Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-09-24
WAR MAKES oREGoN'S OPPORTUNITY.

Since the war started there has been steady and not
able decrease in the number of new arrivals from Europe
and this decrease will probably increase time passes
The August arrivals but q per cent of last years
arrivals for the month, and for the three months
ending August 81 only 133,429 immigrants reached New
York During the same period last year the number
347672.
The New York World comments on this and calls at
tenton to conditions following the of the recent past
and the immense immigration following them According
TO its figures the two years after the RssoJapanese war
brought us 473000 immigrants from Russia alone, while
the three years before that brought but 28 O0O
The two years after the Franco PusSan sent flood
of immigrants that broke the records from those coun
tries.
Judging by these precedents, there will be a tremen
dous immigration when the present war endsf 1t leaves
any one to emgrate.
Conditions have changed materially since the great in
flow from France and Germany in 712 and there are not
the same attractions lands still to be located and the great
demand for worken to rebuild the Industries OF the coU
try lust recovering from terrible war. At the
same time conditions have changed will be changed
to such an extent that there will be irresistible desire
TO pet away from the old countries and
men puppets or worse yet targets 1t is PROBABLE IN
this view of that the immigration for the two or three
wears after this will break all records In the cases
noted there were but two governments at war; in this
case there are eight and of these five the greatest
and most populOus nations of Europe.
While conditions have changed in the east as to dis
courage immigration Just the opposite condition has been
reached in the west The opening of the Panama canal
has made the Pacific coast almost accessible as New
York has been and here there vast areas OF cheap
lands that will appeal with irresistible force to these peo
pe To the American the idle lands Of eastern Oregon
and the whole Inland Empire are looked upon as waste
They will not produce without too much labor, and at
once That is fatal from the American viewpoint for they
want quick results and will not wait as will those coming
to us soon from the old world.
These lands will be made to produce by the hardy peo-
pie who are coming to us and who will build up homes for
themselves where let hope the gaun specter OF Want
and his grim brother War will never be again visitors.
Now is the time for Oregon to wake up as she never
did before and arrange to secure large share OF these
thrifty people We have the greatest and most easily
available water power in the world, at least 100000
horse power Among those who will seek homes on this
side Of the ocean are Begians skilled in all flax manu-
featuring branches We should them and make the
Willamette valley another Belgium in this line. So 1t is
along other lines far too to mention There are
thousands of skilled workers whose longing eyes al
ready turned toward America and Oregon with her
cant lands wasting water power and vast opportunities
along all lines of manufacturing offers them home such
as they have dreamed Of up to us to show
these people what have that they want and to show
them Just as as conditions back there permit of their
moving