The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1880-05-25

THE HARBOR OF DEFUGE.
The following. from the Alta. il the
article 20 strenuously objected to by the
Oyegonian and Ivy PortIanders gener-
ally: w.
The decision of the Board Of Engi-
neess is not received favorabiy by the
village newspapers of Northwestern
Oregon. A proposal to dump 9 few
millions into the nuddats of Ysquina
Bay or the quicksaDds ct the mouth of
the Columbia would hsve met with an
enthusiastic reception from the same
PAPERS. But the Asorian. the Orsgonian
and other sheets which effect to repre-
seut bucolic sentiment in the neighbor-
hood Of the Columbia pour ont the walls
II their wrath upon the Board of En-.
gi.eers. who. 10 pursuance OF their duty,
reported Port Oxford as the most eligi.
bic site for Harbor Of Refuge. 1t is
self-eyident that an opposition by some
Oregon newspapers to the improvement
OF an Oregon hsrbor at the expense OF
the United States is based on some real
or supposed reason, and that reason he
who runs may read.
Portland, the chief shipping point of
Northern and Eastern Oregon. is located
on theswestern bank Of the Willamette
river. y
A hundred and twenty ave miles of
tortuous river channels. Obstructed by
sandbars. ssparste it from the ssa, and
st the mouth Of the Columbis dan
gerous bar of shifting quicksaDds OPP
poses D farther obstscle to its commerce.
The dangers and di68culties Of paviga-
ton from the ocean to Portland add
epornsusly to freigh.a. take from the
producer percentage on every dollars
worth Of produce raised in Oregon. and
adds perceotsge to the price Of every
article imported. The Columbia bar
and the Columbia river have depressed
the industries Of one of the finest States
in the Union. and have been and are .
burden bard to be borne, but hitherto
impossible to avoid. ----------.-a---
Portland has for thirty years taken
ito tolls from both producer and con.
sumer, and by their aid has grown in
that time from . clearing in fir forest
TO nearly the dimensions of thriving
California village. 1t is . BUSTING,
busy. snterprising little placs, with .
keeu eye to its own interests. 3
The possibilities which may result
from the construstion OLA harbor at
Port Oxford ere Of infinite consequence
to Portland. A hsrbor at Yaquins Bay.
at Crescent City or at Trinidad oeuld
have nc effect on the business Of Port.
land. Wheat growers of the William.
cite Valley. OF the rich counties 81 Grant,
Wssco. Umstills and Union, in Esstsrn
Oregon, would still be obliged 10 sweat
under the snorosous freights necessitated
by the navigation Of the Colunsbia, and
would still continue to pay their well
come tribute to Portland. The North
ern Pscifo Railroad. With an undesirs BILE
bue at present the only available ter
minus On Puget Sound. would be sep
arated by the Columbia from the GUS
toners Of Portland, and would work it
little injury.
Port Oxford is at the most westerly
point Of Oregon. in . region rich in
every natural wealth. With o break
water II would be an absolutely secure
harbor, which the largest ships afloat
could enter or leave by night or day at
any and every season Of the year, with.
out charges for pilotaee, without the
delays occasionea by barred harbor,
and without the expense of hundred
and twenty-five mills Of inland river
ns vigation. ase
Nature has placed behind 10, in the
Coast Range Mountains, an opening to
the interior, which could not he better
adapted to railroad uses IL it had been
expressly constructed for their purposes
A hundred miles Of railroad on On easy
grade will connect Port Oxford with the
railroad system nf Oregon, and make il
the recipient Of the produce of the
UmpQus and Willamette Valleys. With
decreased rates from Port Oxford, no
more grain would 60 over tho Columbia
river bsr ieom any point sonsh AZ Post
land. 1t the managers Of the Northern
Pacific should defect their proposed
road southwest from Walla Wall :, and
make Pert Oxford their terminus in.
stead Of Puget Sound. they would. tap
one Of the richest grain districts q the
United States. cod the produes u thai
district would b. shipped from Port
Orfsrd ID large sbips which could moi
croes the bar OF the Columbia.
Thsse are I'll only yossibiiities, bot
they are Of such . nature asto fully 90
count for tbs repnsnaisos Of the papers
Of Northern OREGON to witness the i'm.
| provement OF an Oregon harbor.