached and we are
assured upon most excellent authority
that on November 10Th next the great
locks of the Columbia will open wide.
their iron gates and the historic river
unfettered and unchanged will flow
unvexed to the sea. Thus consumat-
ing grand move forward. The future
is great with promise 70 ALL, Co.
upon 1t within epoch in the bis,o,'a s, anu aaa
SIR city. Our resources seasss.ory o. (
tunities have often been set forth and
it is not the purpose of the writer to
dialate on them.
We have force in our community
which is doing grand work. refer
to the Dalles Commercial and Athletic
Club, started so auspiciously few
months ago. Organized effort is
always productive of great good to the
largest number and the Commercial
Club has done more effective work
than any organization. Not handi-
capped by mercenary motive they
will be still further able to enhance
the prosperity of our city. 1t behooyes
= merchant and real estate dealer &c
also cooperate In the good work on
lines of their own. The opening Of
the locks and the settlement Of the
political question is sure to start an
era of general prosperity throughout
this section of the country in particular.
A prominent man here said that we
do not want boom. He was right in
certain sense. Booms breed bank
ruptcy where towns of mush room
growth spring up that have no legiti-
mate excuse for existence. But with
other cities it is different. A fact not
to be gainsayed is the hundreds Of
American communities have sprung
from poverty to afIluence, from obscur-
ity to fame on the wings of q boom. In
fact it is necessary for a town to turn
the search light of public investigation
on its resources in order TO succeed at
all. Real estate dealers should espec-
tally be alive to the opportunities OF
advancement. They are skirmishers
on the picket line and on them de-
volve to large extent the task of
starting enterprises and welcoming
the new conner Real estate cannot
be conducted on close corporation
lines and the liberal spirit heretofore
manifested should be continued.
1t behooves investory also to antici-
pate and plan for an event like the
opening of the locks which is sure to :
start an era of general prosperity
The very prestige involved in the con-
pletionof an undertaking of this mag
nitude by the United States govern
ment means much. VERITAs