Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-05-22

These owners should take an active
interest in the development of the
counties in which they have so much
wealth Their timber lands should
be assessed at near their real value,
Just as the small farm down in the
valley is. Timber barons should be
made to know that taxation is shared
equally Jy all species of property in
Oregon.
To Break Land Monopoly.
There is an effort on now to force
the railroads to comply with the
original government intent, by sell
ing off their enormous holdings.
| This Is a matter to be tried out IN
, the courts yet. If the government
succeeds II will prove a great boon
to the Willamette valley. 1t will be
one instance of the people coming
into their own, II the fine timber land
OF the country, now held for purely
corporate speculative purposes, can
be distributed among the people who
live in and build up the country. II
is through means OF a species OF po-
lite thievery that much of the val.
, ley's valuable timber is out of reach
of the citizen of oregon and under
coroprate control It's the result OF
permitting Oregon to be made the
football OF unscrupulous politicians
who have gone to Washington TO rep |
resent the Interests" while bleed
ing the state. The manner in which
the cream of Oregon's timber land |
has been permitted to be stolen from
the people should bring the flush OF |
shame to every member of the states
delegation In congress, past and pres
cnt. dead and alive, indicted. con-
ylcted and free.
The G. ~ II. Blockade.
The Willamette valley receives %
cents a ton less for everything Il
sells and pays so cents a ton more
for everything It buys than the rest
OF the country. Il Is not because in
surmountable obstacles have been
placed in the way for navlga5le
river traverses the valley. Nor is Il
altogether for lack of railroad track
age. Besides one through line,
there is parallel line from Port
land To Corvallis and another from
Woodburn to Springfield. But they
are under one management and non
as they're practically non
with the river steamers.
Another road crosses the valley at
right angles but it gives no connec-
tion with the outside world. For
10 years or more Il has held down
one OF the most natural passes across
the mountains into eastern Oregon.
But II neither builds nor permits
anyone else to build II touches
within a few miles OF oregon's most
fascinating coast resort but because
Of failure To build a few miles of
road around Yaquina bay people are
looking TO other resorts.
Valley Has Been Seryile.
People of the valley have sub
mitted to being servants of the trans
portatlon companies rather than
that the transportation companies be
of the people. Where once
there was daily boat service with
three competing lines on the VIII
lamette river there Is now a tri-
weekly service and boat line. The
hoat company is operating under a
rate agreement with the parallel
road so that commerce Is getting very
little benefit from the river that has
been practically monopollzed by the
railroad under the agreement The
in rates is so slightly in
favor of river traffic that shippers
are Indifferent as TO whether their
freight Is routed by river or rail.
AS a remedy, the establishing of an
independent boat line. with a hard
and fast agreement among shippers
to stand by the independent, is with
|
in the power of the people. To OBJ
tain the best results and permanent
relief, however, the opening OF the
locks at Oregon City. long overdue,
IS imperative, Effort has recently Ir
leen made along this line and con- S
ingent appropriation OF 100000 I
secured from the legislature ana the {
natter passed up to Congressman In
Iawley for federal assistance. c
Warm Up the Congressman. v
There are indications that a fire II
must be kindled under the new con- L
gresham and kept brightly burning lu
L anything is accomplished through IN
him for the beneht OF the present c
An awakening 10 self 10
| =