260
THE WEST SHORE.
Eastern Oregon about tho management of the State
Board of Immigration. The complaint is not of iuoom
linry or pM of immigrants, but of favoritism. It
is charged tlmt the Board in directing it effort solely
for the Ixmofit of the Willamette Valloy mid those por
tions of Western Oregon by nature tributary to Portland;
in other words, tlmt it is maiuitvl in tho interests of
Portland an a short-sightal and narrow-minded man
would eoiiceivo them to le. It in assorted that the litera
turo circulated by the Ilonrd is calculated to convoy tho
iminxiitii that Western Orison is the agricultural reg
ion of the KtnUi, while pant of tho mountains the country
is suitahlo only for cattle ranges, ignoring the fart that
the latter oontiiina thrice aa much available agricultural
land and producoa more grain than the former, in addi
tion to iU great w'ool and cattle interests. It is also
charged that the Board, in securing atoji-ovor riviligia
and x-cial rate for immigrant, haa neglected Eastern
Oregon. Why, aays the M'tueo County Sun, " miiHt
the immigrant go 170 mil. past Umatilla to Portland
and subject hi in to pay Iwtck chargos at full rata over
this 170 mile if he wishes to go to Eastern Oregon. We
do not ijiu-xtion the right of the Willamette Valley coun
ties to mako to the immigrauU a good allowing and to
getting a reduction of faros, etc; but that done not call
for the Hoard of Immigration not to allow the immigrant
to atop at Umatilla and go where ho ploasos, and give
him ami tho eastern xrtion of the State the aame privi
lege of sixty daya' over-la and fair prices for round
trip aa ia given to the aame man if he goea to Portland"
If there ia any disposition manifested by the Board to
light Eastern Oregon it ia most reprehensible and a
Ix-trayal of the truat rojxised in them by tho Governor aa
representative of the whole people of the State. Tiir.
Wkst Siioiik baa always maintained that the true inter
eU of Portland nover have called for and never will
require the development of the Willamette Valley at the
eoime of the interior. If Portland expocU to be aimply
local trading point for a amall aection of country then
such might m the cane; but if ahe expire to be a com
mercial uietnHiiia ahe must foster the development of
every region within her reach. The gentlemen oompoa
ing the Board were aoloetal from among the foremost
buiuM men of the State, men who have sufficient intel
ligence to rooognUe the SUte nature of the work they are
engaged in, even if their sense of duty to the xople who
furnish Uia fuii.U did not iuiMl them Ui di justice to all
sections. One of these ia a citiaen of Eastern Oregon, a
man of atUinmenU aud position, possessing the confi
denoe of his county sufficiently to be iU chosen rcpre
aenUtive iu the SUU Sonata It i. pF,umod tlmt he
was aelectal to look after Urn interests of his xirtion of
the SUte, ami if it is niisreprtwonted in the printed
immphleU, or baa no e (TorU made in iU behalf with the
railroads, he is the man U.ii whom bis coustitucnU
should fix the mspoiwihility. As far as priutal matter
ia ooueoruod a remedy f.ir that ia witliiu Uie power of
the complainant. Noarly every county west of the
mountains has organised a local immigration sociaty, haa
issued iU own printed matter and placed it in the hands
of the Stato Board for distribution. When the counties
timt of tlio luuuiiUiiia exhibit Uib Buuio enterprise aud
adopt a similar plan thou they will be placed upon an
equality, so far as literature ia concerned. The Board is
about to issuo a new and revised edition of its general
pamphlet, and now is the time for the representative of
that section to see that it receives just treatmoni Much
of the difficulty in regard to facilities offered immigrant
to examine Eaatern Oregon arises from the geographical
situation and tho fact that the Board does not come in
personal contact with tho immigrant until he reaches
Portland The only adoquate remedy for this is an
increase of the appropriation sufficient to enable the
Board to maintain a branch office in Eastern Oregon,
whore the immigrant can report and receive all the fnvors
aud courtesies he now obtains only in Portland. It is
the duty of tho Board to establish such a branch as
quickly as the finances will permit, and mako arrange
ments with the railroads for the samo stop-over privileges
and special rates from the branch office now obtained
only at the general office in this oity. Eastern Oregon is
in a poaition to assort her rights, through her business
men, tho Legislature and hor representative on the
Board of Immigration.
OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY.
AT Eugene City, on the 28th of July, the corner-stone
of the now building of the Oregon State University
waa laid with Masonio ceremonies. Tho day was pleas
ant, and a largo oonoourse of people witnessed the im
pressive rites and participated in the procession. Tho
organizations present were Eugono City Lodge and
Chapter, Ivanhoe Commandory, a delegation from the
Oregon Commandory, Portland and the Grand Lodge of
the State, in all 175 Masons. The ceremonies were con
ducted by the Grand Lodge, and the oration was deliv
ered by Professor J. W. Merrit, of Jacksonville. Tho
casket deposited in the stone contained eighty-two dis
tinct articles, covering a wide range, some of which, a
century hence, will have much value. The old build'ng
being unequal for the growing needs of the University,
the Legislature made an ample appropriation nt its lost
session for another. The Board of Regents adopted the
plans of W. II. Williams, of Portland and began the
construction of a building which will cost between
fJOfim and fciTi.OOO. The new edifice is 110x72 feet, and
haa a largo eutranco in front and ono on either side.
From tho ground to the tap of the oorners it is seventy,
five fuel. On the first floor are five largo class rooms,
while the second floor is devoted to one largo hall, with
a stage and two waitiug-rooms at the end The ceiling
of tho hall ia high and the root ia aupjxirtod by iron
trusses, Tho whole buildiug will be heated by a furnace
iu the cellar. Both externally and internally the struc
ture is ornamental and pleasing. On another page are
given engravings of the two buildiuga aud the corner
htono ceremonies. The University ia now Worthy the
pride of svery eitiaen of the SUta