The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1874-07-31
rmpRovEmnNr OF THE wmLAS1ETTE.

County Central orange ASSoclaLlO
. was held in this city last Tuesday t
: devise the most effective and speed
method Of securing the early in
: provement of the Willamette Rive
} and its opening to navigation th
year round. After the private busi
ness of the Association had bee
completed the doors were throw
open and the public invited into tn
hall, when appropriate and stirring
addresses were delivered by A. S
Mercer, Col. Teal and Others, show
ing the benefits to accrue to our citi
zens-both farmers and townspeopl
by this most important enter
prise. At the conclusion of thu
address it was decided to ap
point committee of five perons-
three on behalf Of the Grangers ant
farmers and two on behalf of the city
of Albany-whose duty it should be
to solicit contributions, let the con
tract to responsible parties, and dis.
burse the funds collected for the pur-
pose Of improving tho river along
| the margin of Linn county. The
Association appointed Messrs. W. +.
Alexander, G. P. Burkhart and r.
A. Irvine, and by request the Com
mon Council last Tuesday night APP
pointed Messrs. J.. II. Hackleman
and Thos. Monteith on behalf of the
city. This Committee has already
commenced work and are now can
vassing for subscriptions. Let no
one fail to help the project along.
Town and county are alike interested
in the work and will alike reap the
great benefits to be derived from it.
1t will cheaper freights, open an
avenue Of commerce from our very
doors to the high seq, and give us
perpetual transportation competition
with the railroad. In place Of pay
ing, as now, at least 25 cents per
bushel to got our grain to the COM
mercial margin of our State, we are
already assured that it will be placed
on board the ships, at the mouth Of
the Columbia, for IL cents per
bushel. And thus, by putting our
wheat at Astoria, we are sure to Sc.
cure direct transportation to foreign
markets without having our profits
md earnings filtered through the
and ever gaping nav of
the California spectators. The
owners Of ships will send their YES
iels where freight can be got most
conveniently, despatched with most
oromptness, charges moderate and
dealing. So soon will
III these objects be attained, that the
line is not far distant when shippers
will, for these reasons, prefer send
ng their vessels to Astoria in prefer
nee to San francisco. Astoria, ap-
this, has already inaugu-
ated the work of inviting and en-
ouraging shipment TO that port. All
he principal wharves are being en-
lrged, with additional warehouses
corresponding to meet the wants of
he coming trade. The Astoria
farming Company, in which the Will
lmette Transportation Company
ave a large interest, are extending
leir wharf 300 feet. by the LIST of
october they will have 600 feet of
'harfag5 and warehouse accomoda-
on, with twenty feet of water at
wv tide outside and inside the wharf
ON which large vessels can be
'aded and sent to sea ten days after I
leir arrival,
The Columbia and Willamette '
iver Barge Company, justorganized q
I'd incorporated at Astoria, will have G
70 barges ready by October that !
i'll convey at least $50 tons of wheat t
lch. These bnrges will run from 4
q head Of navigation on the Will L
mette to Astoria. Tho two barges !
n bring as much wheat at one trip !
will load large vessel, and for @
If the cost of the present rates, 6
le barges will be $50 feet long, "a a
ct beam, s feot depth of hold, and IL
ii cost from $4,000 to 81 each. o
le towage for the barges is already d
gagged, but they aro to be so con- c,
ructed as to admit of the necessary q
lchinery being introduced as will p
i've themselves when it is consid- fl
cd desirable to do so. The capital Il
the company is $780, in shares al
500 each, Tho incorpomtor m
} Col. Jos, Teal, G. W. Warren, m
II. ID. Gray, John Hobson, D. X. ST
nron, S. D, Adair, II. S. Shustor
d S. N, Arngoni. Col, 10, Teal is
esident. ol
Hundreds Of arguments might be he
iuced to prove the utility and inn II
rtance of this momontous enter 70
se, but we are sure our citizens tn
liciently realize the necessity of -
s.