The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-04-04
ASTORIA CORRESPONDENCE.
ASTORIA, March 22, 1873

Editor Democrat:
In my communication published in
your paper of February 2sth, | at-
tempted to show how tho farmers Of
the valley can save some ten cents per
bushel Of the value Of their wheat by
delivering it themselves at warehouses;
ut Astoria, through the aid OF trans
portation company, owned and con-
trolled by themselves. 1t will be rec
objected (see that commupication) that
l placed the total capital Of such
transportation company at $780,
600, to be invested in warehouses at
the proper landings along the river,
boats barges, steamers, etc. and a
wharf and warehouses at Astoria
The ten cents per busbel saved on
100000 bushels (the estimated ship.
ment per year, makes up the $780,
900; so that the money invested in
the business Of transportation by the
farmers would all be returned to
them in one years saving. Upon
this showing IL might be n fair basis
upon which to ask subscription to the
stock OF snch company, that each far
mer subscribe l0 cents per bushcl on
his estimated crop this year. Thus
he would save the amount of his sub.
scription in one years operation, and
have the warehouses, boats, wharves,
etc, clear, and for future use free OF
expense. Ii am not correct | pre-
sumo the bulletin or some other OPP
ponent of the farmers movement will
point out my error.
But with your consent, Mr.. Editor,
| propose now 10 give in greater de-
tail some of the estimates upon which
my calculation is based. There
should be 20 barges or flat-boa,s oi
say % feet beam and 1870 feet length
each, built strong-suitable to stand
some banging" both on the sand
bars in the Willamette, and in the
small chop sea in the Columbia, below
the Willamette. The lumber, say sc
TO 35 thousand feet for each boat, will
cost from SO to sl2 per thousand a,
the best mills on the Columbia-Si0C
each; spikes, bolts, etc, 5000, and
work of building about 81 400, max
ing $4,000 each, or $4,000 for the 2C
boats. Such boats will draw only
or 0 inches when empty, and about q
inches with 100 tons in.
These boats would suffice, in man,
cases, for warehouses, receiving the
wheat at many of the landings direct
from the farmers wagons.
Then there must be warehouse.
along the river sufficient to holt
100000 bushels of wheat-or so o
them of 40x10O feet dimensions each
How many of them, or much of tn,
100000 bushels can be stored b,
the warehouses already constructed a
the proper places, ] do not know, ant
of course can not tell how many neet
to be built. 1t is presumed that som,
90 should be built. They will cos
from, $500 to $4,000 each; say s35,
600 for warehouses.
Next, the wharf and warehouses a
Astoria sufficient to accommodate
two vessels at once and to hold TIVE
cargoes of wheat, can be built 70
$4,000 to $4,000.
This makes $4,000 for warehouses
fiat boats and wharf, leaving s1o0,0O'
of the capital, at least, to invest il
steamboats,. These might be omittct
for this year,-trusting to the chance
of chartering the small tugs abou
Portland for the Willamette river
and the larger ones for use down tn
Columbia.
The next step is the working of tn
machinery above named. This is
matter that depends much upon GOO
management; and in the selection Q
the proper men, and watching ther
so that they do their duty. The Boar,
of Directors or executive officers Q
the company have responsible dut
to perform.
, My estimate is that one OF the barge
can be taken from Portland, or Mi
waukee, to Eugene, there take on 2
I tons, then drop down and take on a
different places the balance of tn
100000 tons, and reach Milwauke
> Bay, or Portland, for 500 to s15(
besides toll at the locks, or say S2O(
for the whole trip.
! Then, when there are say of thes
barges ready the larger steamer ca
r take them with 100 or 200 tons OF
her own deck and come on to Astoris
: bringing say 800 tons, at an expens
, of not over $3.50 per trip down t
, Astoria and back.
This makes 50 per ton down to Mi
7 waukee Bay IA good hafbor fo
: several boats at once) or Portland
and so cts. per ton thence to Astoris
or $3.50 per ton through.
Of coursel such a resnlt will h