East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-09-24

y and at reasonable prices. Unused
hand that has been in pasturage for
years is now being farmed since the
boats have given the purchaser means
of transportation, A number Of new
towns have been started along the
banks OF the river at points where wa
gon roads reach out 70 the farm lands
Of the Interior old towns that have
retrogrsded since the early steamboat
DAYS hav been inspired with a new
1esse of life.
Electric lines from the interior
reaching TO the Columbia and Snake
rivers have been organized and in
mauy cases much Of the right Of
way has been freely given.
The open river movement has been
directly responsible for these projects,
The names and locations of roads are
as follows spokane Inland Railway
from Spokane 20 the Snake river;
NalIa Walla and Columbia Electric
Railway. from Dayton TO Walula on
the Columbia, Bickelton and North
ern Railway from point near Mount
Adams to Alderdale on the Columbia
The Columbia and Northern Railway
mas surveyed line from Hardman
through Gillian and Morrow counties
10 Blalock and secured some right
OF way. A line has also been sur
veyed from Prosser on the Yakima
river through the noted Horse Heav-
en- wheat belt, reaching the Column
bia at Paterson opposite Irrigon."
Then follows a statement showing
in dollars and cents the reductions
in rates that gave the Open River
line actual value to the upper river
country as transportation agency,
And a digest Of the O. r. & n. tariff,
effective January /, 1907, shows how
the railroad reduced its rates after
competition on the river became
fact. The admoniion on the title
page Of the report reads;
''The question of whether or not
the river is to be opened to free and
unobstructed navigation, and the peo-
ple receive the benefit Of water rates,
rests with themselves"
After the portage railway had been
built and the open River line inaug-
urated. there was a general feeling
that work on the Cello canal should
20 forward without the delays due
10 exhaustion Of appropriations by
congress. In a report of the open
River associations executive commit
tee for october 3. 1907, find this
assertion:
The Cello canal, if placed upon
= continuing contract basis, can be
completed within three years, When
completed it means a free river fol-
lowed by continued Improvement un-
Ill from British Columbia and from
Lewiston to the sea. the people of the
Inland Empire will be forever pro-
tected from excessive freight rates
and freight congestion by natures
own great regulator of traffic.
FIVE years later than the date In
,sicated If built under continuing con-
tract the Cello canal is ready for use
having been constructed by the bien'
niaI appropriations of congres. Hac
a continuing contract been adopted
the Cello canal could have been bull
at less cost and in five years insteae
Of ten. In the jetty and canal Worf
of the Columbia river, We OF th'
northwest are given evidence Of tn'
DELAYS and unwisdom incident Z
make appropriations for undeniaol!
merltorious projects the footballs d
successive congresses. Under th'
xresent plan, extravaganza OF cos
and deferred completion are not th'
only evils; as long as the present sys'
,em continues every good and needed
uroiect will rest in the balance unit
actually completed, and there VIII D'
biennial opportunity for proponents
of indefenslble projects TO contend iol
the money which this government ma
for the improvement Of its rlVer'
and harbors. May experience hasteI
she day when congress will provide
Al one and the same time for the De
ginning the continuous work upon
and the completion Of needed I'm
E.r0yements-
special committee Of the cham
Der Of commerce in a report MADE Il
7s10 INDUCED in a bit Of restospec
.ion TO prove the point that unde
tbe present plan Of appropriating 10
government Improvements, the ae
companying public effort is indispen
sable -.
we believe the building Of IN
marriage railway exercised a profoun
influence in furthering the CON
mencement Of the canal. Whetne
fbls be true or not, it is fact tna