East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1916-03-28
TALK BY Il. W. RITNER AT RE.
CENT CIVIC BANQUET.


The motto Of the state of Oregon
is, she flies with her own wings"
II | were to choose a motto for the
city Of Pendleton, would write, ''She
gets there with her own feet" PEN
dleton does not have to depend upon
the bounty Of the state for her pros.
perity. Backed by a splendid agri-
culture and stock country, abounding
with unlimited resources. Pendleton
Is able to take care of herself without
any assistance from the outside.
Probably the best thing which the
state Of oregon has ever done for the
city OF Pendleton is the location Of the
Eastern Oregon State Hospital for the
insane Just outside her city limits.
Fhis was not done as an act Of char
ity but Pendleton was selected as the
place for this hospital because those
who had charge of choosing the site
were unanimous In their opinion that
Pendleton was the logical Ylaee for
such an institution. Located as we
n
facilities and enjoying a climate
which is not surpassed in the west,
Pendleton was selected by the state
board not because we needed such an
institution to build up the town but
because this was the best place in
Eastern Oregon for such a hospital
The hospital as originally planned
was to consist of six wings in addition
to the administration building, power
plant and other smaller buildings ne
cessary. In 1872 two wings were err
ected. The last session of the legis-
lature appropriated one hundred thou
sand dollars for the erection Of a new
wing which is now completed and
will soon be occupied. The state has
up to the present time spent about a
million dollars for the permanent inn
provements at this institution the
other three wings will be added from
time to time as the needs of the state
demand The policy of the state is TO
increase the size of the eastern Ore
gon branch of the hospital rather than
make any additions to the original
hospital in Salem. About five hun
dred thousand dollars more will be
required to complete the buildings as
originally planned, Under the eff
cient management of DIR. McNary as
superintendent, this hospital has
made a record for efficiency and eco
nomy unequaIed by any other insti-
tuition in the state.
The location Of the eastern oregon
session Of the supreme court of the
state has been the means of bringing
a great many professional men to Pen
dleton. Pendleton was selected by the
legislature as the proper place in east
ern Oregon to hold these sessions of
the court because We are centrally To-
Gated on transportation lines and also
because we have superior hotel acco-
modations. For this same reason this
city was chosen by congress for the
eastern Oregon sessions of the United
States district court
be induced to spend portion Of the
state highway funds in Umatilla
county II will not only be a great
benefit for Pendleton, but to the en-
tire county but unless this county
gets busy and raises money for the
purpose of building permanent hard
surface roads, either from the medium
of the bond issue or by levying spe-
cial tax. the state highway commits
sion win not favor this county with
any portion of the highway fund, ex-
cept possibly to pave that portion of
the Old oregon Trail which runs
through the grounds of the State Hos
pital We will be aided in proper
ton to the amount of money which /
We ourselves will spend and it is up /
to the citizens of Umatilla county to
get busy at this time and provide for