New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-09
TOPICS IN THE FAR NORTHWEST.


TOPICS IN The FAR NORTHWEST.
GROWTH OF THE "soUHD COUNTRY 1.-THE SALMON
CANNING INDUSTRY.
lFRoN AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.
PORTLAND, Oregon. March 25.-Tbe rival
immigration societies OF California and Oregon are tell
ing wonderful stories in their endeavors to catch
the Western bound settler. The former depicts Call
forna Eden where even the thoughts OF men arc
pure, and warns people against the Sound country
of unbearable billiards and perpetual rain Inc
Oregon Association meets banana tories OF South
California landowners with tho startling statement
that oranges freeze the trees and that the only avail
able lands in that arid country covered by Spanish
and Mexican grants. Notwithstanding all this, both
sections filling up rapidly About 500 people week
arrive at Portland and are distributed Oregon and
Washng ton. Travel Is increasing at such rate that
the service will be increased by adding another
steamship.
OF course all OF the Sound country unes with Port
land in s fight with Francisco for the distinction of
metropolis OF the West and distributing point for m
grants But beneath this there is Jealousy and an inter
necne fight for the position OF metropolis OF the North
west and the terminus OF the Northern Pacific Railroad
Portland claims It by virtue seniority and wealth. but
unfortunately Portland is IN inland town, and dan
erous bar lies at the of the Columbia River
During the rainy heavy fog frequently over
hangs the harbor at Astoria where the Columbia emp
tie. into the ocean, This maho navigation dangerous
and travel tedious and nc,nvenient With this argu-
ment in their favor the aspiring towns OF Seattle New
Tacoma and Waa wala argue that they. respectively
are the future metropolis OF the Norhw est The
former positively assert that they will be the tern-
nus OF the Northern rife Railroad. They have the
point directly from the inside; and the windy con-
test great that of the rival towns cannot
meet on the neutral ground Of Portland and drink In
spirit OF Christian meekness Fortunately for Portland
this city is so situated geographically and favored by
centring lines of travel that Ia regular toll gate Tor
commerce and travel In Warrington Territory Tine pol
lticians Of that coming State meet here, hold tneir
caucus tx the slate" and the next morning go up to
Olympia raty the action Of the return to Port
land at night and so home the next day.
Astoria, little salmon" town Mt the mouth OF the
Columbia on the ocean, also makes pretensions to
being the future great" IL Ii the oldest town here,
having been established trading post In ISL IL Is
weird looking place built thu side of hill slopng
10 the ocean. Its chief industry Is salmon fishing ana
canning The fishing begins about the middle OF
April and lasts four months. Then these salmon
towns go to sleep for the remainder OF the year. ike
summer resorts The bay at the mouth OF the Columbia
very stormy during the fishing months, and loss
OF life Is frequent The fishermen are mainly Greeks,
Portuguese, Russians, Firms and Scandinayisns some
have their boats and nets. while others are supplied
by their employers Those who have their own boats
and nets are paid co cents salmon OF eight pounds
-
war has also broken out among the canneres. One
large establishment announces that II will give 90 cents
salmon This OF so per cent creates conservation
among the canning establishments, and reduces their
profits 70 nearly nothing The man who Is so eXtraya
CANT interested canneres on the sacramento River
where the spring OF fish IS light This induce
ment will attract indie pendent fishermen from the sacrl
mento and lessen competition there As fishermen are
employed nearly all the year ON the Sacramento they
can work cheaper and the reduced price OF material and
OF living enables the Sacramento Gamer to can Tor
about 30 per less; yet he sells very little n any
canning firms at Astoria have 20 90 100 boats IL
Is designed make Astoria the headquarters OF the
than 90 catch them further up the stream aud bring them
back by boat. The smelt are yc"y Fat, aud canning
nshy town. Tie spiced trDut " the wise Fasteners
get from the far West are only species OF salmon
There arr thirty-s cannercs the Columbia River.
They out from 60OO 10 1000 cases each Inc tohl
for the season OF 1ss2 was 23oO9O cases which AZ an
the industry S27s2,000. The shpmonts direct to for
Dnher shioped TO san Francisco tie East and islands
I'm the PnclfC Several vessels were dispatched from
Astoria direct Liverpool, with whole or part earsoes
capital invested In cnnneres Is S200O000; and during
sbon 600 men In the distant future Il is proposed to
establish hatchery, when instead OF turning out 100-
600 cases yearly three four times that number VIII be
canned The run OF salmon Ia the Columbia River Is
remarkable and seems to be nes haustloe considering
the axy OF law In regard to the destruction OF hsh
by traps and wheels This system OF wholesale
and NantOn destruction brings on another war pc
tween the canuers aud the freebOoers There Is law
prohibiting fishing from Saturday until Monday IN
order allow the sh 10 ascend TO their natural spawn
ing grounds the buccaneers with their wheel OF IRON
spikes violate IL with mpuniiy. Large quantities OF TIN
for making cans imported direct FROM England 10
this pont-this industry having introduced a direct
trade with England. Duty on tin plates, less 10 per
cent Is refunded their making proper entry
al the Portland Custom House at the time OF making
foreign shipment. Tho chemicals required Tor canning
also imported. -. ,,,,,
at Astoria few years ago nearly all OF the hshlhs
boats were built San Francisco Several bOat-shops
were recently established at Astoria, and last winter
turned out an aggregate OF 800 boats.