The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1888-10-21
RAILROAD TALK.

Readers of the Herald are aware of
the fact that the citizens of Astoria have
subscribed $4,000 for the construction
of railway along the coast down Clat-
sop beach, thence through the coast
range pass east of Tillamook to some
point in the Willamet valley, the object
i've point being connection with the
Oregon Pacific. Active operations on
the road have commenced, and it is ex-
pected that it will be finished to the sea-
side, a distance of twenty miles, by
spring. 1t was announced that the pro-
posed connection with the Oregon Pacific
would be at Albany, but now comes
Salem with request that it be built to
that place and connect at some point on
the Santiam. A committee from the
Salem board of trade has been appointed
to confer with the Astoria people con-
city are enthusiastic over the matter.
If Albany is to maintain her position
as the chief business center of the Will
lamette valley it might be well for the
| citizens of this city to look after this
matter. The board of trade, if it wishes
to fulfill its mission, ought to shake of
the lethargy in which it seems to be en-
veloped, and appoint committee of
energetic citizens to correspond with the
Astoria people, and if possible secure the
connection of this proposed road at
Albany, which would be the natural con-
Meeting place. This city already has
very desirable railroad facilities, and if
this road Is built here Albany will be a
railroad center of no mean proportions
and excelled by no city of Oregon outside
of Portland.-Albdny Herald, 1S.
| There is not another section of the
great. rich state of Oregon that produces
such an abundant yield of the earth's
gifts, of the fruit, vegetable and grain
products, as that through which rail-
road would pass by way of Salem from
the Santiam to Astoria; and there is no
route of an equal distance in the state
more feasible or over which road can
be constructed with as little cost. Nature
points the way and the rules of CON-
merce dictate its utility. 1t is but a
lQuestion of two years at farthest until
the gap from the summit of the Cascades
to Boise, Idaho, is spanned over, and
then the best transcontinental line in the
|, United States will be in operation; and
there will be no part of it 80 completely
self-sustaining as that arm from the
Santiam to the sea. Marion, Polk and
! Yamhill counties combine the richest
hills and valleys in the state; thrifty
= growing towns already dot the landscape
and it is one of the few instances in the
history of railroad building where the
field is already cultivated and the harvest
| waiting for the cleaner; the usual ex
perience being that the settlement, the
cultivation, and the prosperity follow the
railroad, while in this case they precedt
it.--Sdlem Statesman, 19.
The committee on the proposed Astorif
and Salem railway met yesterday after
noon, and the letter drafted by Secretar,
Manning and j. II. Albert was submitted
to it. 1t was found satisfactory, and wa'
forwarded to Astoria. 1t will not bt
; made public until the Astorians answer il
returned.-Salem Statesman, 10.
The letter above mentioned came tC
hand yesterday and will be laid befor'
the board of directors by Secretary Hol
den at their meeting tomorrow after
noon.