Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-11-30

COMING TO
THE FRONT
WILL BE A GREAT RAILROAD
CENTER, AS N is NOW THE
GREAT WOOL AND CATTLE
SHIPPING POINT OF THE IN
LAND EMPIRE.

Leon ]. Chapman, secretary of
the Commercial Club at Ontario, In
Malheur county, captured the hearts
of the delegates to the oregon De-
velopment League yesterday, when
they were presented with two boxes
of fine apples, which grew within one
mile of Ontario, on the orchard of A.
Gramse, a former Hood River apple
man. but who believes that the ter
ritory around Ontario will become
the great apple district of the state
OF oregon.
"Ontario needs advertising In Ore
gon," said Mr.. Chapman, who, since
coming to the convention in Salem,
has found that there arfe many people
who do not know that there is such a
town on the map, and that it is fast
becoming little metropolis in East
ern Oregon. During the past sum-
mer we have erected in Ontario a
hve-story pressed brick hotel, nine
business buildings, miles of cement
sidewalks, and some SO dwellings
each of which are modern and the
character of houses that build up a
city. other buildings are under way,
and, before spring, 1t is expected that
fine opera house will have been
commenced" continued Mr.. Chap
man. and during the ndxt few years
much development is looked for in
and around Ontario. Real estate val
ues have doubled in many Instances,
while the demand for rental property
is greater than the supply, not an
empty house being obtainable, only
as they are engaged in advance. We
believe, and we have every reason to,
that, with the building of the rail-
roads through Central Oregon, On
tario will become the railroad CEN
ter of Eastern Oregon, and the
junction point Of the o. S. L., which
now runs as far as Huntington. We
believe that this a true statement
/ because the railroad people have Sc
cured large tract of land within a
mile OF the city, and already own a
| right-of-way of 800 feet on each side
of the track. Prof. Shaw, of the Hill
system, recently investigated the
whole territory surrounding Ontario,
and, Il is said has a very encourag-
ing report TO make or the lands here
He was particularly interested in our
dry farms, and the crops grown upon
them.
1T is not gnerally known that we
are an apple section" said Mr.. Chap
man, "owng to tn fact that for sew
eral years we have been compelled to
ship our apples TO the Eastern mar
kets In the name OF Idaho. as we
had no fruit association of our own.
This year a number of our growers
/ formed minor combine. and have
shipped their fruit 10 Chicago In the
name OF Oregon. We hope that by
next year we will have an associa-
! tion that can take care of all the
fruit grown on the Oregon side of
the Snake river. in Malheur coun-
~, and that the PEOPLE Of the West,
as wall as the East, will learn that
we are shippers OF the big red apple,
as well as the largest cattle shipping
point In the Northwest, and one Of
the greatest wool centers as we'll.
without doubt we excel in the
production of alfalfa seed, and few
are the farmers who do not secure
mor,e than $50 per acre from alfalfa
seed, which is harvested from the
second cutting OF the crop. One man
this year sold $500 worth OF seed
from 20 acres, and had full crop
OF first cutting hay. and a fine pas
ture as well. upon my return to
Ontario" said MIR. Chapman. 81 am
going to initiate a campaign of ad-
vertising for our section. and by the
annual meeting OF the league ne0t
year / hope to be able 10 say that
more people In Oregon win know
that we are not a part OF the Brit
ish possessions. but moving factor
in the development OF this great
state" Mr.. Chapman was much i'm
pressed with Salem, and expressed
much surprise at the fine buildings,
paved streets and other modern con-
/ y,antanoas the CITY eniovs