The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1922-11-25
S. p. HEAD LACKS
UNDERSTANDING


u Pacific toward building IN,
Modoc Northern. as indicted by tn,
very frank testimony OF the chair
man OF the executive board. julius
Krut,schnit;. in the Washington
hearing. eauno, be otherwise than
disappointing to the citizens OF
klamath county.
II seems TO us that the S. r. chief
has failed 20 keep up with the pro-
eession. His testimony did not in
dlcate any receat research. He sees
this country m # was when the
Southern Pacific was building into
u. ten or fif,ecn years ago.
Evidently the directing head OF
the Southern Pacific company has
not kept pace with the achievements
OF the Klamath agrieulturist. even
under the adverse conditions impos-
ed upoa him by lack Of traasporta-
t.en. and certainly he docs no; show
any ympa,hotIc understanding OF
the agricultural ambitions for the
future.
1t is the farmer who Is golng TO
build u permanent, empire in the
Klamath basin. as probably every
thinking citizen here realizes. II
Mr.. Krut,sehnitt has that under.
standing. he failed 10 show II a,
Thursdays hearing.
There Is no conflict in klamath
over the necessity OF direct route
east. There has been difference OF
opinion over which system Is most
likely TO build the road. In eonse-
dnenee We. hare been led from the
maia issuo---the need OF adequate
trsnsportstIon--lnto the bypaihs OF
controversy and have raised temp
est OF argument that is neither per-
tinen, nor timely.
The actaHi need OF the situation
Is establishment with the Interstate
commerce commission OF our right
10 road. that viii give Us eeonoml-
cal and expeditions service. That
right must be based on present pre-
duction figures. and estimates OF
potential production. given the labor
and capital 10 develop our land.
which can be substGntlaied under
rigid inquiry.
II we are able to establish our
right 10 road before the commls-
s.on, then Il win he time enough to
talk about who shall build It Con
troyersial discussion in the mean
time simply distracts MS from the
main Issue
II Is unfortunate for our Interest,"
that n ma1 of Mr. Rruttschnitt's
Standing In the railroad world
should be so lamen'ahiy ignorant OF
western progress, Because Of his
undoubted ability. his words carry
weight with the interstate commerce
commission. and his testimony now
of record Is damaging 10 the aspir
ations OF Klamath.
But Mr.. KruttschnItt is so naive
ly ignorant. that we believe he is
sincerely ignorant He simply isn't /
up on the progress OF the country. !
Possibly all he needs II education.
He speaks OF the big lumber in |
dustry at Westwood, as a satisfac-
tory reyenue-produeer for the South
ern Pacific. The Southern Pacific
branch to Westwood. by the way. Is
built through some ninety miles of
not overly productive territory TO
reach the Westwood mill. II may
follow In Mr.. Kruttsch-
,itt's mind. and his testimony seems
o show It. that he has the klamath
country tagged as another purely
umberlng territory. accessible only
through barren wastes.
Reliable figures on all the pro-
uctive possibilities OF the klamath
ountry are not at the moment
and The Herald desires to
eal only In facts. 4
But here 10 one reliable compari-
IN that gives food for thought.
, 1891. the lumber shipment
ON klamath Falls was valued {
'eund S4,000,000. 7,
The value of the agricultural pro- ,
acts OF the irrigable acreage of
iamath county In 1890 was s2.- s
10000. This did not include live c