The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1914-10-15
CHAS. BECKER DOES
SOME HARD THINKING

| Inc FOLLOWING letter from Cnarles
Becker appeared in the Ontario Demo-
crat last week and II is so pointed
that we are glad to reproduce II and
give II more publicity. Mr.. Becker is
known as one of the successful farm
ers and stock raisers of the county,
a man of sound business judgment.
This is what he thinks of the County
Seat change that the people are go
ing to vote on next month: Reading
some of the articles in the Vale Enter
prise regarding the moving OF the
county seat from Vale to Ontario, one
not acquainted with the conditions
pertaining to this controversy would
naturally suppose that Vale was the
only place in Malheur county suit
able or entitled to have the couriv
seat. have known Vale since It con-
sisted of one house built of rouch
stones, up to the present, and can
not see why Il should have a better
right to claim the county seat than
Ontario has.
Vale has no visible prospect OF ever
becoming any more than she now is,
that any disinterested person can see
Vale Is nothing but small railroad
town such as one meets along any
OF our great railroad lines. Vale has
no great farming country back OF her
to make or support anything like n
permanent. prosperous town, unless II
is Poverty Flat. A large part OF It's
present population is composed OF
transcient people drawn by temporary
employment on the Malheur valley
railroad and irrigation work. Besides,
there are the towns OF Jamison and
Brogan which draw trade from the
limited territory claimed TO be tri-
butary 10 Vale. II now looks as
though after the completion OF the
Malheur valley railroad Vale will be
but a small railroad station.
/ In contrast thereto. Ontario has
permanent population OF prosperous
people who nearly all are the owners
OF the homes they live In. Men OF
means have taken up their residence
, there. Besides. Il Is one OF the prin-
cipal shipping points on the Short
Line railroad for wool and livestock.
II has two strong banks. Ontario
business men are alive and progress
i've and do things. Necessary Inn
1 provements are being made contin-
ually,
Ontario Is In the center OF popula-
tion and taxable property. even II on
the Idaho line. The bulk OF the popu-
lation must always be along the Snake
river valley--a fact which cannot be
disputed. This fact alone should en-
title Ontario to the county seat. Gen.
ter Of territory should cut no figure.
Population and taxable property alone
should be taken into consideration
Vale Is trying TO frighten taxpayers
into voting In favor OF Vale by telling
them moving the county seat to On
tario would bring 10 the county an
Indebtedness of Two Hundred Thous-
and Dollars for a new court house.
Why such large sum for a court
house?
II Vale should get away with this
court house controversy U have II
from a straight source) the present
old stone pile will be condemned. and
justly so. Vale will then get the
county court to appropriate not less
than 100000 for the building OF a
new court house so as to anchor the
county seat to Vale for all time
and YOU taxpayers who are now OPP
posing the moving OF the county seat
to Ontario will have TO pay II. So
you taxpayers of this county can easily
see which is to your best interest-to
vote for moving the county seat to
Ontario and get an up-to-date court
house furnished you for nothing, or
vote yourself an immense indebted
ness to build court house at Vale.
Vale tells us that Ontario will not
build us court house after they get
the county seat. Now | have not the
least doubt in my mind but Ontario
will do all they promise. In fact. IT
is greatly TO their interest 10 do so.
They have already voted the bonds
TO make good their promise. When you
are called to court you will always
find accommodations at reasonable
rates. whereas when you are called to
Vale YOU do not know whether you
Aill sleep in o bed on in a manger.
Now, II you don't want to be taxed