The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1883-11-22
= DREDGING" AND NARROWING :

O4 Alat AblN4ADAa BdI DOsl Allc udT- Il
row ana the propeller could be used |
with advantage. Whenever the |
rise Of the swells is not greater |
than ten feet, the propeller could be |
used almost as effectively as in still |
water: and as calm spells are common
in the spring and summer, a deep
channel could probably be kept open
across the bar, at least during the
whole grain shipping season, when 1t
is most needed.-OregOHjaH.
The main objection that this paper
has TO the above and kindred state
meuts on the part Of the Oregoaiaa is |
that its assertions are repeated in a
quarter where the true state of facts
are not known, and tend TO injure the
cause which tie OJegoniGR processes
to be desirous OF assisting. Whether
Just or unjust, whether founded on
fact or the result OF insufficient
knowledge, it IS the opinion OF a good
many people that Portland does not
want the Columbia river bar i'm
proved for reasons that are too pat
ent 20 require elaboration. Sugges-
tions from its journals that the
improvement Of the bar can be effect
ed by narrowing" or dredging go
far TO confirm this belief No one
knows better than the editor OF the
OregoniaR that that matter is wholly
futile: that il has been tried and
found unavailing, and that even
granting that temporary relief might
be obtained 10y ''harrowing" or
dredging" yet the very fact that
that relief would be temporary and
uncertain In its nature would be an
inherent element OF failure
We are led to these remarks at this
time by reason o: the studied effort
on the part OF some OF our friends
who live on interior streams to con-
vey the idea that the cases OF the
Willamette and Columbia are identi-
cal Some few weeks ago two gentle
men called atour Office with elaborate
draughtings OF a new dredger which
was just the one thing for which the
whole Columbia valley had long
yearned, and was destined by its sue
cessiul operation to make the Colum-
bia river bar thing OF the past. Our
expressed opinion was HAT from the
nature OF the case no dredger. how
ever cleverly constructed, would be of
pny practical benefit in the matter of
making a channel for deep water
vessels across the bar. The patentees
N answer called attention to the fact
tGat the Portland board OF trade and
or6g2@i0H had noted the admirable
workings OF the model and endorsed
1t IS being Just the thing" To our
question as 10 whether either of the
inventors had ever been on the bar a
negative answer was returned. We cite
this case IS Illustrative OF the gen
eral feeling in the minds OF many
worthy people on a subject Of which
they are acknowledgement To
explain in detail the many reasons
why dredger would be of no avail
on the Columbia river barwould be IN
necessary TO those who understand
the subject and useless 60 those who
do not; but in general it may be said
that in October, 1892, board OF vis-
Itlng engineers who presumably knew
what they were talking about, made a
report on Jhe Columbia river bar and
the necessary appliances for making
the mouth OF the river adequate to
the wants OF Columbia commerce.
This report has been received at vari-
Gus newspaper Offices and the accom-
panying chart, which doubtless hangs
in the OregoRiaa office. is an admir-
able addition to current information
or this subject.