The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-07-23

the oregon racine, OOlOnel HORg re-
manned in the East, and Mr. Hoag, his
brother, was his manager in Oregon
Their faith in the enterprise is shown
in the large purchases of property at
various points in the route of this road,
and this was natural and legitimate
since they used their own money, and
the amounts so invested, to the writ
er's personal knowledge, aggregate a
considerable fortune. And again it is
due to Mr.. Hoag to credit him with
his right view of his obligations to
the state. He has carried this load Of
property through all the fluctuating for
tunes of the road, and has never MUIR
INJURED, has paid his taxes, in face Of
what has ofttimes, to others, seemed
a forlorn hope, and still does this while
others let their property revert for taxes
showing that whether the public holds
its faith or not, he will still continue
his support to the counties in which
his property lies.
During the period OF construction of
the road, from about 1884 to 1880, there
is many an incident humorous or pa
thetic. Strikes were frequent, one time
amounting to a dangerous mob, and
when the governor was appealed to for
aid from the militia, his answer has be-
come part of the history of the state:
PAY your men," 1t often happened
that to prevent strikes, Mr.. Hoag went
down in his pocket and paid the men
twenty, thirty or forty thousand dollars,
out of pure sympathy. This l know.
There has been much prejudice engen-
dered of late years towards these gen
tlemen, both in the East and in Oregon,
Of al
among the bondholders, and among the
labor or material creditors of the road,
but however just these estimates may
be, or however liable their actions may
have made them for the criticisms which
have been freely indulged in, the great
fact remains that these two men, Colonel
Hogg and his brother, did build the
Oregon Pacific railroad, and that be-
cause of this the road is operating to-
day, holding freight rates in this sec
ton of the Valley at normal figure
and adding each year thousands upon
thousands of dollars to the farmers OF
the Valley on this account We often
forget, in the singleness of our view,
that beneficial results have followed the
building of the Yaquina road, but such
results have followed, and will continue
to follow the road, and the further it is
extended the more will this benefit be
felt.
About 1890, the road passed into the
hands of a receiver, its own president
being appointed During the next two
or three years, it passed through two
other receivers, and finally was sold
for $Ioo 900. The road and its fran
chises, grants and rights of way cost
upwards of $4,000, 900 in cash. But
money was not very plentiful in 1894,
when the sale occurred, and that the
purchasers obtained a great bargain
is generally believed. Since the road
was purchased it has been reorganized
as the
Oregon Central & Eastern;
And its name implies its projected de-
velopment. 1t is earnestly hoped that
the proper field of this road will be
reached before many months pass away.
1t is believed that lines to Eugene and
Salem will meet with liberal support
in building, and liberal patronage, when
constructed. These localities need the
road, and as they contain many public
spirited citizens, and who can see their
own interests as we'll as any one else,
there is no doubt but what in proper
time, and in proper manner, their
interest and enterprise will be mani
tested towards this end. Portland must
be reached to carry the roads traffic
into its proper field, and herein is the
alluded to at the beginning
of this article, that San Francisco IS
not the necessary objective point for
the Yaquina road, Valley merchants will
not go to San Francisco for goods if
they can get them cheaper in Portland,
of equal quality, and it seems to this
writer that Portland should be the main
objective point to be reached by the
Yaquina road, first, and then let its
extension feed and develop the home
metropolis The road over the Cascades
connecting with Portland will do more
to develop the great empire in Central
and Southern Oregon than any other
possible enterprise can do. And while
this road does a good business now, it
must do rushing business
when properly extended to its legitimate
field. Was there ever great enterprise
which did not meet with early reverses?
The mere fact of continuing to exist and
operate, and to serve, and build up the
country where the road now extends is
proof of its usefulness. And its exten-
SlOH IS lOSlSdl COhSS4uShSS d hSSSo-
sary result. People who may not realize
this today will see it in time. Skepti-
cism will always give way before facts.
facts, and the people know
it, and in some measure appreciate it.
The Summer Resort.
Yaquina bay has become widely
gal ~ & 81,
Northwest In the placid waters of
the bay all kinds of fish abound, from
the founder and kelp to the rock cod
and the salmon. Sailing and boating
affords to one with nautical tastes most
pleasant diversion. Deep-sea fishing,
with all its variations, is within the reach
described? Its rival does not exist. For
quina bay sea beach is not equaled on
the Pacific or the Atlantic coast. This
is becoming known, and former habi
have made Yaquina bay their summer
dences have been built there, and any
one with desire to have the best of
society in the summer time (who posses
ses the necessary credentials), can find
at this place such as the state affords.
And we claim that no state has any
better. If one cares less for aquatic
sports, or the beach, the mountains, on
all sides, are alive with game-big
game, too, such as bear and deer, in
abundance. And sometimes elk have
been found, and an occasional clnna-
mon. These latter, however, do not
come near the hauntS of man, but have
to be hunted for. To bag an elk or a
cinnamon is we'll worthy of hard
chase. The mountain streams abound