Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-10-11
FOURTH ON THE LIST.

6 ALIEN ranks fourth among the banking cities of Ore
gon with deposits of $7,69O12O according to the
port Of the state superintendent of banks She is supas
sed by Portland, Pendeton and Astoria.
Salem should rank second, second in population sec
ond in volume of business second in industry Salem is
second to none in natrua resources and geographical To-
cation and in opportunity That she does not lead is due
to her own lethargy and indifference. #sI
The that Pendleton and Astoria smaller cities
without the wealth of agricultural and horticultural
sources without large industrial concerns without the
payroll of state Institutions lead Salem in bank deposits
which the business prosperity and thrift of the
community is due to the lack Of enterprise energy and
foresight of the capital city and the superior hustng ab
ty civic pride and community spirit of the less favored
towns Their citizens pull together They act as we'll
talk and their actions and talk all for their home
towns.
If Salemites had proper sense Of civic pride they
would put Salem bank deposits second size in the state
thirty days by the simple expedent Of buying at home
instead Of patronizng Portland and Seattle mail order
houses-and their patronage would make bigger home
payros better stores larger stocks and cheaper prices
Portland Seattle and other firms pay no taxes in Salem
spend money in Salem and their only interest is to
milk" the community for money to build UP outside cities
Money sent out Of town. never returns while money spent
in Salem remains in circulation here
If wealthy and well-to-do Salemites had the commun-
y spirit that actuates similar classes in Astoria and Pen
deton, they would solve the building problem by actual
y building houses instead of initiating the price and trying
to unload undesirable old shacks on the new comers or
capital be invested in proposition that does not command
Salem capital? How expect others to invest when
capitalists haven't faith confidence enough in
the community to risk their own money?
Each community must solve its own problems and
they all have them. Nearly every live town has build
ing problem and we cannot expect their capital to come
here and solve Saems municipal dlemas. God helps
those who help themselves and Salem must help herself
in this well as future problems--and with seven and
three-quarters millions Of deposits in her banks she
ought to have no trouble in investing half million in new
houses.
#
1t is rite saying that nature made the country and
nan the CITY, Nature gave Salem the country and re-
that is necessary is for to build the city
Cities don't build themselves. They due to the vision
enterprise and energy of the nhabiting them They
grow, stand still aophy according to the ability of the
citizens to realize their opportunities. If the citizens are
unwilling to act and assume their responsibilities content
o stagnate and driftSaem will always lead the self
sufficient placid and sleepy existence of the ordinary
state capital interested only in spending state taxes
The psychological time has arrived for Salem to wake
and grasp her opportunities for growth and expansion
md cease marking timeof taking and keeping the place
hat belongs to her as the second city Of Oregon