Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-12-11
Electric Through to Portland
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ments the music and shouts mingled
pleasantly on the morning air. Mayor
Waters mounted a pile Of railroad tics
and asked the band to render a patri.
otic selection for the occasion, which
was done with vim. Many Of the live
merchants and professional men were
in the crowd Mayor Waters had no
more than opened his mouth to make a
few remarks, when enthusiastic friends
of his proposed three cheers for the live
and progressive mayor OF the Capital
City. They were given with a hurrah.
Mayor Waters then said that this was
a most auspicious moment in the his
tory Of the city Of which all might be
proud. He said great credit belonged
to Manager Welch who had gone for.
ward amid great difficulties and oh.
stacles and had won out in his fight to
build a modern electric road from sa.'
lem TO Portland and on south TO the
head Of the Willamette Valley (Great
eheering).
81 Manager welch Called For.
Then the crowd called for Mr.. A.
weleh, who has been so quiet that hun
dreds Of people in this city have never
seen the man, and thre erouslng cheers
were given when he stepped onto the
pile Of ties that are on the ground,
ready TO 90 down. The crowds Of Ia.
borers we're already being started In
gangs up the line towards Portland,
Welch announced in a quiet and i'm.
pressive manner that the road would be.
built az fast a. human labor could do
Il, that the money was In the banks 20
build u, and that IL would be laid with
sO-pound steel rails, equipped with the
finest modern cars, would make the trip
In an hour and half, for fare Of not
over 5000 for tho round trip. (More
Checring). Mayor Waters introduced
Col. =. Hofer, Of tho Greater Salem
Commercial Club. He said the organi.
zation he represented had been work.
ing for the past year day and night 20
bring out development Of tho william
ette valley, and tho 6rst and greatest
need Of Western Oregon was better
transportation facilities. "My friend
Hendricks, Of the Statesman, and The
Journal have built scores Of paper rail-
roads 70 Portland, but this is tho hrst
real railroad that wo have ever got
started. (Laughter). This IL only the
beginning Of a great development move.
ment FOR our country. and before We
quilt We propose 20 mako this valley
eheckerboard OF electric and steam rail
roads (Applause). We eame up here
this morning on a special car 10 throw
tho first shovel Of dirt on Mr.. weleh' =
railroad, and before many months We
will ride In a special train 10 Coos Bay
over Mr.. Harrlman'a railroad. (Great
eheering). We arc going 20 awaken
tho dead and sleeping energies Of this
country by bringing capital into Il, un'
til Il IL the most prosperous country on
tho Pacific coast. This Is the proudest
moment Of my life, when hundreds Of
lAboring men are standing with ready
aud willing hands 10 construct this line
and earn wages which is the basis Of
all our prosperity. These laboTing
men arc always entitled 20 our interest
and consideration, but they and We
owe Il 10 the country that We encourage
capital 90 invest In these enterprises,
and give IL the backing and encourage
msnt that makes these great undeFtak'
ings possible.
Praised Waters and Weieh.
Col. Hofer said Mayor Waters was
man who was entitled 10 the greatest
credit. As an ofieial be had not been
satisfied merely 90 hold his once aad
draw his pFinesly salary (LaughteFl