Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 5.djvu/142

 132 P. W. GILLETTE. would have done the same thing under similar circumstances. Nevertheless it is certainly a great misfortune to any people to be so absolutely within the power of any man or set of men as were the people of the Columbia Valley. It was too great a power to be entrusted to the hands of men. In reviewing the career of this most interesting corpora- tion, one can but view with wonder and amazement the ease and rapidity with which colossal fortunes were made. And I can but regret, on their own account, that bui: one or two of that company has left any little token of good-will or any memento of kindness to the place or people where they were so specially favored by fortune, and so liberally patronized by the business public. Had they even erected a small drinking fountain, where the faithful dray and truck horses, that indi- rectly carted millions of dollars into their pockets, could have slaked their thirst, that would have somehow served to amel- iorate and soften the memory of them. But the most of them seemed to prefer to be remembered only as members of a cor- poration that took every possible advantage. of one of the most extraordinary opportunities that ever fell into the hands of men to amass fortunes for themselves.