Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-03-22
Good Roads and the Transportation Problem
Observation-Disclosures Policies of the Past IN
Railroad Management
Many Shippers Suffered From Lack of Cars--On Top of This
Lumber Rates Advanced Oregon Has Treated the Cor
~porations Faily--The Mcbride BM--ProviiOns of
the Hearst Bill

Paramount grange, Benton county
cid a most interesting meeting Sat
rday, March 10, and a fine Dime
as served by the ladies. Afternoon
as devoted to open meeting and dis
nssion of transportation questions
j w. Denham, county superintendent
schools, and T. T. Vincent, county
ecorder from Corvallis, were present
Dr. Leeper, Of Albany, va one Of th'
aders in debate for the Brownlov
hi. Mr.. and Mrs. M S. Durbin, for
erly Of Howell prairie, were chosen
elegates to the state grange, anC
Ike a I've interest in grange organiza
on. Colonel E. Hofer, of Salem, was
resent by Invitation Of the grange
I'D addressed the audience on the
object of transportation problems in
eneral.
A Great Problem.
The speaker said the transportation
|roblem was the greatest problem be
bre the American people, and 1t was
be that was Just as hard for the man
gers OF the great corporations as for
be shippers, and he asked the utmost
bnsideraton for the differences they
I'D to deal with. The rapid develop
lent OF the country was almost out
ripping the railroad equipment. The
|outhern Pacific lines in Oregon not
My needed more cars and engines,
nt heavier tracks and bridges and 1t
las doubtful II the best railroad man
would not at times fall be
hud the demands OF the shippers and
roducers. But he felt the people had
right TO demand better service, as
be railroads were in the nature OF
hings a monopoly. II one farming
Implement trust had the monopoly Of
brushing all the plows and wagons
br the Willamette valley, and the
Ieople could not get half enough TO
andle their farms with and open new
ands they would have just cause to
omplain of the service. After 20
OF service in Western Oregon
he railroads should have enough roll
ng stock here to handle the crops in
be fall.
Good Roads a Remedy.
Mr.. Hofer made a plea for better
pads so that the farmer could take
is products to market at any time in
be year. The four cents a bushel
pw paid each year for storing grain
the towns along the railroads would
hild and maintain good roads. Free
lral mail, farm telephones better
lhools and good roads would reyolu-
onize farm life 50 far as social ad-
Antages went, and break up the $50
OF tho rural population. The
llue OF the grange was a tremendous
in the education Of the people
I'd II all the wOmen in the state
ere educated up to the standard Of
women who are active members
the grange the speaker said he
build not be afraid to trust them
In the ballot on equal terms with
4 men. The construction Of the
mama canal was going to be a great
,iect lesson for the people, and he
there were persons In the
offence who would live to e a
,uble-track railroad built, owned and
from the Atlantic TO the Pa
dc by the federal government, as Il
as Just as legitimate as a govern
emit canal and would be far more
efuI. Cheaper transportation would
rich and civilize the masses more
an any OF ar influence. With good
ads ali would keep better teams
ID take magN pleasure out Of living
the oouauy and property 10 miles
pm a town wo ia not be oneQuarter
far away as / was with bad roads.
ch as preyaila4 TOO much now.
Rates Must BE Reasonable.
II one corporation owned all the
ilrOad and steAmbot lines In West
p Oregon. rates must stin be fair
"a reasonable. That was tho yer
f Of the supreme court in the
cases IN the 7OA and those
%elEiOns went farther ana aid that
a railroad company did not haul