The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1897-11-15
FIFTEEN YEARS LATE.

special train of two sleepers, a diner
and the private car of the general
manager of the o. R. & N. arrived
here on its way to Pomeroy, Spo-
kane, Baker City, Boise City and
other inland points On board were
forty five of Portland's business
men, who go out to get acquainted
with the people of the Inland En-
pire, who for forty years have dealt
with them. No one here knew they
were to come, and but few would
know that they had been here did the
local press not SO inform them.
The train. was side tracked near
the Umatilla House, remaining for
forty minutes. The curtains were
pulled down, except here and there,
and these disclosed a serious and de-
vout looking few engaged in playing
cards or admlrlng one another. Five
of them got off the train, gazed
few moments and crowded back on
again, Wiley B. Allen, the dealer in
musical instruments, being about the
only one that had life enough to
make an attempt to get acquainted.
The train pulled out amid dull,
sickening silence that had all the hi
larity of funeral
We regret this; we regret that this
visit was not made fifteen years ago,
before the wall of prejudice against
Portland had become so high and so
strong; we regret it the more be-
cause our interests are those of Port
land, and those of Portland ours.
We have realized the truth of this
proposition for forty years; Portland
is only beginning to discover it,
when, after years of neglect, the In
land Empire, whose wealth has been
poured for more than thirty years
into her lap, has found that
Portland is far from being the only
pebble on the beach, the only letter
in the alphabet because she is j,
and has gone, or is gong, elsewhere
to trade.
The feeling in Eastern Oregon
towards Portland is peculiar. The
business people have many warm
personal friends in the city, and no
especial dislike for any of the citl-
zens Of Portland. Individually there
is no feeling against them, but
against the city, unfortunately for all
concerned, there is an extremely bit
ter feeling. 1t began over Port
lands neglect Of her own interests
and ours; in doing nothing towards
assisting us to an open river. 1t
grew through the actions of the poll
ticians, who looked upon the bunch
grassers as their property, and has
been emphasized by the arrogance
of Portland's daily newspaper.
The Klondike excitement opened
the eyes of the few still friendly to
Portland to that city's methods and
selfishness. Portland that had for
years paid no attention to Eastern
Oregon, suddenly became alive to
trade possibilities in the far north.
She began to reach out after it, to
spend her money to get 1t, to adver-
tise in every way for it. The Klon-
dixie has SO far produced few mill
ions, not 100000 of which has ever
reached Portland. On the other
hand, for years Eastern Oregon has
poured her untold millions into Port,
lands lap, and has received neglect.
contempt and ingratitude in return.
Portland has done more in three
months to catch the Klondike trade
than she did in forty years to hold
the trade of the Inland Empire. The
result of her neglect she has felt in
the past few years in decreased bust
ness and hard times. She did not
know what was the matter with her,