The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1883-11-25
ASTORIA.
The Gateway Of Oregon.

John Jacob Astor organized the Pacific
Fur Company in 1910, and sent out the
ToHguin to establish trading-post on
the northwest coast. The good ship
doubled the Horn and arrived safely of
the bar. ct the entrance TO the Columbia
river, in March, 1911. About twelve
miles from its mouth the stream sepa-
rates. its borders forming spacious est
uary. and here on the left bank whers
the shore line rises 10 the crest of 4
woody hill. a settlement was made early
IN April, and il was christoned in mem
orr of the head of the undertaking.
astoria.
But the little port WIS not destined 10
experience a speedy growth: on the con-
trary. it fingered in utter insignificance
until 1913. when the building of a custom
house en,hused q measure Of life into
the town. Ii was not. however, till 1865
\ short time subsequent 20 the establish
ment of salmon cannery there, thEt
the place showed signs Of importGncs.
Thenceforward its development has been
rapid, attaining within few years cor
porate rights. and claiming at prsseu.
population OF 100, of which ESQ ar
Chinese. The annual growth Of tiie city
II anu EHGtN AalAAAGtLAasi1
points % = continuance of ITS prosperity.
For Astoria IS the threshold of Oregon,
the natural seaport or the stats. Being
the farthest west If ali American cites,
she looks forward TO maintaining :he
balance of ASietic trade with the north
ern coast. Furthermore, she has hops
OF sometimes Overiakinc Portland, the
star of the northwest. To be sure. she does
not even enjoy railroad privileges - the
present time vet few months vii
doubtless unite her with the co1St lines.
Portland. by the way, with the exception
of Denver, is the wealihiest city FOX it5
size in America, and bids fair - retain
the distinction at least many years TO
come. Of course, Astoria has the adyan-
tage of her proximity to the se;', Snd con-
sidering the foreign trade which this
coast will inevitably enter upon as her
resources unfold, this advantage Is sufii-
cient in itself to ensure to the namesaks
of the great banker brilliant future.
The amount OF this trade in 1882 vds
estimated in round numbers at SlS,OOO.-
900, while the retail trade was IN the
neighborhood of S1,000.OO0. The indus
tries of Astoria are composed mainly of
fishing and numbering. The greatest
salmon canneries In the world are here.
and there are in all twenty-five. large
proportion of the inhabitsntS are en-
gagged in catching the salmon and prepar-
ing it for market. and whatever other en-
terprise Is carried on depends for the
most part upon this business. However.
this state of things will gradually give
way to a broader range of employment.
A splendid agricultural country Is tribu-
tary to the town and with the develop
ment of foreign and domestic trade,
manufactures of varied description will
spring up accompanied by an increase of
population of varied culture and nation
ality. City real estate advances annual
" about seyenty-fye per cent, and the
citizens take pride In erecting dwellings
and business blocks of attractive style
and structure. Already the city possesses
gas and water privileges and shows the
necessary enterprise to make il keep pace
with modern municipal improvements of
every kind.
The climate of Astoria is q marked
| feature among its attractions, being q
| happy medium between the hot and cold
extremes of our temperate zUne. To-
gether with the natural resources she pre-
sents all those social inducements arising
from a sturdy attention to educational
and moral interests which make a new
dwelling place homelike TO those migrat-
ing from older lands.-The Pacific Coast