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About The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 28, 1915)
1915 THE ONTARIO ARGUS PVBLlSHID KVEKY THUKBDAT Entprml in the pOltsflW t Ontario, DtMMli for traimniispioa tlironjjh the mailH ih HiM-i.tiii .'Ikm- matter. - ' ' ' - i . W. ('. MA US II The Next Step. The next step to be taken by Malheur county in pro moting the Warm Springs Irrigation Project, is to organ ize ail land owners who have holdings that will come un der the proposed project. While it is not absolutely nec essary that an organization be perfected, it is necessary that each land owner agree to abide by the rules and reg ulations of the Government, aa is customary under such projects. There is much farm land along the Malheur river above Vale, and a considerable acreage this side of Vale, that is at present irrigated to some extent by water from the Malheur river. These lands have water rights which must be relinquished to the government when the Warm Springs Irrigation Project is commenced. The value of these present water rights will be adjudicated by the Gov ernment, and the owners given credit for them upon the purchase price of the new rights from the Government project. So, no one is asked to donate any of the present water rights. But it is absolutely necessary that all agree to abide by the rulings of the Government pertaining to auch matters. And it is necessary that the program of harmony be extended to this part of the work. There should be a meeting called and attended by every water right owner along the river, and this matter taken up and thoroughly threshed out. For, if it is not possible to agree and harmonize in this Important prelim inary work, then there is no use to attempt to promote the Warm Springs Project. It means simply a waste of time and money. The Government will not take up a project over which there is disagreement and friction. This has already been demonstrated once in Malheur county. nth tin improvement M it now praetieahle, would result in tbtifrom Ultl tOUfttt. SlS Wtttt tgO oftclalt made the trip in saving of eight cento per ton-mile, or u total of $r04,000,000.00 j mohilen I rom Winnomueea, Nova. In, a point on the Western cilie, to Ontario, later going to Boise. It is claimed a feasible route for a railroad was picked annually. Viewing tliis saving as a dividend, the report says that it would justify, on a 6 per cent basis, tin investment of 18,400,000,000, which the committee believes is far more than on this trip a route which would be a connecting link heU would be necessary to place the -oads in such a condition as to San Francisco and Monta.ui, Idaho, Kattern Washington effect Hit saving indicated. Other excerpts from the report are Eastern Oregon. And, at the same time, Idaho's north as follows: soutn railroad would be accomplished. "We believe that when the United States (iovernment The new line must come through Ontario. In fact, onh undertakes so important a problem as that of Federal aid to coining through here, could a feasible grade be established. good roads, it should undertake it in a large way. lo un dertake it in a small way means a continuation of the policy of patchwork and consequent waste of funds, with slight permanent results to show for the expenditure and would, within a very few years, subject Congress to the criticism of having established what is commonly called a 'pork barrel,' from which the several states would receive annually a small contribution of funds distributed over a large mileage of roads without producing the high class of public roads which are so much needed and desired We believe that before Congress adopts a plan the whole subject should be so thoroughly studied that tho plan decided upon may be en acted into law with confidence that it will remain practically unchanged on the statute books for many years to come, thus standing for many years as a credit to the Congress which enacted it. "Congress should make careful provision for such ad ministration of the federal highway participation as will protect tlie several states in their right to control their local highway affairs and guard against dictatorship from a Fed eral Bureau in Washington." The report includes data concerning-the road systems of for eign countries and of the several states, extensive statistical data bearing upon various plans of apportionment of Federal funds among the several states, statistics regarding good road" expen ditures, bond issues, etc., the character and condition of high ways over which rural mails are carried, special rotes accorded by railroads for transportation of highway material, a resume of all pending good roads legislation, and the most complete bibli ograpby of good roads literature ever published. Be Fair to All. The Oregon State Legislature will be asked, within the next fow days, to pass a bill providing for a special state levy of ono-balf mill to be used for road improvement. And Multnomah county will include a provision in tho bill providing that this money be spent on the Columbia Highway, lea. ling into Port land. Filtering the argument that, inasmuch as Multnomah County pays approximately '-17 per cent of the taxes ,,f the state, the inon ey should be used on the Columbia' Highway. Thus Portland stands as a unit in favor of the special taation. Granting thai Portland is right in her contention. Granting that the entire state will be willing i . stand extra taxution for the building of the Columbia Highway, what will Portland and But there is rvi-rv indication that tli.. Warm Sarins Mn" "h county be willing to grant the remainder of the state ... .... " ' . I "'; i .. . .. , rroject will be taken up by the (iovernment providing! ' mutrs: u mis iui sho.u.i pass the legisiu (iovernment officials are assured of the support and eo- "'V;'"1 "" ,n"""v Le "ned on the Columbia Highway, would Port operation of the jieople effected by the improvement. Secretary Lane of the Interior Department has al ready expressed his willingness to take up some new pro ject in Oregon and expend $150,000 of (Iovernment money Upon it, without one cent of state money being allotted for co-operative use. The Warm Springs Project is said t0 be the most favorable in the State for this purpose. An almost natural reservoir site is available, and without great cost, can be built to store some 180,000 aciv feet of water. Approximately 00,000 acres could be watered from this reservoir. The character of this land is such that, as soon as irrigation is provided, it will rank among the best agricultural lands of the United States. Viewed from all angles, the Warm Springs Irrigation Project is vi HBjn mem, ami me pronatmities ol its early recognition and Adoption by the (iovernment, are the very best. But immediate steps should be taken to complete the preliminary work of organization, so as to be able to pre sent the Government with a clean slate when the time comes for action. For Better Roads. The tinal report of the Joint Con-iv-iunal Committee on Federal Aid to (iood Botdl was submitted to CongrtM last week. It urges National participation in highway improvement on a large scale, but under Mich a plan as will guard iftintt the "pork banel" and prevent dictation of lottl load problems by a Borttn in Washington. The committee was unable to agree upon an particular bill, but submitted a vast amount ol data that has been collected and expressed views regarding some gen. oral principles that should be observed in Federal good roads legislation. Summing up advantages of good roads, the repmt says: 'Systematic effort! and cooperation of nation. stnts .....1 counties will make American highway the best in the world bring remote agricultural lands within practicable hauling ditUuce from railroads, materially raise the values oi farm property, enhance the margin Of profit on farm products VMtly increase the average daily attendance at rural schools raise the standard ol rural education, make the motor truck an economical vehulc for American farmers, lighten the labori Ol American horses, save wear and tear on harness and wagons, and add to the comfort and ham. me.s oi ,11 rural residents " land be willing, two yeurs hence, for u similiar bill to pass provid nig ior me nuiunng i some !;ne piece of roud in Kustern or .Southern Oregon? There is not a county in Kustern Oregon but that needs roud improvements ba.lly. Settlers in inuny of our rurul sections ure compelled to use road that are uhnost impassable ut certuin sea SOU Ol the year. Settlers in u new country expect, to a certuin extent, to put up with many hardships. And bad roads ure to be expected. Hut these settlers, who are the true empire builders, should be given encouragement when possible. And there is nothing that encouruges a rural resident M much as a good roud. The Columbia Highway is a commendable j.ieco of work, and far be it from us to discourage it. Hut the Columbia lfih.v i. b.ii.g built ehietly for pleasure purposes. It will be connecting link in a transcontinental roud for automobile tourists. We should eOCOUraSM tourists tn viaif .....l i i.i ... i- .i , ...... - ...K...i, ,,,11, .-.111111111 lu.iKe Ilieir journey within our borders as pleasant us possible. But at pres ent tourists can run their cars onto a bout ut the Dalles, and tlout serenely down the Columbia river. Surely this is not such a hardship. Nothing to compare with the obstacles of many of our rural larmers whose very existence depends upon marketing the products of their farms, over roads almost impossible of travel. Ltt us boost for good roads everywhere, and let us hope that our legislature will, if the bill carries, see that all sections of the state secure their just proportion of roud improvement. Boost for New Railroad. A valuable all motion of a railroad The report estimates baultd over rural roads at the total quantity of commodities 700,000,000 tons annually, ei now an average of -J Peuts per ton-mile 01 II v Per ton for the average haul ol nine miles. would reduce tins eoel to tin The report doe- uol assert thai y for Ontario and Malheur county in the pro id from Northern Idaho to a noint ,., KavaA to connect with the Western Pacific railroad, comes from North 'WM the panhandle district. Every section of Northern Idaho has enthusiastically taken up the new project and is boost ing in every possible way for its completion. Several weeks ago The Argus published a storv n,ltli; .i. nosiliiliti..w ..f ..,.!. .. i .. J 6 luo . iouu. una since then re have received many letters frOO all over Northern Idaho usking for further inform.. ,,m '"""s "W "Ol yet been definitely announced. How mi the demand for a north and south " road in Idaho has cached such proportions that the Idaho Legislature, ,n session BOW, has taken up the matter and designated the am,oi.On, I commission to investigate coalitions. '!'!:: ::"' yfi: wd, present, u , t.x. s" , . ,a" . ,'t"ern from Meadows down the w, sua point or connection with one of m norintrn Idaho. It is said the Pacific a!li:l.l- tli .1 .1 . .. . ( v .-i. o me inn interests. The line now con '"" """ l UU,1 IrtCllK- -VSteill at Weiser The Jitney Bus. A new common carrier the jitney bus -has made it's aim tnot in the cities of the northwest, and is causing great, cons nation among the street car corporations. In San Francisci has been estimated that the jitney bus has caused the street i a loss of one dollar per minute between the hours of ( a. m. 0 p. ni Demands in various forms have been made upon governments asking that the jitney trallic be regulated and a cenco fee or tax charged, City Commissioners of Portland have so far declined to p any regulation or tax upon the jitneys, claiming it was only a and would not long endure. Figures have been compiled to si that the jitneys would put themselves out of business by beinj nancially unable to operate long upon fares low enough to !r them into competition with street cars. Possibly this is true. In a few months it may be domnnstrc that the jitney bus is a failure when forced to compote with sti cars. Hut how about the jitney bus in the numerous small ci of tho country that do not havo street car systems? For instai in Ontario there is undoubtedly a money making field for a i tern of jitney busses. Their service could not be confined to city limits, but should stretch out for many miles in all directi from the city. Surely a good putrouage could be establish Not only passengers could be accomodated, but light treiffhtco be hauled. The servico would till a long lull want. A system of rates could be established which would not tie sarily need be as cheap as railroad transportation, but ch enough to become popular and not prohibitive And within short time after the service is established, it should do a bea business. Tht Ontario Commercial Club has taken the matter up and appointed a committee to investigate local conditions and pr able cost, with a view to assisting some one in establishing a j u bus service here. Surely hero is a good opening for a m who has a little capital to invest in that class of business. County Administration. Economy in expenditures and centralization of : sponsibility is the keynote of the message of Gov. Jarr Withycombe to tie present session of the State Congre One part of his message is particularly directed to t county administr.i: ion and is certai nly worthy of cons eration. It is as follows: "Much hns hpn aniH ahr the need of economy-legislation, directed at the sevei departments of State government. I heartily concur the feeling that reforms tending toward economy are d sirable in State administration, and no doubt these w receive wise consideration from you. But I venture point to a field of endeavor even broader, namely: ' county administration. During the last few years, each $100 paid in taxes in an average county about $12.i has gone to the State and approximately $37.50 to tl county. In other words, county administration costs tl taxpayers three times as much as State. Undeniabl there are many leaks in county government that well rro be checked by adequate legislation, and it is my hopethi effort for economy and efficiency will not stop with tl State, but will proceed to the details of county affairs." We fully agree with the Governor that economy i expenditures and centralization of responsibility is neede m county administration and the solution of thi problem will be of great benefit to the taxpayers. Ther is great deal of money exuended in mH h. tbof ,,i k .... . L-L. , . . V"fV MWVM u, put iv ueuer use in developing the resources of ever county. City Is Prosperous. that ttSSSl tUU eek of rel eetate dealers of the cit 2"i-i Ontario, is another indict turn o the local prosperous condition. At this period of Nation wide dtMttttOB, there are few cities of the country that ct truthfully lay claim to such a condition. In all lines of business, Ontario seems to be esneciall v favor nL. h Mi ., a7 8toreS rei,ort a 8,nuller voh of bu I lhe Preceding year, but in every uv a'lnnpX prtio!,.OU "" f dttin .iu-'w- There is a reason for this condition in Ontario There is ol line of business over-done. The growth of this country has bti of the solid I kind, and fictitious values have never prevailed True Ontario feels the general business depression Bal has caused no uneasiness or hr.li.i... n ..'. TfI0U- UM eood condition ua n-; . T V VVcny were in crying "hard times." "" W9m ""W b ex8 ert the railroads Idaho Northern is svetem of !- i.i.......... ', v h"" syeiwa ai Newer. But if ih. P 4 " ever ner ects a n.ni, ...;.. ... . CXteilt Ol :,., I,,,,. , ,, , ' l" uueeuoil With the Hill lines. - - 1 I ! ton-mile i l rb item of biffh. sravt is immediately practicable, but expresses tlu opinion thai the soutberu connection would Presi ut activities prove unsatisfactory of the U',.sf..iii I' . .. ; . ' Read the Governor's Message. Read over his message to the Twenty-eighth Legis tive Assembly if you want to know k. w3 s 7" nor Oregon has. He has shown in that , wJ Mn..An'IIU.lL. n .. -.6v UUll v. tc : r M-ii"eim ywork- This omuM . X . I 0"".",l,stran or tne state's affaire will built . "w'uhit. interests ot the State; will economize on S T If the '-l"ility for success ot tailure where all mav see and indo-p In his messae-e tbp aw lu - .. .- a. J o;.,.v, u,"i,wi souws nimsen a ,, 1 ,f lan' a, SClentlfic busins an, a heartysup- ti,. vvu. - 71 1 75T dmretovm work and an enthusiai tie worker tor all (Won. R af ;.,... u- . l inr fK - -i -i- . v.wo lulu ma uiutr itv. ing the responsibilitiea and difficultiM hf k,- end de '""'" ":"' "ftft.taii-',;.!." CII'IIA,.- i- ... .1 .. " "'" M" "Mi iw iiuvc U'tcrh- n t h ..i.:.j ., i. vuiuiuciice vi tiie iconic.