Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1909-09-18

In addition to this, and what Is
probably a still greater achievement
the eyes of the whole world have been
directed upon the undeveloped por-
tions OF Oregon and Idaho, as the
richest and most productive virgin ter
ritory untouched by railroads in the
United States. The attention of mill
ions OF people, including the brainiest
railroad builders in the United States,
have been riveted upon Southern Ida
no. Central and Western Oregon, as
the coming region for the free-play
OF lighting enterprises and quad
rupling purposes OF money making.
Out of all this propaganda and edu-
cation along one particular line, is
flowing a stream Of population to the
regions undergoing development that
is increasing every day. on top Of
this, there is more actual railroad
construction undertaken than in any
other part of the region west of the
Rocky mounains.
The campaign of education con-
Quoted by the unsalaried, unsung and
unrestrained boosters of the Oregon
Idaho Development Congress has
only been the hot-air part OF their
program. The organization from it's
inception has had a very definite pro-
gram in the shape OF a political cam
paign. In its first meeting held in
Marshfleld, a committee on resolu-
tions brought in a report broadly out
lining the proposition OF placing the
whole power OF the two common
wealths-executive legislative and
judicial-behind the cause OF devel-
opment. Two commissioners were
appointed by the governor of each
state-a highway commission and a
commission on legislation. In ore
gon the legislative commission for
mulated a General Port Commission
Act, which has become the law OF
Oregon and under which the west
coast harbors will be improved by
Port Commissioners backed by full
powers OF levying taxes and issuing
bonds. 20 be expended in deepening
the waterways, improving the shore
line and preventing monopoly OF the
water fronts. The legislative com
mission also recommended an amend
ment 10 the Oregon constitution
which was put through the legislature
and will be submitted TO the people
at the next election. IL is a bluff. as
some have represented. to coerce Mr..
Hartman into building railroads into
the interior. II is a deliberate at
tempt TO arm the people with full
powers OF railroad construction II that
is deemed necessary and advisable
The congress went step further and
secured the enactment of the dis
trict railroad bill at the hands OF the
Idaho legislature. That bill was en-
acted into Law and approved by
: Governor Brady, and II il is not
knocked 'out in the supreme court,
will become the greatest weapon OF
self-help ever placed In the hands OF
sovereign people. II may be pre-
dicted that the united legal talent of
all the corporations will be directed
at the overthrow OF this piece OF leg
islation. Unless IL is overthrown,
railroads will be built as simply and
as easily as an irrigation canal. a
drainage, ditch, a maeadam road or
country school house. The owners OF
the land will build and own the rail-
road exactly as they do the other
things, In the interest OF their own
preservation. They will not under
take 20 run the railroad any more
than they would undertake to teach
the school. because they can hire per-
sons 20 DO either much cheaper and
much better than they can do il them
selves.
Last, and still greater by far than
the educational campaign or the poi
teal campaign has been the practical
work undertaken OF locating, inan-
cling and constructing a steam rail
way from Coos Bay through Central
J Oregon TO Boise. Idaho. and Sal
Lake. or Butte. Montana. II Is 9
square fight 20 secure transeonu-
mental connection with a great deep
sea harbOr on Coos Bay, not con-
troled by Hartman interests
Three surveying parties have been