Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-05-06
The Roosevelt Highway
From A Dairyman's
Point Of View.
\ \ = + Z Z = Y y y \ X :

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At the request Of the local Roosc-
welt campaign committee, +. r.. Beals,
pioneer daiyman and stock breeder,
furnishes Us the following Interesting
article on the military and economic
possibilities of the Roosevelt highway:
To the Editor:: The Roosevelt Mill
tary Highway bill to appropriate the
sum Of S2,500,00o by the state eontin-
gent upon an equal amount oeing ap-
propriated hy the federal government
is enc Of the most important measures
that will appear on the ballot az the
4 lelection TO be held next month. The
/ military Importance of this highway
has long been realized BY the military
/ authorities Of our government. Events
/ in Europe during the war clearly dem.
onstrated that transportation afford
led by the highway systems of Europe
was of iuestimablc value in the sue
cessful prosecution Of the war, the
value Of the highways far exceeding
the value Of The railways or Of any
other method Of transportation.
If the Roosevelt Military Highway
measure carries, the fact that the peo-
Pile of Oregon have taken the initia-
tive in the matter and have made a
substantial contribution TO the project
SHOULD and will appeal to congress. It
is perfectly safe to predict that a Spe-
cial appropriation will be made by con
gTess TO match our state funds
The military Importance Of this pro
ieet is not all that is to be considered.
1t will develop thousands of acres Of
Oregon s most fertile lands-lands cap
able of producing many millions of dol
lars annually and Of sustaining a large
population. This change from wild, non
productive regions to prosperous com
munities win bring added population,
augmented wealth and tremendous
increase in assessed valuation, all of
which will be enduring assets to the
state.
In the coast counties, where improv-
ed land for soiling and gruzing pur-
poses is valued at from three to five
hundred dollars per acre, dairymen
find it improbable to raise hay on
their valuable lands and are relying
moro and more on the Willamette val |
ley farmer and the eastern Oregon al. |
fAlfa producer to supply them with the
hay and grain they consume. The coast
territory furnishing market for
these interior products is poorly serv
ed by roads. This makes the cost Of
transportation on merchandise like hay |
and grain prohibitive. The cost Of To-
cal distribution is so great that many |
dairymen find il necessary TO raise |
their own hay, or q large portion Of
il. This reduces the size Of their herds |
and the number Of their hogs and thus
lessons their consumption of |
hay and grain. For example, the cost
Of transporting a ton Of hay or grain |
from Tillamook city, the railroad ter
minus in Tillamook county, to certain |
Of the richest dairy districts is ten
dollars ton. The Roosevelt highway |
would reduce thi, cost by eight dol.
lars or more per ton, The conclusion is
obvious. These farmers would increase
their herds, raise more hogs, and thus
double or treble the amount of hay
and grain they now consume. Under
the present adverse conditions Tlla.
nook county alone, with it, $4,000
lairy cattle and its large number of
hogs, purchases annually close to a
lalf million dollars worth Of imported
nay and grain When the Roosevelt
Highway is completed those cousum-
YRS will draw heavily upon the william.
'tte valley and eastern Oregon hay and
grain districts for these supplies. 1t
s safe TO say that in the immediate
uiurc, the coast counties o. Oregon,
With the expansion Of the dairy indus
ry which the highway will bring
bout. would furnish a steady aud ever
Increasing market for eastern and cen
raj Oregon and Willamette valley pro-
ucts 10 the extent Of three and half
million dollars or moro annually. II
In this connection J wish to say T.
ind a great deal Of interest among
he people throughout The coast coua :
les in the irrigation pll to be voted {
n in June entitled estate bond pay q
lent irrigation and drainage bo ~ e
crest. - 1t seems to be the disposition
verywherc in the coast districts to a
lpport this worthy measure, which
rovidcs for the state guarantee of in (
crest on irrigation aud drainage dis a
riet bonds for five years with a pro- n
ision for repayment This support is +
crhaps due to the fdet that a nan
cr Of our dairynen are interested in
q.fpru Oreran aff4Ifa lands an. us
bovc stated many are boxing to that !