East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-11-23

The Vancouver (B. c. World, in
a recent issue, gives a resume of rail-
road building and resources in the
northwest, in the following graphic
manner:
When we speak of the northwest
in this connection we do not mean
the Canadian Granary, the home of
the Manitoba hard" and the present
theater of the most prosperous agri-
cultural development the world has
ever known. The section to which
we refer lies north of the state of
California, and is bounded by the
British Columbia line and is compris-
ed within the limits of the states of
Oregon and Washington. The Paci-
fic northwest is well watered and tim
bered.
1t contains many valuable minerals,
economic and precious, and the fer
tility of its soil has been proved these
many years by the abundant crops
that it has given in return for the
intelligent labor of the husbandman.
In California the crops often fail
because of the drought; but in Ore
gon and Washington such a visitation
is never known. and there is never a
failure. In quality the fruit and
grain products of Oregon and Wash
ington are not to be mentioned in
the same breath with those of Brit
ish Columbia and our northwest, and
they will never command so high
figure; but the yield is always large,
and what is lacking in quality is often
made up in quantity. 1t is stated
that in single county in Oregon
the produce of the current year is
valued at S7,0O0.O0O, and similar re-
ports are received from other sec
tons.
The railways cannot provide a suf-
ficient number of cars to move the
crops and the companies are over
burdened with business and money.
Their profits exceed all precedent,
and they are preparing to build lines
in every direction throughout the
territory under their control. A
fierce rivalry has sprung up between
Hill and Hartman, the two great
American Napoleons of railway con-
structiOn, and there is every indica-
ton that before the warfare between
those men comes to an end the pub
lie will have reaped great benefit.
Oregonians have needed for many
years a system of railways that
would afford them the facilities for
moving their crops cheaply and
quickly. Without such means the
farmer whose ranch was situated re-
mote from the main lines was placed
at a serious disadvantage, and often
had the unhappy experience of seeing
his produce rot in the barns.
Happily, the war between the big
railway men has changed all that and
spurs and extensions are being run
in all directions.
AS natural consequence the coun'
try is being rapidly settled and new
people with some new ideas and gen.
orally with plenty of capital are
flocking in. Soon every little farm.
ing community in Oregon and Wash
ington will have a line brought within
easy reach of their farms, and every
facility now enjoyed by farmers In
the older settled districts will be en-
joyed by farmers i'm the hitherto re-
motest sections of the two states.
The same changes are in progress
in Manitoba and the northwest of oui
own country. The Canadian North
ern and the Canadian Pacific are eX
tending their lines through the fertu,
belt, and the Grand Trunk Pacift
has awarded its first contracts for th'
construction of line to the Pacific
ocean.
On all sides the greatest activit!
is manifested. The railways ar,
earning more money than their mos
roseate dreams promised them. Div
idends are large, and the gigantic sur
pluses are being applied to extension
and feeders and to the building o
more cars and locomotives.
The car and engine capacity Of al
the western lines has been more thai
doubled in three years, and still ther
are not enough cars to move the ton
mage that is offering.
The west has grown too fast 70
the railways, and the companies ha
Ia build more lines and cross or ste
aside and allow other and more pre-
gressive companies to take up tn
burden where they had laid it down
1t is only doing justice to the com
panies now in the field to say tha
they have recognized their obligation
and are moving energetically to pre-
vide extensive transportation facil
ties. At the east and in Europe tn
whole movement is westward.
The trend of population is towar
the Pacific where the mighty Fra
ser and the majestic Columbia flo
down to the sea. There is every rec
son then to believe that this who
coast is on the eve of a great avail
ening and that every community an
every man who is prepared to TAX