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About The illustrated west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1891-1891 | View Entire Issue (April 25, 1891)
2C8 THE -ILLUSTRATED WEST SHORE Puilishkii KvEr SmxiMV. at the Cubnei or Colombia asd Water Streets, POKTLANI), OKKUON. New Yiiik Office. No. 48 Thibcxe Bcii.uisg. Sivkake. Wash.. Office, No. ij Hide Blocs. Subscription Price, Four Dollars per Year. Single Copy, Ten Cents. Aoewtl An Oomjjucanow mo maki Ah mnntjcn to THE WEST SHORE PUBLISHING COMPANY PORTLAND, OKKliOX. tMTlMS At IM POIt Off 41 At ATjmXfA OAtM 1J lAAWIUfMM fMjtjM fifl kVMj At HOOM OLAM AAttO SATURDAY, AI'RIL 25, 1891. TRAXSCOXfiXFXTAL TKAXSWXTA TOX. The I'niled Stales interstate railway commission is vexed over the prob lem presented in the transcontinental carry ing trade. How to regulate the charges of American lines, and at the same time leave them fret to compete with the Canadian railway, is a question that is indeed perplexing. The ar rangement at present in force in the I'nited States is building up a powerful carrier in a foreign country. It is pretty well understood that American roads are sum-ring by reason of their handicap in the contest for transcontinental business, and unless some remedy shall be provided, the results must be seriously detrimental to domestic commerce. Secretary Itlame's proposition to discontinue some of the bonding privi leges hitherto enjoyed by the Canadian Pacific railway in sending goods into American territory seems aimed in the right direction, but whether its results shall be sufficiently remedial to restore untntmeled competition to the business of transcontinental carriers is a question to be determined after the new regu lation shall be in operation. It is not designed to interfere with the present arrangement permitting goals in car load lots to go in bond from points in the I'nited States to other points in this country over the Canadian Pacific. Hut it b proposed to so modify the priv ilege as to give less freedom in the m titer of consular seals, and to prevent the passage of Canadian importations direct to New York without examination fn the customs authorities. A tax on Canadian cars entering American territory is also suggested To break bulk at the international boundary would be to increase the cost of transpor tation to the Canadian cutter, and give American roads a more nearly fair chance to compete for business. The interstate law regulates charges on this side of the boundary. The Canadian Pacitic, by reason of government sub sidies, is enabled to maintain steamship lines to the Orient and nuke through rates by water and rail regardless of the actual cost of handling the traffic, thereby diverting business that would naturally come to the I'nited States. The American roads are chafing under the restrictions of the law, while a foreign trial is taking the business. The Canadian Pacific railway was projected under the fostering care of the British home government at a time when it Has a positive menace to the I'nited States. The trouble om the Oregon boundary question, and the complications arising during the civil war, made apparent England's purpose to command the northoest frontier and bring her remote provinces within easy rrjkh, in rase actual hostilities were begun, and it was one of the con siderations that intiuenird the I'nited States in extending government aid to Pacific railways. The American roads were first to run trains and in pur suance of the las of trade they built up a Urge business(and added incaJeu lahlv to the eal:h of this country. They should not now be tied by law when there is most need for freedom of action to compete with a foreign rival with a xsetful government back of it UHY COXSOUDATFt The present tender y of all business is toard cxwentration. The greater the concentration the more suctrsstul the business. This b true of railroading, of manufacturing, of fanning or any other business. One execu tive head being able to manage nu'ny elements and to make them consent each other contriimtes to economy and efficiency of service. The besl gvnemed municipalities ant those nunicrd most nearly in ac conLuve with the methods that obtain successful business enterprises. The same reasons for cncentn:ix m business apply to the consolidation of municipal rorpoi atans hating interests in common. As cities must contain thew owa local governing power, t Mkm that consolidation s expedient or.iy w hen contiguous communities are imolted. They must also be allied in bus iness and social interests. Chicago is an example of the results of consolidation. By the process of amalgamation which brought in a number of suburban municipalities, Chi cago has taken a proud position among the world's great cities, and the com munities that formerly maintained separate political establishments are bene fited by becoming part of the phenomenal metropolis. New York is follow-. ing with a proposition to consolidate the communities about New York har bor into one great city. The bill for this purpose has already passed the state senate and is likely soon to become a law. When this shall be carried into eti'ect the new world will have the second city on earth, and the present gen eration will see it the first city of the world. Independent of the economy of administering the government of the consolidated municipality, the fame of being the world's greatest city will bring to it elements of prosperity that alone w ould warrant the move. Portland is abreast of the times in the movement for uniting with its sis ters across the Willamette to lorm one metropolitan city. Consolidation would promote economy and efficiency of government. Business relations would be strengthened and every interest conserved by effacing the lines that divide the community into three political organizations. Free bridges across tha river will constitute an important benefit to result from consolidation a benefit that will be felt chiefly by the people on the east side of the river. But the importance of a city of 75,000 people compared with three cities with an aggregate population of 75,000, is, of itself, sufficient reason for com bining. The Portland of the future will sit on both sides of the Willamette, and it will maintain its position as the commanding metropolis of the richest country in the world. Now comes the inland empire with promise of a greatly increased grain yield over last year's unprecedented crop. The productiveness of that region is causing the transportation companies no end of trouble. They should take notice now that the grain crop will be enormous this year, and that the excuse that they didn't expect it will not satisfy the people alter harvest. If last year's trouble should be repeated the coming fall it w ill take something more than the veto of an acting governor to prevent an independent farmer railway from being put through the wheat country. It is none too early to begin preparations for moving the immense grain crop that is now practically assured. The Columbia nver improvement will undoubtedly have an in fluence in the matter. v That little diplomatic unpleasantness over the New Orleans Mafia inci dent, seems after all to be largely due to the bungling of Baron Fava. Di Rudini wanted assurance that the offenders would be "brought to justice." Fava twisted this into a demand that th?y "be punished." Blaine recognized that under certain conditions the relatives of the dead Sicilians might have a just claim for indemnity. This was construed as a recognition by Blaine of the right in this instance. Between his political opponents at home and his fool friend, Fava. abroad, Di Rudini got into a mess, and the I'nited States can afford to be hugely amused at his antics. The tale famous bjuliiure of Mitio abolished the tax on mortgages, and it is very turd foe the average atwen to comprehend the wisdom of their action. It is no easy nutlet for the mm of small Health 10 com.fhend the justice of exempting the bloated mooes tender fruni taxation, and taxing hnn tor all he is worth, and more too. The foregoing from an Idaho exchange makes the enterprising Oregon ian smile. Here we have been laboring to have the mortgage tax removed because it has been found that in practice it retards industrial development bj scaring capital away, and at the same time supplies the money lender with a pretext for levying extra tribute in the way of bonuses. The largest appropriation made by any state, outskie of Pennsylvania, for the Philadelphia centennial exposition, was $50,000 by the state of Massa chusetts. Oregon gave $4,000 for a state exhibit then, the lowest in the list except Minnesota, hich gave $500. For exhibits at the coming world's fair the far western states have voted as follows : California, $300,000 ; Colorado, $150,000, ($10,000 in iSrts); Montana, $50,000, ($5,000 in 1876); Wyom ing. $30.000 : Washing-.on, $ 100,000 : and Idaho $20,000, Little Oklahoma territory this year appropriates $-,000 for a world's fair exhibit. We note with pleasure that the widow Butler has been er.gaged to look after the interest of young Mbs Phabe Coujins in her efforts to "make the lady nunagrrs of the world's fair sick." We think the)- can do k. What a truly feminine exhibit they will make, to be sure. Meanwhile Mrs. Palmer aM the others appear to be attending pretty strictly to their knitting, and the arocle they have in hand looks very like a mitten of Phu.bssue.