Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 16.djvu/221



DEDICATION OF OREGON CITY LOCKS 201

self-reliance is leaving us, and that dependence on others for help and aid is beginning to be something of a habit. We have a state of splendid and varied resources, but God has so willed it, and fortunately, too, that these resources cannot be properly developed or utilized without work hard work work of the brain and work of the hands. The reward is sure, but only at the cost of toil.

In every part of the state special problems present them- selves for solution. That solution depends on ourselves, and in working them out will be developed not only a great state materially, but a great citizenship.

As you heard the roll-call of the participants in the early days of this enterprise you must have been struck as I was with the fact that every one of the original company has passed beyond, and that nearly all who made the first trip on the Maria Wilkins are no longer with us. We are at that point in the history of our state where glancing backward we can begin to get something of a perspective. As we contemplate the work of those who have gone before, it should not only spur us on to do our part, but also teach us to be more charitable in our judgment of our fellow-men, and, while we have the opportunity, to speak the pleasant helpful word, or do the kindly act, rather than wait until the recognition we would give is too late to be of service.

At last, however, and by a curious coincidence, the Willam- ette and its great sister, the Columbia, sound the tocsin of freedom together, and for the first time since they began to flow to the sea, commerce can move over them without paying a toll because of some obstruction to navigation.

It is indeed fitting and proper that the freedom of the river should be celebrated. If, however, we look on this act as the end of our work instead of the beginning, a costly mistake will be made. There is much to learn as to the true use of the waterways. To my mind they are instrumentalities of com- merce, developers of traffic. Far from being rivals of the rail- way, they are really coadjutors in the work of transportation.