Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-10-17
Salem to
Honor the
Occasion
Board Of Trade Last Night
Had Another Enthusiastic
Meeting and Decided to
Have Big Celebration on
Completion Of Bridge

At the regular monthly meeting of
the Board of Trade held last night
it was decided to give a monster dem
onstratlon in this city along about the
first of the year, in the shape Of
jubilee on account cf the completion
OF the new railroad bridge, now in
course of construction across the VIII
lamette river at this place. Hereto
fore 1t was the intention to hold the
celebration within the next 30 days,
but at the meeting last night it was
practically determined to hold 1t at
the time of the completion Of the
bridge and track into the city, at
which time, 1t was the sense Of the
meeting last night, that President
Strahom should ride across the river
on the cowcatcher of the first locomo-
tive to cross the bridge.
President StrahoEn and other Off
clals of the Portland, Eugene & East
ern railway were present at the gath
ering last night. Mr. Strahorn made
speech, in which he complimented
the citizens of Salem very highly for
the good fortune that had come to the
city by reason of the bridge across
the river and the Fir extension, which
will serve as a connecting link be-
tween the mcbt western and most
eastern sections of the richest valley
in the United States
Senator Bourne Spoke.
United States Senator Jonathan
Bourne was at the meeting and was
called on for speech. He spoke at
some length on the subject Of united
effort by commercial bodies Of the
country through their representatives
in congress, saying, among other
things, that within the next ten years
the government would in all proba-
bility expend $2O,OOO,OOO in the state
of Oregon. He said that the duty OF
the commercial bodies, in the matter
of federal aid was to ascertain where
federal aid was most desired, and to
back this up by data that would en-
able the members to place the mat
ter before the harbor committee oi
congress in a comprehensive and ex'
haustive manner.
The speaker said that on account o.
the vast number of measures intro
duced in congress that 1t was impossi
BILE for the members to familiariz'
themselves with the merits of mor'
than very small proportion. Tit
usual practice, said the senator wa
for all legislation to be done In tn
committee rooms at Washington.
Senator Bourne next took up tn
subject of good roads, which is one o
his hobbies,
President StrahOrn There.
President Strahorn was the mex
speaker. He dwelt on the importanc
to Salem Of the work being done Il
the vicinity of Salem by the railroa
of which he is president, saying j
part: 1.-THE construction OF tn
bridge is, for Salem, the most import
ant single detail under way in tn
transportation line, not because OF IT
expense, but because it furnishes tn
connecting link between the east an
west sides in the Willamette valley
have never known a town to receive s
much good from a single enterpris
as will be received by Salem with th
development of the Portland, Euger
& Eastern railway. There is being e.
pended within your immediate viclnii
the sum of $2,250,OO0, and you al
getting the big end of 1t. It is n
hope that upon the completion and o.
Grafton of the road under my supe
vision that Salem may make VIII
very few other capital cities are
commercial city, as well as capt.
city"
Many Other Boosters.
Mr.. Strahorn's speech was follow
by speeches from F. G. Deckabach,
H. Darcy, A. F. Hofer, p. H. Tod
President Albert, F, ]. Laflky, Hal
Patton and W. ]. Kilborn. These ge
tlemen spoke of the trip to Euge
and OF the enthusiasm displayed
that city on the event Of the celebr
tion OF the opening Of the Greg