The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-11-07


[From the Astorlan.l 81
ABOUT ASTORIA.
The water front of Astoria, vary
ing from quarter of mile to a
mile in width, affords over six miles
of secure anchorage for the largest
classed vessels, in from siHto twelve
fathoms of water. No storms have
vet visited the harbor that effected
any damage to shipping riding at an
chor in the Bay, or lying at the
wharf.
Should the demands of commerce
REQUIRE, about five consecutive miles
of doekage may be cheaply construct.
ed from the river bank to the edge OF
the channel, piling being necessary
but short distance at any given
point. l
About six miles above Astoria, at
the commencement of Cathlamet
Bay, is the Hogs Back, bar some
quarter of a mile in length, with ten
feet of water at low and seventeen at
high tide. This is the most danger
oas point on the river, and the most
skillful pilots rarely attempt its pas
sage in the night, either with sail or
steam. 1t is formed of shifting
sands, deposited by the meeting of
the tide with the annual freshets of
+ho r;ver As Cathlamet Bay is ten
miles long up and down the river,
and from seven to fourteen in width,
thus the waters of the river are so
spread out that they lose their force,
and the incoming tide washes the
loose sand into irregular bars that
change their position from year to
year, and make dredging useless
Steamers are nearly always detained
at Astoria, for tide to cross this bar,
= Il This bar has been
known for years, but as the draft OF
steamers and vessels now coming IN
to the river is greater than formerly,
the difficulties are becoming more
and more apparent. .a
Above this we have the following
named depths of water at the points
mentioned at high tide:
walkers Island, IS #. for y mile below Rainier
Garr's woodward Z !, = !" ABOVE
Kalama.....,...... lS
st Helens......,..... Is It. for <
NTH Willamette 10
Post 0ffice....."... 10
Swan Isand...... 10 q
The channel is often crooked, and
difficult of navigation, and the bal
at the mouth of the Willamette rivel
is subject to annual deposits of sedi'
ment from back water Of the Col
umbia.
We find that the carrying trade o
Oregon is now chiefly done by vessel
of light draft and small capacity.
That these are subject to tax o
SS per foot draft as pilotage; from
, four to ten days delay, and $500 t.
S4OO towage, over and above wha
they would have to pay, did they re
ceiye and take in cargo at Astoria
, A fair average would be, say 600 ton
capacity. Expenses would then b
as follows
Pnotage, IS feet y
: siyrIlays' domurrage "a s6O....".".....".""'" y
q IoWaEe '''''''
down 4
!, Total
. Equivalent to over four cents pc
4 huabel on the cargo of 600 tons ou
ward bound. This is but fractio
!. Of the expense to the State GROWN
r out of present arrangement OF I'll
: arrivals and departures by sea.
n By careful inspection of the shil
r ping registers, we find the averaG
e draft of all vessels now in use, ram
|. inr between / 900 and l, 200 tons,
/ be 2O1 feet, and the average Of O
,e larger ones but 21B feet. While
t. thousand ton ship is full larger tht
,e can reach Portland, or any poi
Ie above Astoria, loaded, on account
depth Of water, vessel of 5000 to-
90 can always come to Astoria, whatev
,e the stage of water. Thus, with
d. point higher up on the river, t
NJ export trade must be forever ca
r.. ried on in small vessels, while frc
" here the shipping Of the world m
.ir compete for frviioihr ohS5',,
= A ship of 5000 tons can car
he wheat from Astoria to Liverpool !
e. twenty cents bushel less than
to 900 ton vessel can do from Portlar
lis as the following figures fully demo
h. strate:
lis Or, q dividend Of 10 per cent.
bit cost Of the larger ship as against
ne Der cent. on that Of the smaller {
= TO reduce both to 5 per cent, the
Is. 600 ton ship will carry wheat
at Liverpool for over a>tbird less th
in the / 900 to vessel; that is, 20 cei
ct, against As cents per bnshel. Add
he t6is the cost as above figured,
cidental TO delays and river expen
a of A cents per bushel, and it gives
or. net gain Of 20 cents per bushel
or. favor OF Astoria as an exporting h
lie. Dor. and the employment OF 81
ct, vessels as can safely cross the b
ut over the present arrangement
wo Portland and small vessels. I've
as cents per bushei on the estima
ed crop Of the State for 1873, viz 30
tic 600 bushels, gives the snug little s
yas 81 900 900 that Tie farmer sho
len have for his labor. The above fgu
.he are all substantially correct, and
of their own story.
its 1t may be said that several Ia
vessels have loaded at Portland,
mel the Custom House records show !
Vas II tie twenty vessels named bell
'od ,.,.,,,.,,.;airte, all the vessels OF any /