Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-07-08
BATTLING FOR
AN OPEN RIVER
CONTINUED from page one).

demning the present locks or build
ing new ones at Oregon City and
make them forever free for ALL man
ner of water crafts.
It seems TO be the policy of the
government to help those who help
! themselves, and in view of the fact
that the government Is growing
more liberal in the matter of ap-
priating money for our rivers and
harbors, having increased the an
nual appropriation from SIS 100000
to $50,O00,000, we are reasonably
assured that if our delegation in
congress will make an earnest and
vigorous fight for the people that
the government will appropriate the
other 100000, which will make the
Willamette river forever free.
From statistics | have been able
to gather In a limited time | find
that there is something like 300,-
600 tons of grain. hops and other
| Iproduce shipped from the william
ette valley each season, this does
not include the lumber products
which lumbermen claim amounts to
az least half as much as all other
products. Thus It may be readily
seem that II the Willamette was
open and free for navigation from
Portland 10 Eugene Il would mean
saving of so cents per ton now paid
10 the corporation owning the toll
gate at oregon City, or a sum total
of $225,000 annually saved to the
people. According to the estimate
made by government engineers the
cost OF building new locks would be
only 100000, therefore the extra
tax now paid this corporation and
the railroad company by reason OF
the river being fenced in, would in
only three years about TO $675.-
900 or $4,000 more than enough
to pay for new locks. and give the
people what the Almighty intended |
them to have free and open river
TO the sea-
The citizens OF the Willamette
valley and Western Oregon should
band themselves together as one
man with this end In view and the
determination OF having an open
river. They should carry the war
INTO their business into their
homes, into social AFFAIRS, into the
pulpit and into politics and talk II
lround the firesldes and see TO Il. l.
hat the people are represented In
he legislature and In congress 4,
" men who know the map .
II Oregon, and who are broad ,
minded enough 10 work for lt
III Oregon, men who have the 4,
ourage to stand up and fight the ;
'attles for the neople. then and not \
III then will We have an open WI
annette and justice will have been .
Ione to a weary patient long suf- ;,
ering over taxed people. a
IL is said that time changes all ri
hings but the people OF the william y
tie valley have waited 10 these
many years for a change to be made n
n transportation rates for the pro- n
uct of their honest toll, they have n
cen the increased demand for flour Ia
nd lumber and other products OF 4
he farm made necessary by the h
Utilization OF people In the orient, al
'ho are now demanding our farm n
nd dairy products and 1t Is neces-
ary 20 Increase our tonnage and :
hip carrying capacity, they have
zen a deep water harbor established
Astoria, and the passing OF the I
Id ways and methods when vessel
puld only take on a half cargo at G
ortland and the balance had 10 be v
'eighted down the Columbia I'm :
Arges and reloaded onto ships. | I
hey have seen the Cascades on tho 4
olumbia overcome and boat can 4
FL opened and the wool and wheat !,
great empire floating on to the "
d Pacific there TO command the n
shest prices 20 be obtained upou Z
ie worlds market, they have seen :,
her portions OF Oregon build up I,
Id develop as IL should and they a
aise God for that They have seen y
'uug men grow old and grey, boys Il
I'VE grown 10 manhood and girls d.
we become grandmothers. the :,
'Wis and Clarks has come ami s.
me and added millions OF wealth oi
our own Portland the pride OF all ie
'egon' The flowers that were so A.
Asrant and beautiful at Portland's n
eat rose show have withered and b
"a and new buds even mora he, o0