Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-02-02
Port of Portland Bill

Despite rejection by the people at the general election
last November the legislature has passed the various Port OF
Portland bills with provisions designed to safeguard the
taxpayers and prevent the projects becoming real estate
speculation While the purchase Of Swan Island author
lied without referendum the acquisition of other property
made subject to popular approval 1t is questionable
whether the commission will consider the purchase
of the island
The project that only interests the state indirectly
Outside Of wishing to Portland have ample harbor and
port facilities the people Of Oregon not directly affected
The legislature has acted wisely in curtang the autocrac
powers of the commission which deriving its powers from
legislature empowered under the original to
expend millions without approval of the taxpayers to whom
not responsible and who had voice in its compost
tion.
The popular impression throughout the state created
largely by the protests of citizens of Portland is that the
project Of purchasing huge tracts of worthless land at fancy
prices, recaiming and improving the for industrial
sites and port facilities not needed for years in the future
involving eventually expenditure Of forty million dollars
Of taxpayers money without their consent huge
realty speculation designed to bolster up land values
holdings of spectators and create market for saeabe
property Recent developments have confirmed this view
1t needs only glance at the map to that nature has
provided ideal site for industrial development of
cay unlimited extent the level pennsuar known as the
east side which extends between the Willamette and Coum
ba rivers with deep water channels available both sides
Utilization of this peninsula has already begun at North
Portland project the Port commission has persistenty
ignored probably because it does not enhance the value of
Westsde property.
On the west side of the willamette river at Portland
huge bftS with SJfecn OF leVel at IielI OdSe
ming along the river where the business district built
Only by recaimng swamps and lakes to the north suit
able factory sites secured for future growth The business
houses are located the west side but three quarters Of
the population live the east side All shipments origin
atng the west side must be hauled to their destination
across the river thus necessitang additional traffic
pense and additional bridge investments To switch future
industrial development to the west side apparently
among the intentions of the commission.
The present port improvements at Portland are sufficient
vastly greater than existing or in sight
II is however well to have definite program planned for
future growth Such program will be adopted by the new
commission and it to be hoped that sufficient safe
guards have been thrown around the actions OF the COM
mission to safeguard the property 1t must be ad
mted that the previous actions of the commission in at
tempting by the initiative to the right of spending
millions of the peoples money without obtaining their
approval have earned it the suspicion with which it is
viewed by the state at large
That the west side swamps will be reclaimed as Portland
trows is without question But their utilization up to in
owners and developers and up to the taxpayers
through the Port of Portland