The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1913-11-15
Gets Down to Brass Tacks.

The following communication
appeared in the Oregonian OF the
18th:
| have read everything that has
been published in the Portland
papers and have heard every
word that has been publicly ut
tered on the railway situation
during both the Hartman and
Hill visitations. From this | have
CLEANED the following facts:
That financial conditions are
not favorable for securing money
for railroad construction and too
high rate of interest is de-
manded.
That American railway securi-
ties are in poor standing both at
home and abroad.
That these conditions are
brought about to very great ex-
tent by litigation and legislation
past and threatened.
That, while these conditions
continue the construction of new
mileage will be added except
where it is necessary to protect
the lines already in operation.
Locally, so far as Central Ore
gon is concerned, that If the start
had not already been made rail-
road building there would not be
undertaken while these conditions
exist.
The decision as to whether or
not it is necessary for the pro-
lection of the existing and operat-
ing lines that the stub of a road
up the Deschutes Canyon termin-
ating at Bend, and one in NAL
heur Canyon. reaching up to
Riverside, and both surely operat-
ing at a loss, be connected across
Harney and Crook counties is
, before the railroad court and one
which the officials will undoubt-
edly soon decide. The settler
and investor in Central Oregon
are called upon to pay the penalty
for the mistake of the railroad
companies and of the politicians.
, One thing that Judge Loveti
reiterated with emphasis was his
opinion that the large speculative
land holdings in Oregon were
, retarding its progress.
At the Hill banquet Saturday
> night, Col. G. h. S. Wood made
, an impassioned plea for cheaper
f land for our prospective farme,
settlers, stating that every acre
of good, available agricultural
land was taken up and was held
at an unreasonable price. He
was followed by Louis w Hill.
who intimated some doubt as to
Woods statement. that all
: government lands were taken up,
but he also insisted upon cheaper
, lands for the settlers and colonies
which his company wanted to
bring to Oregon.
Mr.. James j. Hill in his fine
agricultural address plainly stat
ed and repeated that SIS per
acre for raw sagebrush land in
Central Oregon was an absurd
Price and that land speculation
and high prices were doing more
to prevent railroad building and
state development than any other
cause.
If this is true let us face the
situation and place the blame
where it belongs. II sage-brush
land which. when cultivated.
will produce 25 to 33 bushels Of
Turkey red wheat or a fair yield
of other grains, and alfalfa is
not worth $15 per acre, let us in
sist upon the price being reduced
to the proper amount. II the
price being asked for land is not
too high then Mr.. Hill and those
other gentlemen are libeling our
country, and such statements
should be stopped, for they go
out broadcast and are believed,
and 1t would then be plain that
such claims were made simply as
an excuse for his company in not
continuing the Central Oregon
transportation system.
Louis w. Hill, w. p. David
son, II. Corbett, VIM. Hanley,
Col. C. +. S. Wood, Drake
O'Reilly and their associates own
or control such an area of Gen.
trail Oregon lands that they can
regulate the price. These gentle
men are all reasonable business
men, leading citizens and pub
licly claim to be laboring for the
upbuilding os Oregon. If land
nri..nn nro loo hinrh ihn,r NON nfron