The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1897-01-02
A FORECAST OF ruE ruruRE.
Reasons Why The Dai,es Must Become q
Great City.

fore an aspiring community can hope
to compete with its n, shbors in the
race for supremacy.
First, it must Aave transportation
facilities sufficient to place its busi-
ness men on an equal footing with all
outside competitors.
Second, it must be a natural .di5trib-
uting point.
Third, as cities are merely aggrega-
tions of business men. engaged indi-
vidually in trade. it becomes necessary
for OrguniZed effort, to the end that
the great outside world may becuine
acquainted with its resources, facil;-
ties, etc. A harmonious organization
of business men is therefore ab; oiately
essential.
Have these propositions been met?
Let Us see.
Nature furnishes the grand water
highway of the Columbia river that
guarantees to Us protection and forever
forbids unjust discriminst tion in the
matter of freight rates. With termi-
nal rates we are placed on an equal
footing with all competing towns.
That we are u natural distl ibuting
point no one will gai3ssy. For 125
miles to the south and southeast all
roads lead to The Dalles. From Ar
liugton, go miles to the eastward, to
Cascade locks on tho west, we have
only to ask for the trade to obtain it.
Nature with lavish hand has solved
the first two propositions; the third
and most important is for Us. rs a pro-
gressive community, to solve. The
past chronicles one or two failur in
organized effort, due simply to the fact
that selfish and personal motives DOM
mated the organizers. Let US cover
them with the mtntle of charity for
death came quickly, caused mainly by
asphyxation.
Our Commercial Club, composed of
the best brains, business sagaclty
and talent OF The DAlles, bids fir
fair to successfully solve the third
problem, and all of US should unite in
holding up their hands and aiding
them in the work they are undertaking.
The Commercial Club is place whore
the business men, Of The Dulles can for
a time lay aside the gloves of compati-
tion and assist each other in planning
for the general good OF the community.
1t is a place where the stranger within
our gates can be entertained and be-
come acquainted with our resources
and facilities, and above all with the
fact that he, as an individual, is vel
come to our midst. 1t is place where
physical development can be attained
in the gymnasium and bowling alley,
and last but not least, it is a place to
get acquainted.
An organization OF the chara acter and
scope of the Commercial Club should
receive the corporation of all citizens,
and the best way to cooperate is to
join it. 1t will be benefit to yourself
and indirectly benefit to The Dalles,
whose interests we all have at heart.
1t is good thing to have pride Of
ancestry, but better to have pride of
ones town.
A few say that because of antagonis.
tic business interests here in The
Dalles, it is useless to propose any
thing, because what one faction up
holds the other will oppose. 1 deny
this as absurd and worthy of infinite
contempt.
The arena of business is not lady's
drawing room. The meeting of busi-
ness men engaged in active COMPETE
tion for trade is not the m setting of |
couriers and gentlemen of leisure.
The dust of conflict oer-spreads it and !
hard knocks are given and taken. IL !
takes aggressiveness, backed by !!
supreme confidence that knows not !
the meaning of failure to succeed, and |
instead of criticizing this trait of
human nature, we should be thankful
that so many among US possess it.
Business men will be the last to op-
pose and the first to assist any under
taking that will benefit The Dalles.
And to you gentlemen, who love so
we'll to sit out of the glare of the sun
and watch and criticise the conflict of
interests, we thank you
very much for your close scrutiny and
able argument, but permit the sugges-
lion that your point is not well taken.
Eastern cities with not half the ad-
Vantages and resources that are pre-
;ented here, in few short years, have
rom cross road hamlets grown into
ousy hives of industry, teeming with
lie and commercial activity. Itseems
ike fairy tale to hear what American
has accomplished within
he last fifty years. In all the tide of
ime the like is not puraileled. This
5 more especially true of the middle
Western states. The history of the In
and Empire is yet be written; for the
most part its towns and villages have
lot emerged from primitive frontier
ife; business is still done in part by
tage coaches and freig bit teams.
A rapid change is coming, and for
bvious reasons, two or three CONNER
ial centers are bound to spring up on
be Columbia river, the great high
ray of commerce, and when the future I
istorian takes up his pen, l venture Z
D predict that should the 'Tale of i
'hree Cities" be written, The Dalles, :
Vasco county, Oregon, will be one.
And why rot? Here ara opportun- :.
les unexcelled. By every rule of :
,ason and common sense we are en- +
tied to their fulfillment. A natural dis i,
terminal point;the largest il
.iginal wool depository in the United r
tates: the head quarters for large a
'hing industry: ample water power:
/ inexhaustable supply of timber;
agnifcent climate with sunshine D
cry week in the year. S
These are few of the witnesses who
eak for US and enable US to plead our = !,
Sc with vigor, with force and with a
rnestness to all within our gates. a
F. D. II. it
THE ELKs /Ar TABLE.
e Order Entertained It's Lady Friends