The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1899-05-06
SHOW YOUR HAND.

Since the executive committee of the
Commercial club has teken in hand
the matter of Encouraging manufaotur-
ing industries 10 The Dalles, and called
a meeting of the club for May 18th, it
will soon be in order for the property
owners and business men of the city
to show what they are willing to do in
the liue of Offering financial assistance.
Whether or not The Dalles shall reap
the benefits Of les natural advantages
is simply question of money. 1t is a
question how many dollars can be Of
fered in the way of inducement to out
side capital to invest. The natural
facilities cannot be questioned. We
are the center of trade for a large
scope of territory, all manner of farm
products seek market here, we have
an admirable clin ate, land is compare
lively cheap, and best of all we have
freight facilities that are not equaled
by any inland point on the Pacific
coas-. Therefore the capitalist or
manufacturer with money to invest
readily sees without argument in our
favor that this is indeed a favor ed
locality.
But it is a universal custom these
times to offer cash consideration-in
other words bonus-as an encourage
m ent to capital to invest in such en-
terprises. Other places offer such
inducements and if The Dalles would
secure them it must do the same, The
securing plant, wooden mill and the
big Touring mill at Pendleton were
secured not because of the favorable
location of the place, but because of
the finan ial induce1ents held out by
the citizens of the town. The beet
sugar factorNet La Grande was induced
to locate there by cash consideration.
Union got its wooden mill by the citiz-
ems holding out financial inducements.
The Dalles can get like industries if
it will offer sufficient consideration.
Therefore the time has arrived for
those directly interested in the future
welfare of the city and. surrounding
country to show their hands-to come
forward and state how much actual
cash they will contribute for the up
building of industries that will be of
general benefit. There is no question
if we are able to offer bonus of one
dollar for every three dollars the
manufacturer has to invest that it will
be an inducement which will bring
manufacturing to the place. We want
to show that we are alive, that we
have pluck and enterprise, and are
ready to encourage any industry that
promises to bring US indirect returns.
That the business men of The Dalles
prise is not questioned; all that is
required is for someone to take the lead
and present the matter properly be-
fore them. A few days since two
prominent citizens canvassed the town
to raise funds to encourage the con-
cert band. The result of their labors
for two half days was a contribution
of S415. If that amount could be so
readily raised for source of amuse-
ment, what could not be raised to en-
an enterprise that would add
TO the general thrift of the place?
Not less than $4,000 and possibly
100000 could be raised in week to
encourage proposition that would
smploy $50 men and become per-
nanent industry. Our resources are
Unlimited, our people are enterprising.
All that is needed is leader to start |
Is on thu road to prosperity. And now
hat the club has taken the initiative in
be matter, let every one who has any |
interest in the future welfare of the
'lace show his appreciation of the
fort by Offering an encouraging sup.
'ort.