The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-04-23
RuMoRs OF opposIrI0N.

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The Portland Telegram of the 10th
inst, has long article, headed in
display lines as follows: Sensation
al. A rumor floating about to the
effect that the O. r. & N. Co. is to
have an opposition. A groundless
report. A story set adrift by San
Francisco man fatty contradicted.
The new company prosperous.
| A Telegram reporter had been de-
tailed to work the matter up, and at
ter considerable trouble, could find
no suthority for the rumor. 1t was
reported that Mr.. r r. Thompson,
now of California, but formerly one
of the leading members of the old
O. S. N. Co., was dissatisfied with
the way the affairs of that company
had been disposed of, and proposed,
in connection with leading capitalists
of San Francisco, to enter into active
competition with the new company
not only for the carrying trade of
the Columbia and Willamette rivers,
but also for the entire coast trade :
tween San Francisco and Portland.
1t was also rumored that matters
were not as harmonious as they might
be in the new company. The Tele.
gram reporter. however, could find
ont nothing definite in the premises,
and pronounces the whole matter a
"groundless report
As to the foundation of these ru.
mors, OF course we know nothing.
But that the new company will meet,
sooner or later, formidable rival in
the carrying trade referred to, is
scarcely to be doubted. The new
company. to far greater extent than
the old 0. S. N. Co., now controls
the entire carrying trade Of Oregon,
and large portion of the trade of
Washington and Idaho territories.
Such wide field, and so remunera-
tive traffic, cannot escape competi-
tion, especially when SO much idle
capital in San Francisco is seeking
investment. In connection with the
above rumors, it is intimated that
the combination between the old o.
S. S. Co.. now o. r. & N. Co., own
ing the Oregon and Elder, in fact all
the steamers plying between San
Francisco and Portland except the
State of California, and the P. M. S.
S. Co. will cease on the 1st of May,
1880, and the new iron steamer Co
lumbia, the finest vessel that ever
came to this coast, will take the place
of the State of California in the
Portland trade. If this be 30,
Messrs. Goodall, Perkins q Co., of
the P. G. S. S. Co., will be compelled
to run the State of California in op-
position to the o r & N Co., or with
draw from the trade. This being the
case, the talk of opposition may not
be an entirely "groundless report, !"
although not coming from the source
referred to.
Honorable, fair competition in .he
carrying trade, as in other legitimate
business transactions, is right and
and should be encouraged.
But to revive the old style "opposi-
ton" as in the days of the ill-fated
should be deprecated, and
we trust will never come to pass The
people of this state can well afford, |
and are willing to pay reasonable and
fair prices for freights and fares, and
do not desire, nor is it to their inter-
ests, to have the prices go below liv
ing rates. There is marked differ
ence between honorable competition,
and an opposition that means
:" rule or ruin" The former tends to
enterprise and thrift; the latter to
bankruptcy, hard-times, the crippling |
Of all classes of industries, and filling
our state with paupers, criminals, and
the lowest dregs of San Francisco
brothels. From all which may the
good Lord deliver us.