The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1888-12-09
THE ASTORIA AND SOUTH COAST R.R.
Property Owners Should Assist the Road
Which Will Enhance the Value
Of Their Property.

1t may be hoped there will be little de-
lay in the building of the Astoria &
South Coast railroad. Senator Dolph
has introduced new bill giving the CON-
pany the right to bridge Young's bay,
and as there is no opposition whatever
to this, congress will probably grant and
the president sanction it. Before the
end Of the next congress pleasure seekers
may be able to ride in cars to Clatsop
beach.
The above is taken from yesterdays
Oregonidn. It may truthfully be
said that from the very first public
mention of this Astorian enterprise
nothing but words of encouragement
and predictions of success in connec-
ton with it have been uttered by
the various papers published in
Oregon, which have alluded to
it at all, and but very few
have failed to do sos Astorians
appreciate this kindly mention
by the press. So far as we can form
an opinion. it seems to have been the
aim of the directors of the Astoria
and South Coast Railway company,
to carry on the work with as little
public parade as possible, preferring
to let the work as it is continued and
accomplished speak for itself; mind
full we presume of the old ;adaee;
ACTIONS speak louder than words" !"
Intelligent, thoughtful men know
that there are many difficulties to be
surmounted in the preliminary
stages Of railroad construction, even
though it be but a short line. Some.
times it takes a great deal of patience
and persevering augmentation to
convince man that he is working
against his own personal pecuniary
interests in denying the right of way
through his property, which perhaps
is land that heretofore has. been al
most worthless because unimproved
and unproductive, but which will be
enhanced in value very materially so
soon as it shall, be. known that the
very road he is obstructing will run
through it. We need not go far to
find case in point. In the construc:
tion of the railroad from Ilwaco
along the weather beach toward
Shoalwater bay, an obstruction
ist of the kind referred to
gave no little. amount Of
trouble and annoyance to the
directors of that road. He refused
to give the right of way and rejected
q compensation far exec eding the
value Of the ground required. Arbi-
tration did not suit him and the COM
pany was compelled to apply for the
legal remedy open to them, and the
result was the obstructionist was al.
lowed by the court paltry one hun
dred dollars for the land required, a
sum much less than the company had
previously rendered him. We do not
refer to this particular one of the
many difficulties which it requires
time and patience as well as good
business judgment to surmount be-
cause of any trouble of the kind now
delaying the work on the Astoria and
South Coast, We know of none such.
On the contrary we are given to un-
derstand that majority of the prop
erty owners between this city and Sea,
side have already conceded to the COM
pany the right of way along the line
surveyed by chief engineer Henry B.,
Thielsen, and we have no doubt that
any who may have hesitated, will
after mature consideration, fully
realize that they have much more TO
gain than to lose, by cheerfully grant
ing the right of way if able to do so,
and If not in circumstances to give,
then to ask only proper and fair
remuneration for their land at its
present value, and thus advance their
own interests while they are faciitat-
ing the construction of road which
cannot but be a lasting benefit to
every man, woman and child, resident
in Clatsop county.