The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1883-11-24
THE ASTORIA RAILROAD.
Correspondence Between ar. Willard and the
Chamber OF COmnerce.

Chamber OF Commerce.
The following is furnished by E. c.
Holden, Secretary Of the Astoria Cham
Der of Commerce, for publication, in ac-
cordance with a resolution passed nj the
last meeting of the chamber.
On the 18th Of last September Mr.. VII
lard wrote n letter from Portland TO the
chamber IN which he said: referring to
the conference had with the committee
of your Chamber of Commerce at my
Office in this CITY on April 2itb, last, j am
only now able TO redeem the promise then
made, that / would inform your Chamber
of Commerce at the earliest possible mo-
ment of the result Of the survey Of the
Astoria-Forest Grove line. So many IN
foreseen obstacles were encountered III
making the surveys that il was a matter
Of absolute impossibility 10 complete the
work at an earlier date. l regret TO say
that the estimates of the cost of the line
in question, now before me, are so large
that il will be impossible for the Oregon
d Transcontinental Company rs lessee
of the Oregon Il California Railroad
Company, 10 undertake its construction.
According TO the engineers' figures, the
cost Will be no less than an average of
$4,000 per mile. in money, not including
the probable cost of proper terminal ia
cilities at Astoria. estimated Gt $4,000.
Under the existing mortgage We could
not possibly issue more than the
nominal amount of $4,000 per mile in
bonds on the line, and there are abso-
luteiy no means To meet the deficiency at
the command OF either party. We must,
therefore, abandon the project.
To this, on the 18th Of September. the
following tele2raphic reply was sent:
IF contract for building Astoria and
Forest Grove railroad complete could be
LET at $4,000 per mile, and Lands for ter
minus at Astoria donated, viii You com
mence construction OF ro2d:
On Sept. 21st. Mr.. Willard telegrsphed
in response: will be very giad 10 pay
anyone who will build the road in accord
ance with engineers plans and specihca-
tions, twenty thousand dollars per mile in
first, and ten thousand dollars per mile
in second mortgage bonds. ali the avail
able means the company has. provided
proper terminal facilities IN Astoria are
assured. To correct misimpression viii
add that the estimate of cost includes
full equipment of buildings, discount on
bonds, interest during construction, gen
eral expenses. and other items not IL
Guided in the estimates proper of the en-
gineerS."
On September 23th the following tele-
gram was sent by the chamber of COM
mercs to Mr.. Willard.
"Will You permit US 10 examine your
engineers plans and specifications with a
view of deciding about the acceptance of
your otfer?"
On October > the following dispatch
was received from Mr.. Willard IN reply:
"Your position is not consistent. You
first disputed correctness of our survey;
now you wish 10 use 1t to base bids on. l
cannot allow anyone TO use the benefit Of
our survey without reimbursement of
cost"
Upon receipt Of the foregoing the cham
Der deemed II advisable 10 send Mr.. Vii
lard a letter of which
THE FOLLOWING IS \ COPY:
ASTORIA, Oct. 10Th, 1888.
Henry Willard, President n. +. r. u.
NeJC York:
DEAR SIR:-Your Telegram of Octo-
ber % duly received. The chamber
directs me to reply that there seems to
be some misunderstanding. The cham
ber's first inquiry OF September 18th Is
as follows: IF contract for building As
toria- Forest Grove railroad complete can
be LET at thirty thousand dollars mile,
lands for terminus at Astoria donated.
will YOU then commence construction OF
road." was based on a proposition
made to build a standard guage road.
Your answer of September 10Th 10 that
inquiry was that you would be very glad
to pay anyone who would build III ac-
cordance with your engineers plans and
specifications twenty thousand dollars
per mile IN first and ten thousand dollars
per mile IN second mortgage bonds,
proper terminal facilities III Astoria as
sured. We then asked permission to see
the plans land specifications and YOU re-
ply that our position is inconsistent. that
we first dispute the correctness of youl
survey and now wish to use 1t to base
bids on. We have not intended to dis
pute the figures of your engineers; but
if we can see our way to raise the amount
of money required over and above the
twenty thousand dollars first mortgage
and ten Thousand dollars second mort.
gage bonds and place ourselves IN 4 posi-
tion to build the road as you wish, it i
not apparent To us how We are incoHsis
| tent In asking to be permitted to use The
plans and specifications IN accordance
with which we are required 10 build
You certainly could not expect anyone e
undertake contract on unknown plans
1t is for the express purpose Of placinl
ourselves in a position TO determine if NJ
can or cannot find sufficient means {,
build the road that We ask the priNileg,
of seeing your plans and specifications
And with this explanation We again asl
TO be allowed TO see the plans and specifi
cations. Very respectfully,
L. c. HOLDEN.
Sec'y Astoria Chamber of Commerce.
TO this the following was in due tim,
received in answer:
NEW YORK. Oct. 81, 1885.
T.. {. Holden, Esq, Secretary Astoria
| Chamber Of Commerce:
DEAR SIR-Your letter of the 20th inst
is received. l am obliged TO say in repl,
that have no right as president of tn,
Oregon d. California Railroad Company
and as president of the lessee company
to give the Astoria Chamber of Com
merce or any one else the benefit of tn
information of our survey collected at
large expense without a proper consider
alton therefor. Respectfully yours,
| II. WILLARD.