The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-09-26
THE COLUMBIA BREaKWATER.

When the Portland papers first be-
gan to talk about a breakwater at
the mouth of the Columbia, it was
more in jest than otherwise, simply
because Bro. Ireland, of the Astoria,a,
advocated the measure. But finally
the Portland Board of Trade, after
declaring in favor Of Port Oxford,
and entirely ignoring Cape Foul
weather, concluded to put in its oar
for the mouth of the Columbia.
Portland tactics on the breakwater
question made complete somersault,
and all the great Portland Dailies,
and the lesser lights. were unit for
the mouth of the Columbia. Last
Saturday, the Oregoniam contained
another pithy leader on this subject.
opening thus: A San Francisco
paper, the AAo, thinks the Oregon
delegation will make an effort at the
next session of Congress for break.
water at the mouth of the Columbia
river, to cost ten or twenty millions"
The Oregomiam does not deny that
this is the programme of the Port
land Board of Trade. In fact the
tenor of it's editorials indicate that
such is the case. No one will deny
that the Columbia river is a great
channel of commerce, bu: it is patent,
to the most casual observer, that it
is inadequate to the increasing de-
mands of the commerce of this State.
Suppose that breakwater should be
constructed at the mouth of the Coz
umbla, costing from "ten to twenty
millions" of dollars, that will not
make the Columbia river navigable,
for deep sea vessels between Astoria
and Portland. AS a proof of this
assertion, we quote the following
editorial from the Portland Bee, of
the 10th inst:
"The expediency and necessity of i'm
proving our commercial facilities by the
deepening OF the channel in necessary places
between this city and Astoria is every year
becoming more apparent. The figures furn-
ished by the Board of Trade in its recently
published report are very significant, and
the subject is one that demands earnest at
tention. It is shown that we have an aver
4~e- 4n,, L L H. IL
city, and that to do an immense foreign
business such as the requirements of our
rapidly growing trade will shortly demand
we must have from 20 to % feet. To enable
vessels to load at our wharves to 201 feet at
the lowest stage of water it is estimated by
competent persons that an appropriation of
$3.50, 900 understandingly applied would be
sufficient, whereas, as was shown by the
report referred to the city of Glasgow to
secure the very same stage of water, spent
$29, 900, 600, receiving returns in vast in
crease of population and shipping facilities
that brings the largest vessels constantly to
its docks. This, it will readily be seen, is
matter of vital Importance to the CONNER
cial interests of this city and State, and is
one which should be increasingly agitated
until the proper pressure IS brought to bear
upon Congress that will secure it. Its value
cannot be overestimated while the appro-
priation necessary to secure it is certainly,
when compared to the benefits that will
surely accrue, inconsiderable.
In addition to the "ten or twenty
millions" appropriation for the break
water, and to make it available to
Portland, the g fat duck" of the
Oregomiaa, it will require another
quarter of million appropriation to
improve the Columbia between As
toria and Portland. Does any sane
man, outside of Portland, believe
that any such appropriations can be
secured for such purposes, when a
better, cheaper, and more convenient
outlet of the commerce of this State
can be secured for sum less than
would be required to improve the
Columbia river, say nothing of the
ten or twenty millions for the
breakwater at the mouth of the Col
umbia !? The idea is preposterous.
The Oregoniam thinks our delega-
tion in Congress should have the
chief of engineers order special
survey of the mouth Of the Columbia
BY competent officers, and ignore the
work of the Pacific Board, Of epgin-
GERS recently completed.
The Portland Board of Trade, rep
resenting the capital of that city,
sees rival in Cape Foulweatber, and
Yaquina Bay, situated opposite the
center of the State, and in, a direct
line to the sea. with Eastern Oregon
It is the natural outlet OF the State
tothe ocean, and within so miles of
the heart of the Willamette valley.
It is a natural harbor of no mean i'm
pertance, and with small outlay,
comparatively, could be made the
safest and best harbor between San
Francisco and the Straits of Fuca,
and Of sufficient capacity to meet
the wants ofou increasing commerce
In view of these facts, the right
thing for our delegation in Congress
to do, is to consult the interests OF
the whole State, and not be govern
ed by that august body, the Portland
Board of Trade, or its mouth.piece,
the Ore0o9aSd3a. Thousands. instead