Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-07-26

ARE TO
BLAME
Enough Concerted Action
Among the Property
Owners

A special dispatch from Chicago o
: July 22d calls attention to the fact thai
the Hartman immigration bureau II
that city is without a head, Mar. @. M
Mckinney having failed as manages
OF that department to produce results
| commensurate with the expenses d
the Durea.. says the Baker City Dem.
ocrat. In other words, not sufficient
immigrants have been brought to Ore
gon and Washington territory border.
ing on the Hartman lines, or what is
known as the o. r.. & N, to make the
maintenance of the department advis-
able under its former rules of man
agement. The dispatch also states
that no successor has been appointed
to Mr.. Mckinney, but that the depart.
ment will be continued in neadquar
ters further west than Chicago.
Reviewing the entire situation and
looking back q couple of years, when
the Hartman lines established this
bureau and sent into Oregon and
Washington immigrants of all kinds,
including farmers. manufacturers and
capitalists to offset the crowds who
were coming West at that time over
the northern lines and settling in
towns and territories contiguous to
those roads, perhaps an explanation of
the lack Of results, or sufficient re.
suits, can be had outside Of the incom-
potency of the railroad agents, the
efficiency of the bureau and its man
agement. Have the people of Oregon
Joined hands heartily with the railroad
bureau for the inducement of immi.
grafton to this state, as did the people
of the state Of Washington with the
railroads leading to that territory?
That there is something wrong on the
part of the state is evident. They
MAY not be altogether to blame. But
they must shoulder their part of the
responsibility for the failure, If it can
be called a failure.
The people of Seattle, Tacoma, Spo
kane, Yakima and other Washington
towns worked hand and glove with
the railroad company for the peopling
OF their cities and state with remark.
able results as shown by the United
States census The leading cities them
selves sent active agens to the East,
ern and Middle Western states, plenti.
fully supplied with data about tne
country and money TO place the same
before the intending settlers. Truth.
fui statements were made about the
resources of the state and the condi.
ton Of business in the towns. Real
estate was offered in bodies at most
favorable terms; sites for manufacture
ing purposes offered in the towns
at nominal figures; the bars were
thrown down, and the public invited to
come and make themselves homes any.
where in the state on any land they
could find, and when the land was
found suitable TO the requirements of
the incoming people the prices were
not pitched up into the skies.
Some Of the methods pursued in the
state OF Oregon. ami some OF the towns
and leading cities in regard to the
question OF population and inducement
Of the settlement Of capital and labor
here migat WE'LL be questioned. It is
even limited in well established bust
s. quarters tina, bold games have
been played in a great many cases
with bad results to the entire state
This does nOt say or intimate from a
standpoint OF business in Baker City
and community that these practices
have been prevalent TO any extent in
Eastern Oregon, but il is known that
there have been instances here, as
elsewhere in the state, and It might DO
possible h a there has been too much
selhshne-s too much ooldness. too
much apathy too much indifference
and too much general don't care to
make successful the efforts which
have been put forth Q o bring a large
population OF the right kind OF
people into the state.
Acall has been issued by the newly
formed Oregon Development League
It's headquarters in Portland
'or a general meeting or convention.
O be held in that city August . and 8
The prime objects OF this convention
been explained on several occa
aonS The welfare and general ad.
iNncement OF the interests OF the state
large the incroase in It's population
he growth in It's manufactures. the
ieNesopment OF It's mining industries
he development % diversified farming
md stock raising are the questions 10
y taken up aud considered nom the
t~andp0int o. the whole state. toeether