Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-09-29
VALLEY
LEAGUE
MEETS
Large Crowds IN Attendance at
the Eugene Conference
Papers Read Showing Resources and Pos
sibnities of the State

Eugene, Ore, sept. 29.-The city
has been full Of people all day and the
attendance to the sessions Of the viii
lamette Valley Development League is
larger than expected The heavy
rains in Western Oregon the past
week have kept down the attendance
OBTAINING many Of those who are in
terested in saving the hop and prune
crops. The convention was called to
order at the Lane county court house
by the president, Col. Il. Hofer, of Sa-
lem, who delivered the opening ad-
dress and set the ball rolling along
conservative lines in a carefully pre-
pared speech that was repeatedly ap-
plasded. Mayor wilkins, on behalf
Of the city Of Eugene, welcomed the
delegates and the whole was resolved
into a mass convention. Judge Low
ell, Of Pendleton, delivered an address
on "Square Deal for Oregon" that
was applauded over and over again.
Judge Lowell was at his best and
spoke out in n square and unmistaka-
bic manner, demanding just treatment
Of the entire state.
Hon. r. G. Smith, Of Grants Pass,
spoke on "obstacles 10 the States
Progress" in his usual eloquent man
ner.
Report Of Executive Committee.
Charles Grissen, Of McMinnville,
chairman Of the board Of directors
and executive committee, submitted
the following;
There is inherent in every people a
desire TO improve their condition. The
right to exercise this privilege is guar.
anteed to every citizen in the United
States, and because Of this liberty, |
the nation has grown strong and pros
porous.
Our own state has within two gener.
ations emerged from pioneer coalitions
into a prosperous commonwealth with
modern cities, towns and thrifty farm
ing communities. And yet, there ro.
mains within our borders vast tracts
Of unoccupied lands and countless un-
developed industries.
Some Of these tracts win be in the
near future reclaimed by irrigation,
and brought to yield rich harvests, ro-
quiring increased transportation IA
cilities.
On the othor hand our trade with
Oriental countries is rapidly increas-
ing. The products of our fields, for.
ests and manufacture are finding a
market there.
We have a sea coast Of 800 miles in
length, with natural outlets 10 deep
sea commerce that should be made
The producers of Central and South q
ern Oregon and the lower Willamette .
Vall,y are required to ship either a
hundreds of miles to San Francisco or '
nearly the same distance north by o
by way Of the Columbia river, and yet I
but sixty miles across the Coast Range 9
available harbors should g
be opened. a
The transportation facilities consid- o
ared adequate twenty years ago are =
no longer adequate for our present re- II
w. ,,ooa sn..o,go1 tropc / fl
,ortation facilities in our inland em- >
lire and we need several lines Of rail u
Dads TO connect with deep water and
o open up rich but now isolated coast "
ections for the Interchange Of prod :
cts and easier, quicker and cheaper
nodes Of travel for their constantly
lereasing population.
The real question is, Chow TO get /;
lemi
Let us, as citizens primarily inter 1
'ted in the welfare of our common a
ealth, look this matter squarely in o
10 face without fear or favor.
Because the railroad has become y
lbic necessity taking the place Of /
10 old-time highways, is it not true n
.at the government, ie., the people,
recognition Of this fact, donated 70 {
o railroad builders millions Of acres u
valuable lands, now aggregating in \
ilue the cost Of building these roads
any times overt Further, is 1t not c
ne, that these roads are operated, ST
/ 90 much with a view Of serving q,
g people as to increase the value Of
cir respective shares Of stock 1t sy
lows, therefore, that the wishes and p
eds Of the people are no lOnger
stOr in the management Of these gi-