Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-07-23
BOOM
YOUR
STATE
of Its Advantages and
Not of the Little In
pleasant Things


Newcomer" in the Cottage Grove
Leader has the following very pointed
and truthful article in the last issue
of that excellent paper:
May l take a little space in your
paper to tell a few Of my impressions
of this great state of Oregon. First
of all what impressed me most, was
the lavish way in which nature had
dealt her bounties; forests, mines,
water, quarries and good soil for agri-
culture. Coming from California
where irrigation prevails, the fields
and gardens watered only by rains
seemed strange. Oregon streams,
their banks covered with vines and
flowers have been an amending source
of pleasure, for many rivers in Cali.
fornia are dry creeks" as their banks
too plainly show. Travelling from Los
Angeles to Portland one passes
through great changes in the scenery.
Immediately upon leaving the southern
cities, we pass into arid land, save
where irrigation has reclaimed the
desert, and all through the length of
the state gardens and orchards are
made to grow by the liberal use of
water. Leaving California and pass
ing into the Umpqua valley, farms
and orchards look green and promis-
Ing and there is a dearth of the ubiqu-
ituous windmill. On through the VIII.
lamette valley to Portland, all is green,
and the rivers and woods are more
attractive than dry plains and brown
hills, Nearly every town has a river
that will supply water power, and is
surrounded by forests that supply
lumber and fuel. Now to my point,
for all Oregonians' know Of their ad-
vantages.
Let us tell Of them, talk Of them
constantly to outsiders, do you know
what has made California the strong
state she is? 1t is her everlasting
Boosting, at all times and in all places.
You never hear a Californian find
fault with his state to a stranger, and
California yarns are famous through
out the United States and the world.
But these very stories attract people
and awaken a desire to live In that
wonderful country or at least to visit
there.
Now what greets a stranger, VINO on
coming to Oregon, admires the
country? Generally this, "Oh but
wait till winter and you will be glad
to get out" or well If you have to live
here why make the best of it," Do you
realize that most people know nothing
of Oregon save that is rains a great
deal here? Why not, instead of saying
that It rains all the time, say, ut
rains enough here to make the coun-
try productive, our wet winters make
fertile summers, AMI keep III streams
flowing" Would that not sound more
attractive to strangers? The sugges-
ton of verdure and pleasant summers
would counteract the possibility OF
mud, and dark days. Tell Of your
mines. your forests, your fertile val
leys, make people feel a desire to see
what you talk of and once they come
make them feel that you are glad they
are here, not that you hope the first
shower will drive them away.
Do not talk OF hard times. II they
are so to you, don't think It is so with
all, 1t does not help you any, and may
discourage the newcomer who other
wise might help to make your fortune
Speak a good word for your
town and state. With the wealth
OF Golconda buried under knocks"
no state could prosper. Better have
a name for Boosting than for knocking.
Remember Boosting has boosted many
places TO the front that had not one
quarter the natural that
oregon has"