The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1897-01-23
THE CELLO PORTAGE.


SYNOPSIS of bill introduced by Sena-
tor Mitchell, appropriating sl95, 600 for
the construction Of portage ROAD
around the distractions to navigation
of the Columbia between The Dalles
and Cello. This appears to be and Is
a large amount of state funds to be ap-
propriated for single purpose wnen
people are already overburdened With
taxation, still in view of the fact that
the Improvement authorized to De con-
,strucred would be of great and lasting
benefit to large section OF country
and perhaps one-sixth the population
of the state, it appears to be justifiabie.
The savings in freights that resulted
through the building of the portage
road at Cascades during the few years
it was operated, furnishes abundant
proof of what benefit would be derived
from the building of the Cello portage
for a much larger area OF country
would be tributary to this road tnan
that affected by the Cascade portage.
The vast wheat growing country OF
Sherman, Gillian, Morrow and Uma-
tilla counties, that now have an outlet
only by railroads, would have the ao'
vantage of river transportation, which
to them would mean lower frelgn'
rates. This is an unanswerable argu'
ment in favor of the bill, hence the
only feature to be considered in oppo'
sition is, can the state afford at this
time to make such an extensive appro'
priation?Ps W "a <z. 4F :,
If proper economy is observed by the
legislature, and the different approprla'
tions that have ordinarily been MADE
for the different agricultural societies.
the railroad commissions and othe
boards and, Commissions, the numerous
charitable institutions and the normal
schools and institutions OF higher
education are cut off, as they should be-
the state can afford this seeming ex'
travagance. :.
The construction of this road would
do more to build up the industries OF
the state and increase its wealth tnan
do all the beneficiaries above euumer'
ated, and since it will benefit vastly
greater number than do any OF
the institutions referred to, it would
be a commendable act on the part oil
the legislature to abolish all need
less offices and appropriate the states
money for purpose that would bene-
fit greater number of those VINO help
pay the taxes.
Another commeddable feature OF the
bill introduced by Senator Michel is
that it provides the repayment to the
state of the cost OF construction OF the
portage road. The profits accruing
from operating the road are to revert
to the state treasury, and in course OF
time the road will pay for itself, hence
eventually the state will be repaid for
the outlay in case the road is con-
structed.
If only nominal freight rates are ex-
acted for handling the freight that
would be offered for transmission over
such portage, the volume OF traffic
would be so great that within four
years, the nearest possible date at
which thA government can be expected
to overcome the distractions to navi-
CATION, the state would be fully repaid
for constructing the portage, ,and would
in time get back the amount advanced.
If the legislature practices the
economy that was promised prior TO
last election and cuts off all needless
expenses, those expenses from which
the taxpayers as class derive no
benefit, it can well afford to make the
appropriation called for in Senator
Michell's bill,