Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-07-10

president of the league was authorized
to assist the delegation from Browns
vile in presenting their request to the
Hartman officials. After general dis
cussion following resolutions were
adopted:
Recommend Legislation.
Whereas, the newspapers are filed
with reports Of proposed extensions
Of railroads in Oregon, and the peo-
pie are liable to be deceived into ex-
pecting the general development of this
state through general construction Of
railroads, we must not lose sight Of the
fact that the task of securing better
transportation facilities for Oregon is
extremely difficult. Not only has there
been formed a compact between the
heads Of great corporations to prevent
railroad extensions in Oregon terri
tory, but these high officials are in a
position on Wall Street and in the
moneyed centers Of the world to dis
courage any new trans.continental line
from coming into or through Oregon to
the Pacific coast. Therefore be il
Resolved, That we favor the enact,
ment of a rate law, following in the
example Of Washington and other
states, as an absolute necessity to Ore
gon if our shippers and industries are
to expand on terms Of equality and
justice to all parts of the state. We
favor q rate law drawn up in the in
terest Of the sawmills, manufacturers,
jobbers, cattle dealers, grain and pro-
duce buyers, and for the general pro
lection and promotion of our vital in.
dustries, including mining, logging and
agriculture. 1t is only by protecting
the great interior Of the state against
destructive common point competition
that we can normally develop the whole
Of Oregon Selfish interests at largo
centers are always willing to enjoy ad-
vantages at the expense Of theinland
empire. Losses from excessive low
freight rates at cities like Portland
are sought to be made up on the local
trafc Of the interior. Nothing but firm,
intelligent and persistent fighting for
the rights Of the interior to better
transportation facilities will ever de
velop Oregon. We believe in using all
the means in the hands Of the people
to encourage railroad extensions by
such reasonable encouragement to con.
struction of new lines as will result
in the development of the interior Of
Oregon and without waiting 20 years
for what the people are manifestly en-
titled to receive at present.
Resolved, That the Willamette Val
ley Development League is ready to
cooperate with every section Of the
state to secure speedy development Of
eastern and western Oregon, and es-
pecially the coast region. We realize
fully the value Of the proposed extern
sions to the Clearwater country in Ida
no, and from Shaniko to Bend, as
promoting Portland commercial inter
ests and opening the interior to set
Element. But western Oregon has far
greater interest in the development Of
a harbor on the west coast at Tilla-
nook, at Yaquina, or at Coos Bay. The
passage of the Killingsworth bill has
made it possible for the Reed syndicate
to float bonds in London for the con-
struction Of a line from Hillsboro to
The same law will protect
competitive lines that should be CON
structed from the Willamette Valley
into the great central region or Ore
gon through the old military road pass,
from the Willamette Valley to Coos
Bay, from Salem through Polk county
into the Siletz country, where the rich
est farming, dairy, and timber lands
in the world await development.
Oregon Needs Another Harbor.
Resolved, That we believe another
deep water harbor on the west coast
of Oregon, with a railroad leading TO
il from the Willamette Valley, is in
dispensible if this state is to be built
up and made pOpulous and prosperous.