The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-10-17

| out so many mlsstatements Of the Astoria trio
am free to doubt this In toto"
The proposition made above by ou
committee in SO purely in accordanc,
with common sense and the ruling
already quoted, that it would seem su
perfuous TO add more, 4 may say
however, that during an experience
reaching over several years in New
York city, in daily contract with un
derwriters and where the stranding Of
vessels on the Jersey flats frequently
occurs, never knew a vessel which
had been ashore, to be allowed to take
in cargo and go to sea without first
being hauled out on the dry dock. II
is requirement never passed over,
always enforced. The same rule holds
in the navigation Of the Columbia.
The supposition is too absurd to be
seriously entertained by any man of
intelligence, that large ship, worth
say one hundred thousand dollars,
after floundering on the bottom, be it
mud, or what not, for hours, or days,
would be permitted to enter upon a
voyage nearly around the world, with
valuable cargo, and lives aboard with
out searching to ascertain if serious
damage had been done. The under
writing business is precarious at best,
and the strictest rules have to be en-
forced. No competant ship master
will say that our statement is not in
accordance with the established facts
in the premises, Common prudence,
indeed, demands the enforcement of
such rule, or law. The last fling at
the Astoria "trio," !" is relative TO their
estimate of the number of vessels that
have crossed the Columbia bar dur
ing the past twenty.one years. In re-
ply thereto I simply say, we have
made our report, and stand to the text,
simply referring Mr.. b. to the custom
house records, our source Of informa-
ton.
Now, Mr. Editor, it may be that l
look though a glass darkly, but it GER
tainly seems clear to my mind that |
have treated fairly, and answered in
full, every question raised by brother
B. and that each point has been fully
established. And permit me to say,
that should the author of BIS COM
munication have anything farther to
offer, let him do it like a man over his
own signature, that We may know
whether we have such stupidity in the
ranks of our business men, or whether it
comes from that other source of mer-
chantable buncomb, that is always
ready for fee, to spread false asser-
tions, and swear to them, Besides, it
is more pleasant to know whether one
is shooting at mark or st vicinity,
Just a word more to the farmer You
all understand better than l can tell
you, that since the first kernel if wheat
was exported around cape Horn, from
the Pacific Coast, Oregon has sold her
wheat at prices ranging from 20 to 2S
cts, per, bushel less than our neighbor,
California. WhyP A hundred thou
sand Bushels of No. / wheat aHoat at
Astoria is worth as much as a similar
amount afloat in San Francisco. The
sailing distance to Liverpool, or other
European ports, is no greater, and the
time consumed in the voyage is no
more. AS large vessels as go any
where can cross the Columbia river
bar, and the insurance is now no more
than to San Francisco. The costs Of
.pilOtage and towage to Astoria is no
more than to San Francisco: Port
charges inside, much less, Then why,
you repeat, do Oregon farmers not get
California prices for their wheat? We
have Just been endeavoring to explain
why, in answering, BIS communica-
tion. In one sentence, the inner bars
of the Columbia river are the cause.
To-day the farmers of the William
ette have it in their own hands to
force the dealers in grain to pay the
true value of their wheat. How? BY
uniting in one mass and placing your
surplus at salt water, where the grain
dealers can reach it without delay.
Wheat can be boated from Portland
to Astoria for three cents a bushel, free
of wharfage or other expense in Port
land thus cutting off about 20 cts ex-
pense to which you are now subjec-
ted.
But l have already been too lengthy
in my remarks, and must stop short,
though the subject is not half exhaus-
ted.
Yours truly,
/, lIr'I A, S. MERCER.