The daily mountaineer. (Dalles, Or.) 1861-1866, 1865-11-29
THE OCEAN STEAMERS AND THE CO.
LUMBIA RIVER ROU CE


way of the Columbia River route, rests mainly
iu the hands of the owners of the ocean steam
ers plying between San Francisco and the
mouth Of the river. The companies owning
these ships have heretofore carried passen-
gers and freights at rates which con only be
described as exorbitant. Their profits in con.
sequence have been immmense. They might |
have been even greater if the direct line OF trans
portaton had been followed, but they have
chosen to follow instead of leading; to go out
of the way to build up the interests of others,
instead of keeping on the natural route and
building up their own interests. By this policy
they have aggregated in the hands of others
suficiency of capital to build up an ocean
steamer opposition which they are not likely
TO be able to compete with, unless they aim to
carry freigbts to be delivered on the direct
line of trade.
The number Of steamships on the Pacific
Coast is so great that, if our thinning trade
were taken away from those now running in
it, the ships thus thrown out of employment
would probably find TO other field of opera
tons. In fact they would become something
worse than total loss, as the care of them
and necessary repairs would be heavy items
of expense, with very remote prospect that
they would ever be called into use again.
1t is only reasonable, however, to give the
proprietors of these steamers credit for ordi-
nary forethought, and if we do SO the conclu-
sion must be arrived at, that they intend to
strenuously exert themselves 10 maintain the
trade and travel by the Columbia River route.
easily solved. The advantages of speed, cheap
ness and directness, all enter into the consid-
Grafton of the question, and the tax 80 long
paid to the diversion of freights up the Will
lamette River is o matter Of special import in
this connection.
( An attempt will be made the coming year
to maintain this diversion and to establish the
present line of trade from San Francisco
10 the mines to the east. Steamers running
between Portland and San Francisco in the
interest of the former place, will be placed on
the line, and the San Francisco steamship in
terest will have struggle to maintain their
connection with the trade. By offering the
mining trade the advantage of direct trans
mission of goods, and moderate fares and
lfreghts, they will naturally secure the patron
age of that class of people (; but without this
direct movement they will have to carry goods
and passengers in that very interest which
tlo 81; OF IN driv thap 0nt
of the trade. AS we have stated before, the
larger part Of the freights coming into thu
mouth of the Columbia River is destined fol
the -mines aud is either owned by the Sal
g Francscans or traders in the mines. Eacl
n and all of these desire their goods to be for
n warded by the most direct route, which
= is also the most economical.
u There are some respects in which this qpes
h ton is of vast Importance to a consiuerabl
q portion of the people of the Willamette Valley
g and the steamboat interests on the Willamett
l. River. To the agriculturist it is importar
e that be should have the most direct means {
e transportation, SO that he may bring hi
y goods into market so as to compete with th
a California producers to the steamboat ma
e. 1t is important that the trade shall go by WI
TO ter, instead of across the Cascades Range
1e the farmers own teams and paek-trains. IT
le- steamboat line operating. up the Willamet
is must see that in shifting freight at Portlan
~ it is adding an item of expense, which'is ol
's' of several. which tend ultimately to drive Il
ms transportation of produce into other channel