Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-06-08


ratio individual, however well mean
ing. but must be carefully digested,
chewed over, agreed to by enough peo-
pie to put influence back of it, and
then carried out, with enough force
to stand a seige and make things
crack if necessary.
A TRUE AND EFFECTIVE FIGHT
FOR THE COAST HARBoRs DOES
NOT MEAN A FIGHT ON THE co.
LUMBIA RIVER OR ITS PORT
But the coast harbors cannot sit still
and allow all the appropriations com
ing to Oregon to be absorbed in the
Columbia river. They must adopt the
same tactics the Portland people have
adopted. and all do something fo-
their own harbors. Coos Bay has start
ed right on that. Coos Bay has de.
|termined to create a harbor commits
sion. levy a tax, issue bonds, buy a
dredge, 60 to improving the inside
channel and ask the government to do
its part.
But in addition to this disposition
to help themselves THERE MUST BE
A GENERAL POLITICAL PROGRAM
TO STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR
OUR COAST HARBoRs. The popu-
lation of the coast region, the assessed
values of their property, the wealth
Of their cities, their industries, their
commerce, their banks, their ship
ping. their coal mines and timber, and
mineral wealth, their votes and their
public men and members of the legis-
lature, all bear a relation to the whole
state, that must be brought to bear
on the situation with constantly in
creasing force until results and recog'
milton are obtained. When that is
done everlastingly the coast harbors
will be treated with respect. THEY
WILL GET DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR
WITH THE COLUMBIA. And not
until then will they get it. Not un-
til then will justice be done. They
will never get justice until they are
prepared to stand up and demand
their rights, and fight for them until
they get them.
More tangible results will be OBJ
tanned for the coast hhrbors, more
tagible results will be obtainel for
the whole state, moEe actual develop
ment will take place, when the coast
harbors are improved, than from any
other source. The transcontinental
railroad that Hartman is building to
Coos Bay would never have been or
de-ed built WERE THERE NOT AL
READY A GOOD HARBoR THERE
AND ONE CAPABLE OF FURTHER
AND EASY IMPROVEMENT. There
would never have been a railroad built
into Yaquina Bay but for the harbor
improvements there. The Corvallis &
Eastern railroad would long ago have
been extended into eastern Oregon IF
THAT HARBoR HAD BEEN FUR
THEIR IMPROVED. There will be
other transcontinental railroads built
across Oregon if we improve such har-
bors as Tillamook. Suislaw, Winches-
ter, Coos Bay, the Coquille, and others.
OREGON NEEDS AN AWAKENING
ON THIS sUBJECT-an earthquake
Of political awakening, and the Coos
Bay convention was only a good start
ing point for future development along
This line.
But no one man can accomplish all
that is needed. PLENTY OF MEN
AND PLENTY OF MONEY" were
Sutro's magic recipe for transforming
the sand heaps of Golden Gate harbor
into Golden Gate park, The same is
true of conditions in Oregon. If Or
egon had thousand men of the faith
and frankness of Mr.. Armistead, who
would go on record fos the character
of our harbors and opportunities for
harbors, the problem could be solved
and Oregon transformed inside of ten
years. BUT HAVE WE TILE MEN2
We have the wealth. Nature has done
her part. Shall we, can we, will We,
do oursl
---o--
DON'T LIKE SOUP KITCHENS.