The new age., 1907-03-09
EDITORIAL
BRIGHT PROSPECTS.

Things look better for Oregon ana
for Portland than ever before, even
remembering that they have been
Cooking up" for several years more
and more. and Notwithstanding the
creation of a railroad commission i
calculated to do considerable harm.
For one thing, congress just De-
fore it adjourned passed a very I'D
eral river and harbor bill, so lar as
appropriation for Oregon and partl-
cularly the Columbia river are con-
cerned. The Oregon projects have
been very we'll taken care of, and II
is especially gratifying that the 1etty
work at the mouth of the river has
been put on the continuing contract
basis. thus assuring steady work on
it till it is completed.
The Oraegon legislature did one
good Job, providing congress at the
next session will join with the state
and make the rest of the appropria-
tion necessary in appropriatlng
s3OO 900 for free locks at Oregon
CITY. If Mr.. Hawley can induce con-
orass to hear the rest of the cost, he
will have done a very fine piece OF
work, not only for the Willamette
valley above Oregon City but also
for Portland although this city is
not in his district; but nothing much
can be expected of the representative
from this district He probably will
summon up energy enough to vote
if somebody will tell him when.
The legislature failed to do an I'M
portant duty, although it involved
quite an appropria; ion, in defeating
the combination of rNe Portage rail
road to The Dalles I'd was prop
erly lectured the otr evening b!
Mr.. Wittenberg. 1t not the COS
of thing that is o5je tionable pro
viding it is worth the COST and al
most anything that will aid chea
and prompt transportation is wort
all it will cost.
Activity in railroad building is al
other thing to rejoice at, and thu
surely indicates great developmel
and growth in the near future Wor
has begun on the United Railwa'
line which will be big help to Por
land and the country it pass
through, and there will be other sil
liar lines built up the valley with
the next five years, greatly increa
ing population, production a.
wealth.
Another thing portending mu
good for Portland is the settleme
of the dispute between the Harrim
and Hill lines as to terminal groun
and rights Of way in this city and
Seattle. There will be a great co
mon terminal ground back OF
nresent ward, and these great S
TENS will quit fighting each otl
and work in amity for their own
terests and incidentally and nee
sarily for those of Portland also.
The railroads are also doing
splendid service in making such
tourist or homeseekers' rates for
months and the result will be
thousands of people will come to
state who might not have come
erwise Literature distributed
railroads in the east has also
of great value, and the means
turning thousands toward Oregon
Capital is flowing into oregon
especially into Portland at
greater rate than ever before, an
is now generally realized that tn
going to be a great city and
within the course of a compara
ly few years. This confident b
will be a large factor in maxim
such. So that fast as Portland
grown during the past few years
destined to grow even faster in
next few years. 1t will reach
900 during next year, and the