Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-01-15

orally and railroads companies in
particular If sections of the state
rich in lumber, in mineral, in agri-
culture, and in everything that tends
to industrial and commercial de-
veiopment, have been neglected by
the one great railway system which
practically controls its whole traffic,
It certainly cannot be Justly claimed
that the neglect Is invited or induced
by the inlberai policy of our law
makers. Through the generous pol
icy of the federal government lands
sufficient il amount and value have
haN~ granted IN aid of railways with
in the jurisdiction of the state to
bald not onl. the lines now in oper-
alton, brt to extend them across and
through the central. eastern and
southeastern portions of this magnif-
cent commonwealth. Not only that.
Vast forest reserves have been Great
ed along the Cascade mountains in
this state, aud in other states. In
which have been included worthless
lava beds and deforested lands of
railway companies now operating
here. and in exchange for these
worthless lands these companies
have been permitted to select hun
dreds of thousands Of the most valu-
able timber lands IN the state under
congressional legislation, thus in
creasing by millions the value of
their original grants, and these lands
are Withheld from sale and settle
menL greatly hindering the develop
ment OF the state.
The demands OF the people for
railway extension have been unheed-
ed by the powers that be, and they
have been publicly informed that
when any particular section OF tho
state has been developed sufficiently
TO make railway u profitable in.
vestment, their demands would be
investigated and considered. thus re
versing the usual policy of extending
lines into rich sections to aid and
assist in general development. The
result has been that with all it's pos
sibillties for commercial and indus.
trial growth, Oregon is far behind all
the other states in obtaining what Il
needs and what II is of right entitled
TO have In the way of better facilities
for transportation and travel. Nor
does the eyli stop here. There Is a
lack Of uniformity In rates where
roads have already been built. Many
rates are grievously unjust and un-
reasonable, retarding the develop.
ment OF the state. Persons ana
places are Disseminated against. a
woefuf lack Of proper equipment to
handle freight and even passengers
exists everywhere, depot accommo-
dations, switching and other facilities
are inadequate, and no effort seems
TO be making 20 rectify these crying
evils anywhere. For the rectifcation
of these conditions the shipper Is
without remedy The cost and ex.
pense TO an individual would be too
great to warrant him in undertaking
through any codrt their correction,
nor could he with safety incur the
i'll will OF the railway company which
has been derelict in its duty TO him
and TO the public. Neither the farm
er nor the producer can get his pro-
duct to the market. nor can the mer
chant supply the consumer with his
wares. The result has been and will
be still more disastrous to the state,
and the time has come when the
other members of the great partner.
ship in railway operation, the public.
should assert itself in the correction
of existing evils. With interstate
iraffic the state has nothing to do.
'ut with intrastate. or that which Is
purely local. the evils which are ae-
to exist can be greatly
'elieved in short order, and eventual
y corrected by railway commits
ION, vested with ample powers and
omposed of men who have been l
augbt to believe that a public ONCE
5 public trust and that the people
ave rights which great transporta-
ion companies are bound TO respect.
he courts of this state. of other
tates' and OF the United States have
ustained the action OF commission
rs in their attempts TO correct the
Wis which now exist in Oregon. and
he question OF power is no longer in
ne experimental stage. Where J
ommission exists and conditions s
ave not been bettered. the fault lies
lther with the statute under which
acts. or In the personnel of the s
ana tha aral. .....nl.i.aa