East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-01-12

would long since have escaped from
the thralldom of land monopolies.
There is needed a railroad bisectlng
the state east and west from the ocean
to the Snake river, establishing some-
where near the center of the state a
junction point from which lines shall
run northwest to Portland and AS
toria, and southwest to the towns of
Coos Bay, which road shall be fed
and supplemented by at least three
lines traversing the state north and
south, opening up the wheat and min
ing regions now undeveloped, and
penetrating the great valleys and rich
table lands of Harney, Lake and Kla-
math. This accomplished, such de-
velopment in industry and population
will ensue that the world will wonder
at the matchless message sent from
oregon awakened.
Next stands the need of enthrone-
ment of irrigation sentiment and the
ushering in of an era of small farms.
Behind the government in its policy
of forest preservation the conserva-
and the utilization of waters for the
reclamation of arid lands should be
aligned every influence and every
hope for the upbuilding of the COM
monwealth. Marry the wasting waters
of our mountain streams to the drift
ing sands and sagebrush wastes and
the resultant will be fruits and grains
and fairest flowers. The union Will
mean home and a family on every
20 acres under the bitches, and a
mighty people contented, prosperous
and happy will pour the products of
their industry and thrift into the ex-
change places of the coast. Cities will
grow, factories will flourish, COM
merce will thrive.
If relief be possible under existing
laws or through new legislation which
shall be just, a remedy should be
found for that blight of alien owner
ship of lands which rests upon much
of the eastern section of Oregon. Vast
tracts have been held for years by in
dividuals and corporations having no
interest in the development of the
state save to reap ultimate profit from
the enterprise and industry of the
owners of neighboring holdings. They
refuse either to develop. their own
lands or to sell them. Either by old
world training or new world cunning,
they have grasped the Astor principle
OF gaining wealth, and await the I'M
earned increment No greater curse
ever rested on any people than land
lordism, and no landlordism was ever
worse than that which holds under
its yoke, not only tenants, but every
progressive movement of an undevel-
oped country.
Finally, the eastern counties justly
demand the establishment there of an
agricultural institution-not merely
an experiment station, nor yet neces-
sarily a college-where shall be stud
led and taught in fact as well as the
ory, the elements and influence of soil
and climate which there obtain, to the
end that the development of the coun-
try may be prompt, intelligent and
symmetrical. By disappointment and
often bitter experience, the men al
ready at the front are learning what
to do and how to do it, but it has
taken a decade to restore the faith
which early failures lost. A strong
corps of teachers, earnest, practical.
progressive, equipped and sustained
by the state. at work upon the ground
enthusiasts like the apostle of the
corn train in Iowa or the plant wizard
of California, would soon impress
pupils and people alike with the
truths of advanced husbandry and
proclaim in convincing experience the
worth of lands now ignored.
HOmeSeekers.