The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-05-03
COOS
BAY
HOWLS
At the Way Portland
Has Treated it
Says Talk is Cheap But
'Fr iscO Does Business
The California City Does Not
Always Ask a Subsidy.

"
The Daily Coast Mail Is unmaskng
the lack Of enterprise on the part OF
Portland towards Coos bay trade, and
at the same time showing how Port.
land politicians have done little or moth.
ing for that harbor. The truth is that
the selhshness Of the factions is so
great and their personal strife is so
bitter that they can hardly properly
attend to any part of the state but
Portland and they have lost the trans
port trade almost entirely by their
mismanagemen and lack Of influence.
While the factions and the delegation
at Washington quarrel, the people are
told to keep the state in the sure
thing Republican column while II the
state was for a sure thing doubtful a
great deal better result could be Sc
cured from the national administra-
tion at Washington. The Daily Mail
vi MdIhhuclu uho lilt lOllOWlhb ulo-
cussion of Coos bay interests:
"Egregious Gratitude"
Under the above heading the Ore
gonian devotes a half column Of ed
itorial space TO the Coast Mail and
Coos bay and the general cussidness
OF both, in not being properly grateful
for blessings received-and rendered.
Part OF this is in defense OF the Col
umbla river and OF Congressman
Tongue for his efforts in behalf OF an
appropriation therefor Mr.. Tongue
needs no defense for his action in do
ing what he can for the Columbia
river There is no jealousy Of the
Columbia river among Coos bay peo-
pie. Even were the Columbia river
merely an adjunct Of Portland, as the
Oregonian considers It. Coos bay
would still be friendly to its improve
ment, OF which II Is badly in need.
The Oregonian repeats the fiction
that the last appropriation for Coos
bay was at the rate OF $3.50 a ton Of
the commerce OF this port, although
the figures given in its own New
Years edition disproye the assertion.
They show that our commerce In 1901
amounted To- 134,63i tons. The figures
for 1900 were somewhat larger, but
even on this basis the rate would be
Sl.1O instead OF $3.50. Even to make
the fictitious showing the Oregonian
Is Obliged to compare the Columbia
river appropriation OF the present bill
with tho Coos bay appropriation Of
the last one Why doesn't II use the
Coos bay figures of the present bill as
II left the rivers and harbors commit
tee-about ~ cents, or as raised in
the Senate TO about SO cents.
Further along the Oregonlan pathe-
tically remarks;
1T Is unfortunate for Coos bay that
It's public sentiment is out of harmony
with the rest OF the state, enough so
TO Justify one of It's newspapers in
making this attack upon Portland and
the Columbia river. Strenuous efforts
have been made here TO enlist the co
operation of the people OF Coos bay
in binding that region more closely
to the people and the commerce of the
state 10 which II belongs. But with
out appreciable success. The afiili-
alton OF that bay is mostly with San
Francisco, and the apparent desire is
10 continue it,.
Doubtless the operation of a rail
road connecting Marshfeld with Port
land is tho only thing that will make
Coos bay actually as IL is nominally a
part of Oregon. The efforts which
Oregon men have put forth and which
have resulted in the ietty there and
the present channel, have only served
TO facilitate trade between Coos bay
and San Francisco"
Il may be unfortunate" for Port
land that Coos bay doesn't have to
depend on that city except In the
matters OF taxes and politics. Had we
been Obliged to wait on Portland en-
terprise or Portland capital for the de
velopment OF our resources, this re-
gion would still be bowling wilder
ness. Tho strenuous efforts" 10