The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1919-01-07
PORTLAND AND KLAMATH FALLS

The following from the Journal is
4 interesting as indicating that there
seems to be re-wakening in Port
| land of the dormant spirit of co-ope-
ration that this city has hoped to see
for some time. The tonnage indi'
Gated is only small part of that ori,
ginating in the Klamath basin. and
all of il is but a fraction OF what is
| to originate during the next few
years. The question is Does Port
land want to reap an immediate bene-
fit from this business. or is she going
to slumber on for a few years more
until natural development will force
thru the enterprises that have been
DELAYED for lack of assistance? Abus"
of the railroad map" will be of little
avail in the accomplishment of the
work that must be done. 1t is going
to take money and push. and if Port
land can let us have little of both,
we will do more than our share down
here.
The journals article follows:
Let Portland get back of the Stra.
horn line and show us that she is
heart and soul for the Development
OF Eastern Oregon and when tn at
line is finished she will not have to
come here after our business-we
will bring 1t to her on gold platter.
A significant news dispatch in Mon
days Journal contained the informa-
tion that. at a single railroad sta
ton in Klamath county 1884 carloads
OF products were shipped to klamath
Falls within the past IL months.
The shipments consisted of live
stock, saw logs and lumber. From
July they included 54s cars of live
stock.
This is small item in the produc-
tion of Klamath county. Like all the
rest of the products of klamath coun-
ty. these shipments went to the mark
cts of the world via California.
They go via California because the
geography of the railroad lines force
them to 60 that way. II they seek
outlet thru Oregon, they must first
take a long excursion down to Weed
in California and then double back
over mountain passes to reach even
the borders of Oregon. 1t is a heavy
addition to the distance and tc the
cost of haul 1t causes delays and
makes freight rates higher. The ef
feet is to make Klamath county an
annex of California, with the business,
manufacturing. agricultural and 9TH
er interests compelled to :ride with
California.
Lake, the adjoining county ON the
east with Lakeview as lie county
seat is similarly tied by railroad geo
graphy TO Nevada. Its sole line Of
railroad goes to Reno. Its huge out
put of products goes Southward to
the markets of the world.
Meanwhile, both counties are on a
great plateau which slopes gently to-
ward the ports of the Col Imlil. the
descent is so gradual that train of
cars started from either klamath
Falls or LakeYiew would almost roll
Of its own momentum into Portland.
More remarkable than all in this
remarkable situation situation Is that
in the Deschutes canyon there are two
lines Of railroad reaching almost to
Bend More than 20,00O,0 900 was
spent in laying them. One track is
more than sufficient to handle the
traffic of both
Enough money was wasted in the
wild and reckless extravaganza Of
railroad magnates in building two
lines of track thru the canyon to
build line connecting Bend with
klamath Falls and Lakeview
There is scarcely region any
where, where the building of a line
connecting the two southern cities
with Bend. Once the line Was built.
Klamath and Lake counties and the
great region OF Central Oregon would
be able to do business with Portland
Only part Of the great sum spent
by Hartman in building the reckless
ly constructed line in the Deschutes
canyon, would have completed the
unconstructed gap in the Natron cut.
off between klamath Falls and Eu-
gene.
II was from the terminus at Chill