The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1918-07-12
TEMPORARY DEPLETION

Just at the present time the popu-
lation of Oroville is in the throes of
depletion. 1t Is not very pleasant
truth to face and chronicle, but facts
are stubborn things, and we might
as well face the facts with as good
grace and as much complacency as
we can command. 1t is also true that
while many familiar faces have dis
appeared some new faces have taken
their places, but not in sufficient
number to counterbalance the remov-
ais. AS result of this migration
there are more vacant houses in Oro-
vile at the present time than at any
period since the establishment of the
town.
If this hegira was confined solely
to Oroville there would be some
ground for alarm, some reason to
fear that opportunity here does not
present sufficient promise of reward
to encourage effort and hold those
coming to seek location and perma-
nent home. But the experience this
community Is going through is COM
mon to almost every community, large
or small, in eastern Washington. The
mercurial disposition of the inland
population is conspicuously illustrat-
ed in the published names and places
of residence of the last draft con-
| tingent in one of the richest and most
prosperous counties of the state on
the east side of the mountains. That
last contingent contained seventy
one names of men who had registered
as residents of the county few
months ago, and the pOstoffice ad-
dresses given shows that fully, If not
more than. so per cent of those men
had moved out of the county, pre-
sumably to better their condition
And so it is in every hamlet, town and
city of the eastern part of the state
Hence the people of Oroville who re-
main have no reason to feel that the
partial depopulation Of the town is
an exception to the prevailing rule.
There Is reason for this transfer
of residence, too, a reason created by
the war Those sections of the cOun
try, east and west, north and south
in which are located industries pro
increase the size of the navy, or re-
place the submarine-depleted mer
chant marine, are wonderously pros
porous. There Is feverish-activita
in plant, factory and ship yard. The
phenomenal demand for labor has
created wage the like Of which has
never before been known in the
country. Skilled and unskilled labor
is at premium, and it is the pay o
that labor that is the loadstone draw
ing so many toward the industrial
centers. There is not single estab
lishment in eastern Washington en-
gagged in producing material for wal
purposes. In the far west such estab
lishments are located on tide water
and it is in that direction that mos
of those leaving interior towns natu
rally gravitate. So long as war con
tinues the stream Of travel will b.
diverted toward that section where ;
demand for labor at high compensa
ton exists. 1t is disseminating
situation growing out of the war, bu
there can be no expectation of
change until the coming of peace.
However, there is no reason for dis
couragement in this shrinkage o
present population. 1t is only tenn
porary. In normal times there is NJ
locality in the west where opportun
ity so persistently stands arount
knocking at the door of the thrift.
and Industrious as right here in ant
around Oroville, and many of thos'
who have recently gone hence will
eventually back track to take III
work once laid down and accumulat,
some of the prosperity that is within
reach of those who go after it. New
blood will be added to the old, ant
a section now somewhat languishint
will awaken to new life. We have NJ
fears Of the future of Oroville ant
the surrounding country. Nature ha!
been prodigally kind to this section