Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-02-06
To Celebrate
Completion Of
Cello Canal

lho COlllpleLlOn OF Jne CelllO canal
and the opening Of the Columbia
Snake waterway to free navigation,
coincidental with the completion of
the Panama canal, ia an event of such
far-reaching Importance as to Justify
in the opinion of many citizens, the
holding Of special commemorative
celebration.
In furtherance Of this idea, the Lew
iston, Idaho, commercial club, at its
regular meeting August 6, 1912, au-
thorized the appointment Of a provis-
ional committee of one hundred citl-
zens to take practical steps for launch
ing the Columbia-C -Celilo-P Panama Wa
terways celebration, to be held in the
early summer of 1915.
Not only Is the opening of the CO.
lumbia-Snake waterway project of
great moment to the Pacific coast and
the Inland Empire in particular, but
It's direct relation to the Panama canal
gives 1t national and international sig
niflcance of far-reaching scope. 1t Is
more wonderful fact than we posi-
bly, will fully be able to grasp to state
that the completion of these two great
projects places the cities of the Colum.
bia-Snake basin in direct all-water
communication with every part Of the
Atlanic and Pacific seaboard Of the
western hemisphere The importance
which this subject at once assumes in
its commercial and development as
poets is obvious.
The whole world Is interested in the
imminent completion Of the greatest
engineering enterprise ever perform.
ed in the history Of civilization, name
ly, the Panama canal. Justly so, for
the opening OF this artificial channel
of trade will practically revolutionlze
the water-carrying commerce of the
globe The cities of San Francisco
and San Diego are preparing to cele-
brate this event by expositions which
1t Is admitted will be the greatest in
history The attention of government
cabinets, Of the great world transpor-
tation companies, of the worlds mer-
chants, manufacturers, statesmen and
economists, and of the universal press
Is focused on these expositions and the
which they will commence
rate, Is It not a publicity opportunity
worth while for us to celebrate in con.
nectlon with the greater event the
completion Of what to this coast is
the next most important government
project, namely, the opening Of the
Cello canal and the Columbia-Snake
waterway? We should bear in mind
that the Columbia river and It's trlbu-
taries constitute the second great rly-
or system Of the United States. the
being first The improve
ment Of this waterway (the completion
Of one unit Of which we propose TO
celebrate) will represent an invest
ment by the general government Of
approximately $25,OOO,OOO. The terri
tory directly affected by this improve |
mont is over 25O,OOO square miles in
extent, an empire greater than all New
England, New York, Jew Jersey, Penn
'ylvanIa, Delaware, Maryland, vlr-
yinia and Ohio combined. Is It pre-
on our part to assume that
he interest Of the civilized world in
his second great project will almost
equal It's interest in the greater and
,orrellatiye project Of the Panama
anal? This question gives us a hint
If the publicity opportunity which is
,urs.
No sUc.ion Of the Pacific coast will
% stimulated by these events like the
Northwest, Consider the facts:
The California ports and inland ter
'itory cannot benefit like the north.
vest for two reasans. One reason is
Galveston; the other reason is Arlzo-
Ia and Nevada Galveston, now the