The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1919-04-21
RAPS
BEND FOR ITS
RAILROAD MOVE

act of the Bend Commercial Club in
opposing the construction of the Stra-
same reception of disappointment and
disgust all over the state that IL re.
ceived in klamath Falls, is indicated
in the leading editorials in the Port
land papers of Saturday.
The Oregonian has the following
comments
IF every town in Oregon which has
railroad were 10 oppose extension
of that railroad lest other town should
come into competition with its in
dustries, we might as we'll record the
end of railroad building and there
for of development in the interior OF
the state. Yet that is the position
taken by Bend in regard to extern
sion of the Strahorn road from the
klamath valley to Bend.
Bend appears to look at the matter
solely from the viewpoint of its saw
mills. The latter have a railroad rate
on lumber to Denver and similar
points which is cents less than the
terminal rates 10 the Pacific coast
and only one cent more than the rate
from Spokane. Baker and other points
in the white pine group several hum
dred miles nearer the market Klam-
ath Falls pays the coast terminal
rate. and is therefore under a handi-
cap Of 6 cents as against Bend. II
the Deschutes road should be con-
nected with the Strahorn road and IL
the latter should be built from Bend
to Klamath Falls, the latter town
might claim the same rate as Bend
enjoys. The possibility that the Bend
rate would be revised upward to meet
the klamath rate seems to have been
the motive for the Bend Commercial
clubs vote against aid to the Strahorn
road, for the only speaker was the
manager Of one of the miAs.
No consideration appears to have
been given to the other ways in which
Bend would profit by the construction
Of the Strahorn roads nor to the great
benefit which would accrue to the
great railroadless area Of central Ore
gon. The Strahorn road is projected
not alone to connect Bend with Klam-
ath Falls. Another line is to run to
Lakeview and third to Crane, where
Il would connect with the o. w. r. &
n. line eastward through Vale to the
Union Pacific system, opening the
great Harvey Valley. A wide agri-
and stock-raising country II
would be opened. and the Bend. mills l
would have a more direct line, thus :
certifying their rate position, which !,
IS none too strong.
I'm saying that under the present
'ailroad administration rates never go
lown, and the Bend mills might suffer
rom an upward revision Mr.. Keys
lot only overlooked the very tempor-
Try character of the present railroad
but the probability
hat federal railroad laws and the en-
ire rate system will soon undergo
adical revision. When that change
$ made and when a general rate re-
'ision is effected, town which felt
he rate position of its chief industries
o be so weak that il found opposition
o construction of a new road through
wide stretch of country necessary
o fortify itself would be an inviting
bject of attack. =
1.-The interests of Bend are not
up with those of its sawmills
lone. They are identical with the
interests of all of central Oregon,
yhich can best be served by through
north, south, east and west.
'hese railroads will make central
'regon develop and prosper, and as it
rospers, SO will Bend. Bend will not
ully prosper as big sawmill town
A. an irrigated oasis in the midst OF
desert. Hence to condemn central
'regon to stagnation in the interests
I local industries is not only mar
ow and selfish but Is shortsighted,
Or it is to condemn Bend to restrict
d growth.
These are days Of progress, not of
tagnation. They are days Of broad
ision, not of parochial selfishness.
END should become imbued with the
pirit of the times. 1t is up to Bend
D reconsider"
The Oregon Journal questions the
'isdom of the move thus:-
"Is the Bend Commercial Club
ound in its opposition to the Stra-
orn railroad?
Bend has a remarkable location.