Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-07-21
WHY THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC SHOULD BUILD


The Capital Journal believes that the Southern Pa
cific should build Salem new passenger station with
out further unnecessary delay.
We do not take this position because want to make
war on the Southern Pacific company any other cor
poration without just This paper is not cor
poraton haer to the extent that would do any OF them
wanton injustice, or seek to arouse public feeling
against them in general way. What the railroad COM
pany does that is meritOriouS we quick to commend
and feel that the company is entitled to square deal in
all matters that the public and in the very nature
of it's business most OF its operations affect the pubic IN
way The money invested in railroads should re-
turn dividend because common carriers they play
very important part the development OF the community
and the nation at large in this day and age Furthermore
have high personal regard for the men who are at the
head of the Southern Pacific in this state and believe they
are working conscientiousy give the public honest
return for the they derive from freight charges
and passenger fares There will be those who will say
that this not always so but it must be admitted that
railroad arrangements have OF late years tried with
good degree of to get into closer touch with the
people In Oregon this is especially true we are pleased
to say.
These statements are made in order that this depot
question may be discussed fully and frankly
Salem is the capital of the state. Its people have eX
pended large in street paving and other public I'M
provements They have burdened themselves heavily IN
this respect because of the pride they wished the people
of great and growing state to feel in the city which is
their seat of It's business blocks and public
buildings its beautiful homes and wel-kept grounds re-
fleet this ambition. 1t is today one OF the most beautu
capital cities in the United States
The Southern Pacific station and grounds are not IN
keeping with the rest of the city, and they necessarily
very CONSPICUOUS and the first impression upon new
arrvasthe only impression upon the stranger tourist
passing through Travellers naturally look about them as
they pass through capital cities because they are known
of all people, the school children familiar with
their names and locations The capital city of Oregon i'm
presses the traveller naturally because of his view from
the train and station unkept run down and altogether
unimportant-and this impression is manlfesty unfair
to the progressive, enterprising people of Salem.
And the people Salem have been very patient and con-
siderate in this matter allowing matters to drift while
the business depression hampered railroad corporations
because of decreasing That period happily IS
passing and our people who have seen substantial inn
provements made in smaller and less important towns
commercially and politically, chatting under delay
that no longer seems justified by business reasons The
railroad officials this demand with the state
ment that they have not yet been able to decide upon
suitable location for their permanent station They have
extensive plans for the eectrcaon of branch lines and
developments which call for station the center
of the city. They working on these planshave been
for years-but they not yet fully matured.
If these statements true-and we do not intend to
dispute them in the absence of evidence to the contrary
the company we believe is making mistake. Salem's
new station should be the main line where the COM
pany has ample grounds and every through train should
pass through it, in justice to the city, 1t is doubtful if the
people would consent to the granting of franchise
that would allow the heavy traffic of the Southern Pacific
to pass any of its principal business streets and
der other arrangement could station be built in the
center of the city, unless it used merely for local
traffic with the through trains still using their present