6li
WEST SHORE.
UBUSHID tVIr SATURDAY.
WEST SHORE PUBLISHING COMPANY, Publisher,
L. SAMUtL, Canaral Manager,
PORTLAND, OR., AND SPOKANE FALLS, WASH.
Inforwl in Iht Foil Offlc in Portland, Ortamjor Iranmtuion ttromiA the mailt at
mend clau rate.
IUIICKIPTION SATISltrlctl. In Ad.Anc
One Year, 4.n Three Montha, .... Ii.tj
lillontht 1.15 I llnilf Coplet,
WCopIti will la m mm In MM Is eubecribera beyond tht Urn paid for. Re
jected manuKript will not bt returned UDltM lUmpi have been Mot to pay postage.
Tht Wiit Bhoni offer the Beet Medium for Advertiser of any
publication on the Pacific Coast.
SATURDAY, SKPTKMHKK 13, 181)0.
Tho organization of the " West Shore Publishing Company "
has been completed by the election of the following directors, all
well known business men of Portland : L. Samuel, president and
manager; J. Frnnk Watson, vice president; E. A. King, secre
tary; H. C. Wortman, treasurer; Chas. E. Ladd, Herbert Brad
ley and T, F. Osborn. Tho aim of Wkht Siiohk will be to present
to its readers an art and literary journal that will not only be
creditablo to the region in which it is published, but will aid
materially in building up and developing its resources. This
work its increased facilities will enable it to perform still better
than in tho past.
FKO.M every portion of the great Mississippi valley come re
ports of a failure of crops. Wheat, corn and potatoes, those
three great staples, are not one-half an average, except in a
few favored and not extended localities. Fruit, also, and hops
faro no better. In marked contrast with this is the condition of
agriculture in the Pacific northwest. Report from every section
are to the effect that the harvest lias been a bountiful one, and
that this, in connection with the higher prices prevailing, causes
a feeling of easiness in business circles. Yet this was not unex
ccted. During the forty years that agriculture has been carried
on in this region there has never been a crop failure that was at
all general in its nature. Tho conditions of agriculture are al
most perfect: A rich and responsive soil; copious ruins in win
ter to saturate the ground, with frequent sbowerB during the most
important portion of the growing season ; absence of hot, dry
winds or of a burning sun to scorch vegetation after tho rains
have ceased ; cool summer nights, permitting crops to mature
slow ly and Hrfcctly, and, finally, what is one of tho lxst features
of all, an almost certain exemption from rain during the harvest
season, permitting a leisurely and sure gathering of the crops.
In the light of these facts it is no wonder that people are pouring
into the Pacific northwest by thousands. The wonder is rather
that they do not abandon their eastern homes by tho hundreds
of thousands and literally overllow this laud of promise in a
Hrfeet avalanche of eager humanity.
The question of taxing credits will again lie argued by the
legislature next winter. Legislation based solely upon theory
can not bo too quickly modified or regaled when trial has dem
onstratod that the theory does not accord with tho practical re
sults. Tho taxing of credits has not added to the bm.1,1.. ui.k
of the state, has not relieved tho owners of real estate of any of
the burden of taxation, nor done any of tho things originally
claimed for it. On the contrary it has, in connection with the
usury law kept out of Oregon millions of dollars that otherwise
would have been invested in the state, and thousands of people
who would have located here as manufacturers or workmen. If
Oregon is to make half the material progress her abundant re
sources entitle her to, this law must be repealed.
A call has been made by the chamber of commerce for a con
vention of the various commercial organizations of Oregon to be
held in Portland, September 27, for the purpose of organizing a
state board of trade. This move is a good one, and such a body
will have great inlluence upon the general welfare of the state.
As an illustration, it is undoubtedly true that had Oregon pos
sessed a state board of trade a recount of the state could have
been secured and the injury inflicted upon it by the inaccurate
census have been avoided. This, however, is but one of many
ways in which a body could advance the interests of the state.
A multitude of permanent and transient questions will call for
constant action.
A national reform party has been organized in St. LouiB.
Though not so comprehensive in name as the universal reform
club of Oregon, it does not fall far short of it in declared princi
ples. Many of its objects are most worthy and have the endorse
ment of a majority of the American people, but when they are
but one patch on a crazy quilt platform they amount to nothing.
Let a party be formed that will have for its war cry protection
to American lubor, free American schools and restriction of immi
gration and naturalization, and it will have something to call out
the enthusiasm of the people.
Land Commissioner Goff has made proper haste to issue a
circular countermanding his recent one to land offices withdraw
ing from settlement lands in the arid belt. Congress has repealed
the act of 1888, upon which it was based, except so far as secur
ing reservoir sites and water supplies is concerned, and now the
lands of the Pacific northwest are again open to the genuine and
industrious settler. It is a matter of no small satisfaction to
Wkst Siiohk that it materially aided in achieving this result.
Tho most absurd exhibition of mossbackism yet given in
Portland emanates from the city council, which is seriously con
sidering the question of imposing a special tax upon real estate
dealers. Utterly inequitable and unconstitutional in principle,
it shows such a lack of comprehension of the forces that are
causing the growth of the city that it is astonishing even in a
mossback.
By the recount of Supervisor C. E. Meech, supervised and
approved by Special Census Agent Leland, the municipal dis
trict commonly understood as comprising Portland ia shown to
contain (RI.OUO people. An intelligent recount of Oregon would
pve the state i not less than 80,000 greater population than the
botch work of the census bureau now credits it with.
The sudden death of a gentleman who was educated for the
mnnstry but preferred to employ his talent, as a base ball nm-
while it may have extinguished a bright and shining light
firmament of the national game, certainly did not Jim the
el.vtncelhilgence of the pulpit.
anlZr gVerm,,0nt i8 """I or "
1 busi : W" n0,"i,mtC ft,,J elret n to ttaod to
t ufburs of a city whom they would not personally
employ to manage a sausage mill. f