The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1881-08-19
FROM NEWPORT.

.
The tug Gen1 Wright returned ON the 10th
from Astoria with q donkey engine for hsist-
ing stone at the tramway, now completed
with double track, and within few days
brush and stone win be carried to the front
The Oneatta mills all undergoing thor
ough repairs, preparatory to saving the nee
essary lumber for wharf and warehouses for
the Oregon Pacific railroad.
Everybody remembers how d. c. ireland
went down to the sounding sea and estab-
lished the Astorian. How for years he
fought the wave of monopoly, and how his
efforts failed and it became necessary to
treat with the enemy. Well in a short time
the public will learn. of a change and anoth-
er weight, one of many required to break
the strong will of the people will be added
to the corporation. Not many months will
elapse before the tug monopoly of Flaveis
will pass into the control of the 0. R. Il N.
company This win not lessen towage on
the Columbia river, but from the day that
transportation on that river passes into the
hands of Willard, the public interested in the
improvement of harbors and rivers will find
an enemy, one that will represent to those
representing the people the uselessness OF
further expenditures on the part Of the gov
ernment in opeuing channels of trade. Why
should Coquille, Goose, or Yaquina Bay ask
for assistance when the great Columbia with
its immense business asks for none? And
for all purposes of the O. r. & N. Co. the
Columbia will need nothing The river in
its shoalest place is deep enough for the
company's steamers and tugs.
At the first glance this does not seem Sc
rious, but recollect that last winter the
Oregonian characterized the improvement
of the Cascade locks as useless waste of
money" Whenever the shipping interests
cease to demand cheaper towage and pilot
age the press will be as silent as the grave,
and there is precious little worth buying in
the way of vessels but are now owned by
the one company.
The Willamette valley is vitality affected
by this condition of things. Opposition as
contemplate as it was bitter marked the
progress of the o. P. r. r. and the improve
ment of this harbor. Success in both only
intt iies the desire to injure and retard b !.
enterprise. Every exertion possible will be
made to cripple the engineer department and
prevent the construction OF jetty.
The people have now certainty of a
railroad, and the assurance of harbor if
monev can be had to continue the work al
ready commenced. The railroad establishes
the commercial interests to be subseryed,
and while the public should never cease
urging every influence far and near: by let
ter, petition and argument, the government
to aid in this important work. Nothing in
my opinion would SO completely cover all
points as contribution from the farmers
OF sufficient means to carry on the work this
winter to keep intact the jetty already in
place and add as much to it as possible. A
very small sum, considering the great BEN
eft to be derived, would answer the purpose.
Certainly no stronger argument could be
to Congress, and this is of the
greatest consequence when we know the ma
ture. of the opposition. am in hopes the
valley papers to whom we owe 80 much in
the past, will take the matter up and con-
slider the points at issue. RIALTo.
Newport, August IA, 1881.