Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1903-12-01

.NIr 2NMNNNNLNAa N0E0GNN GEN=W4
as to the prospect of securing ground
for the canal. Major Langitt has
asked the war department to advise
him as to what powers he may ex
ercise in the right Of way problem.
Erect Of Open River.
An open river at Cello, said the
tgentlcmen. will make a larger Port
land and a more prosperous Inland
Empire 1t will force down freight
rates for the mountain haul over the
Cascades to the water level route
through the Columbia. This, the com
mittee believes. will compel the
Northern Pacific to build down the
Columbia river.
Resolutions Adopted.
The resolutions were as follows:
whereas. The people Of the Inland
Empire have since 1876 patiently
waited for the relief due them by re-
moving the distractions of the Co
lumbia and Snake rivers, that they
might enjoy the benefits of an open
river and the navigation thereof; end,
Whereas. The congress Of the
United States has undertaken to
grant relief by building and complct.
ing a canal at the Cascades, which
canal was authorized August IA, 1876,
and completed November is, 1896, re-
curing 90 years to complete, and is
now undertaking to grant final re
lief by authorizing the far greater un
dertaking to grant final relief by au-
thorizing the far greater undertaking
Of overcoming the Instructions at &c.
lilo by building the last necessary ca.
nal between Lewiston and the ocean;
and.
Whereas, The railroads invested in
the trafc Of the Inland Empire are
opposed to the opening Of the Colum.
bia and Snake rivera to navigation.
because It would interfere with their
monopoly, and as their opposition
and influence viii have a tendency to
delay the appropriation and other.
wise place obstacles in the way OF
the carly opening Of these waterways;
and.
Whereas, The legislature Of the
state Of Oregon has generously re
spondcd to the appeal for relief Of
the people Of the Inland Empire by
approprlating $4,000 for the build.
ing of a portage road around the ob-
@structions at Cello for the avowed
and definite purpose Of granting the
people immediate temporary relief
while the canal is.baing constructed;
and.
Whereas, There i5 a movement on
foot TO repeal or modify the act APP
propriating 100000 for the Cello
portage road, thereby denying to the
people of the Inland Empire the TEN
porary rolief prayed for. and for the
further purpose of continuing the mo-
nopoly and it's present high tarin
rates; therefore. be it
Resolved, That the open-river com.
mittee and tho transportation com
mittee Of tho chamber of commerce
OF Portland, Or. pledge to the people
Of the Inland Empire their untiring
effort toward retaining the Cello por-
tage road measure as passed by the
legislature of the state of Oregon,
and 70 employ all honorable and prac.
teal means toward the speedy con
struction OF the portage road, and, be
II further
Resolved. That a copy Of these res.
olutions be sent TO the Oregon con.
g%ressional delegation and to the mem
bers Of tho Oregon legislature, with
the request for their favorable action
for relief Of the tarir-burdened peo-
pie Of tho Inland Empire, and 10 com
mercial bodies on the lines Of the o.
r. & n. Co. in Oregon.
Henry Hahn Hints at Railroads "se.
eret Influences"
Portland is friendly toward the
20. r. & ~" said Henry Hahn, but
the o. r. q n. should not be permit.
ted L override public opinion AMI
public policy.
we don't fully understand how the
present agitation for repeal or amend
mcnt Of the portage law has been
worked up, but We think We know
whence comes the motive.
Nor do We understand why the
war department has ordered that nc
work DrOceed On the canal uptu tho