East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-04-04

Bend, ore, March 31.-(Editor
East Oregonian) In your semi-week-
ly paper of March 28 is a letter pur-
porting to be written from Antelope
by m. S. W." which contains state
ments so erroneous that / am sure
you will allow me space necessary to
correct them.
In the first place the reclamation
work i'm this vicinity has been pushed
\ with great energy for several months
and as many as 400 men and $50
teams have been engaged at one time.
Conservative men thought this was
going too fast, considering the re-
moteness of this section from the rail-
roads. 1t would result in retaining
the land faster than it could be occu-
pied, which of course, would keep
the money expended in building the
works locked up for a considerably
Unnecessary period. The company
appears now to have come to that
conclusion. Therefore the wages of
men was reduced from $2.25 to 81
day and of teams from $3.50 to 50
a day. More than half the force quit.
Every man got his pay promptly and
went his way as he chose.
The presence of this large construc-
ton force brought a considerable
number of people who are not drawn
by settled industry. There was quite
boom here. But its temporary ma
ture was apparent to all who had
their senses. 1t was only a question
of few months at most when the
large construction crews must leave.
AS a matter of fact the camps were
reduced before the boomers expected
1t and now some of them are very
sore. They are sure the country has
gone to the devil and that they them
selves have been greatly injured.
1t may be that IN. S. W." ran
across such a man. The knockers
have been in evidence all the time,
and, 1 suppose, always will be. But
their Judgment of the country is not
Trustworthy.
The Bend country has not lost
whit of its promise by recent develop
ments, except to those who mistook
the froth of temporary construction
activity for the solid basis of product
i've industry. Business is sound here,
the outlying lands are being occupied
by settlers, development agencies are
going right ahead, but there is some
dnllness in lines that throve upon the
patronage of the ditch laborers.
AS to the man who wanted to get
rid of 32O acres near Bend for 800,
let him send on his good warranty
deed, as he offers, and get his money
I enclose certificate Of the Bend bank
that l have the money there and
sight draft will be honored upon re-
ceipt of the certificate of title, so it is
not necessary to waste time over pre-
liminaries- And If anybody else has
anything similar to offer, let Him
speak up. No land in this section is
so poor that it is not worth a good
deal more than that. Plenty of it is
selling for $40 to s14 an acre.
1t should not be forgotten that the
Bend country is not tied up to irriga-
ton development. though that has
been of chief interest lately. 1t is at
the border of the magnificent Des-
chutes yellow pine belt and is sure
to be the seat of large manufacturing
interests at no very distant day. Up
the river are thousands of acres of
natural meadows. The stream fur
nishes an abundance of water power.
This is a new country and not all its
powers are yet known, but il is bound
to have great development and to be
the seat of a numerous population
and important industries. This can
not come in day or year But ii
will come with reasonable speed, and
they who are willing to comply with
the demands of settled industry and
wait for the riches of a rational de-
velopment will make no mistake If
they establish homes in this section.
Yours very truly.
c. A. CHAPMAN.