East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1916-07-27

MIR. Charles Marks farm is repre-
sentative, perhaps near the average
for the district. Also his personal as
sessment which is included is above
the average The figures in his case
follow.
In Secs. 2S and "a T 4 ~, r, 81
f., w. NJ.
64O acres, assessment. .... S2O,S5O.OO
Saving in wagon haul mi.
per bu ...,....,...,....' .OS n
Saving in water transportation
per bu. ..,..,............,. ,Ol
Total saving, per bu. ..,.,,, .04ls
500 \. wheat; 500 A. summer-fallow,
Yield 80 bu per acre, bu,,.,...s,I0o
Annual saving at 4hc per
bu. ................ 10000
Saving in IA years ....,,., $4,000
Cost of road 3 mills per VI. 1885
Cost in IA years ,,,....,., 2,627.lO
Total gain $S'O4S9O
The above is upon wheat alone and
does not include other out and in
tonnage, of which there would be
more than anyone would be willing
now to believe.
We all know of the effort extend
ing over many years to relieve the
long wheat haul of the Cold Springs
district and have generally agreed
that relief lies only in the construc-
.t!on of a suitable road for heavy
hauling leading to the river and the
utilization of water transportation.
| The Port law answers our needs pre-
Cisely and under II we can build the
road we have so long desired. The
| federal government has expended
more than six millions of dollars to
make the Columbia continuously ma
| vigable and it remains now for us.
only to reach out through the Port
law and grasp water transportation
1 by means of a freight road to the
river,
The above specific examples are
given to show that those who are oh
jectng are far from justified and that
.
rather than opposition Some think
that the cost viii exceed mills dur
ing IA Years but since an offer is
made with bonded security to COM
! plete the Improvement within this eX-
| penditure any increase would result
actual cost basis rather than by con-
tract.
| Let us look this matter square in
/ the face The only transportation the
/ Cold Springs country can ever obtain
! is either road in connection with
the river or a railroad, if the former
I then the situation is set forth above
and if the latter we must forever bid
good. bye TO our dreams of lower
rates upon tine river We have only
to refer to the last branch railway
/ line built in Umatilla county, namely
that to Pilot Rock, to learn that a
branch railroad will increase our
grain rates cents per bushel as is
the case upon this branch, rather than
/ to decrease them | or cents or more,
as we have every reason to believe
will be the case when water transpor-
tation is available for us. As | see
the situation every one obiectins to
the organization OF a Port for the pur-
pose of building the road in question
is giving his support and influence to
the railroads in maintaining their
exclusive hold upon the transporta-
ton of the county at present rates
which are practically double the rates
charged for the same ton mile haul
in other parts of the country. | as+
that my good friends of the Colo
Springs district be not deceived against
their own interests into opposing this
as believe, the only means possible
to reach the open river with our pro-
= ducts.
If | believed that this undertaking
would impose a greater tax upon the
. people than would be received in di
rect benefits by those who would be
called upon 20 pay for it. I would be
in the front rank Of the opposition
J. Upon the contrary I will expect re
- turns from the beginning much be
j yond the amount invested.
! 7 win not close without reminding