Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1906-02-06


expectingsany royalty from the State for
duty self imposed, although honestly
and faithfully performed. 10 make a
departure at this late day would establish
inequality and some would be compelled
to exact tribute from the state streasury
for past dues. That We need our popu-
latioa quadrupledss is a recognized fact.
The urgent need OF tae day issmen who
will work and dig in whatever channel
of life they are placed. Our state IS yet
new and We are expected to advance. l
hope to get back to the river after while.
It is a known fact that Adam and Eve
were placed in the Garden of Eden with
peremptory instructions to till and tend
that garden. They were placed there as
live, wide awake, up-to-date horticultur-
lists. 1t was simply a matter of getting
in and digging. The paternal goverL-
mept only furnished the ground plant as
a base for actual work to our remote an
cestors. Fig leaves with them were up
to date.
We are previously suffering today from
the iniqnities of misrepresentation.
Lock and dam swindlers-Wagon road
and other like grants are now of long
standing. For the time being We must
view the open river in contemplation.
with the handicap at the Locks. Dis
gusting though it be, we are forced to
accept the present conditions as they
exist-no other course is left except to
get in and dig as individuals for an open
| Understanding together as units inde-
pendent of locality.
From Albany to Corvallis the Half
Moon bend at low water is problem to
solve. If that were overcome q to 15
miles more of navigable water would be
| a certainty. East river, few miles
south of Corvallis is another menace to
the upper river that It seems could be re-
| medied: Some of the sources of the river
| we can within ourselves make open. All
along the west side of the river and ex-
| wallis into Lane county are numerous
| live water lakes. For at least four
months of each year Immediately adjoin-
| ing these lakes we behold parched lands
and brown fields. Cannot these lakes
as we'll as the river be tapped or utilized
for the benefit of man in some practical
| way? Why not gardeas of lucious fruits
| green fields and riches in alfalfa and
grain instead of the scar autumnal tints
These lakes were intended by the Gre
| ator for something more than breeding
pastures for mosquitoes. IF reduced to
use as they should be the waste places
in midsummer would bloom as the rose.
I know nothing OF irrigation. The gen.
eral government after due Investigation
\ is expending millions on irrigation pro-
jects. Why not a little individual irri-
cation by those who own those lakes
Is the time not ripe for at least opening
up the sources of the river.
Are the chains at the locks fixed for
all times? Now, to extricate ourselves
from the position in which we have been
placed by those who misrepresented us
it is urged that we must assume the
garb of pateruslirm and implore and be-
seech earnestly the general government
to come and rescue and free us from our
self-im posed chains. How bitter the
humiliation in the face of our state
sovereiInrv! What are we to do in our
present condition? Shall we attempt 70
parallel the locks with others on the part
| of the state or shall We purchase from
the corporation the locks which in right
| and equity belong to us? If it is mat
ter of purchase shall the corporation fix
the figure we are to pay or S hall We In
woke condemnation proceedings to as
certain the value? Shall we employ the
government to step in and take the ini-
tiative? From what source are we to
seek and obtain relief? In this con-
| nection we are tn remember that the
hands of the United States government
are fairly we'll occupied with vital inter-
ests to the people. rate bills, trusts, etc,
and we may have to rely upon ourselves
directly if relief is to come iu an al
lopathic form.
No corporation has the right to exact
toll upon what nature created for the
benefit of the whole community. 1t is
up to US to free these locks, to loosen the
shackles of the incubus that now holds
the valley. Is Western Oregon forever
to be held in servitude and her people
for all time to become degraded as
menial subjects of this toll collector?
We boast of our state and our rich in
heritance, yet by our own acts and short
cou1ings we have permitted Gods high
way to be cornered and held for toll
purposes, aud oulselves toll payers!
Year by year we go on tolerating these
exactions, lost to the fact that the inex-
orable toll collector stands knocking at
the door of every farmer in the valley