Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-01-26
PRAISES
EASTERN
OREGON
Is Showing a Great
Development
Editor Hurley of the Oregon
0rianO Compliments This
Part of Oregon

The papers of the state tell the
story of the growth of every commun-
ity and our observation during the
last year leads lus to believe that
Eastern Oregon Is craving faster
than the rest of the state. The towns
of Eastern Oregon are being uilt up
with rapidity. Baker City, Pendle7
ton, klamath Falls, Lakeview. Ia
Grande, Union and many other east
ern Oregon towns are moving to the
front as towns of Importance in this
state. Portland has built up until
she Is power of the Pacific. AS
shipping point II is taking a leading
position on this coast and will con-
tinue so. The Willamette valley has
been settled for many years and its
towns are as large as they will be
until other methods are introduced
to increase the population of the
farming section. Manufacturing. ir-
rigation and dividing of the farms In
to small acreage will probably do
this.
Eastern Oregon is immense in pos
sibilities. She Is being developed.
Railroads are reaching into her un-
developed sections; big irrigation
projects are opening to thousands
homes on her hitherto undeveloped
lands; and dry land farming is prov
ing a success and bringing forth her
otherwise unproductive soil. Capital
is turning to this section as produc-
Ing greatest returns for the money
invested Money is worth ten per
cent, and not any too plentiful at
that.
The Willamette valley has beer
known as the garden spot of Oregon.
and so 1t Is. With its beautiful
fiowers, its carpet of green, its ex-
cellent forest. abundant rainfall, and
long settlement, It has a right to be
called wonderful valley. But when
nature endowed II with all of these
ntural advantages, It was like the
poor Indian" in one OF Pope's es
says, willing to lay down on It's
laurels and brag of the wonderous
works of God In that valley. For fifty
years the state has been endowing II
with Its money, helping IL along as
best II could. Without energy or am
bition II has acquired a state univer-
sity, 3 normal schools. an agricul-
tural college, an asylum. peniten-
tiary, reform school. mute school,
/ medical school. law school and the
capital OF the state. Eastern Ore
gon has nothing because Il demanded
nothing. The appropriation for the
portage road and the normal school
at Weston. represent the total graft
of eastern Oregon on the state.
Eastern Oregon is the future en-
pire of this state. Harney. Crook.
Klamath. Baker. Lake. Grant, Uma-
tilla, Union and Malheur counties
will have ten people where there Is
one now. The great Harney valley
is greater in magnitude than is the
mighty Willamette and its lands are
as level as pavement. and It's sol
deep and rich. Malheur Is blessed
with the immense valleys of the NAL
heur and Willow creek. and thou
sands of acres lying south and yet
undeveloped. Railroads will bring
thousands where there are less than
hundred. and the growth of this
country is not far distant.
Portland IS the key TO both the
inland empire and the Willamette
valley. and its greatest increase la
trade is coming from the hitherto
unknown eastern Oregon section.
Coos Bay harbor. and the other coast
cities may become places of import
ance in time. Nature can not do II
all. Other forces must assist and
their future is still locked from our
knowledge. The kings OF finance
holds the keys. and time only can
tell whether they shall use them or
let them rust away.
Be that as it may, eastern Oregon
is coming from under the shade OF
has been and will be the future Ore
gon empire. and the state at large
will have to wake up and recognize
us. Vale is but an entity. and repre-
sents but one of the many towns that
is forging ahead under the new or