The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1888-09-20
A SKETCH OF ASTORIA.
As Viewed by a Correspondent OF The
''Skandinayian."


paper IN the world printed in that Ian
guage, was here, and in the issue of that
valuable journal of September 18th he
writes as follows:
"On the south side of the Columbia
river about 10 miles from its entrance is |
situated the city of Astoria, world re-
nown for its fishing industries. Long |
before the now existing towns along the
Columbia and the coast northward had |
been named, was Astoria, depot for the |
well-known Hudson Bay Co., at that |
time, however, was the place and the |
immediate surroundings British posses |
sions. The first settlement was in 1903, |
and where upper Astoria is now can yet |
be seen some of the houses first built.
The buildings were for a number of |
years confined to warehouses. custom |
house and dwelling houses for the popu- |
lation which for some time numbered
about so. The city is named after and
in honor of John Jacob Astor, one of the
members of the Hudson Bay Co.
Though the fishing on the Columbia
river is as old as the city of Astoria itself,
it is only since 1864 that Astoria can
count its rise as headquarters tor the
fishing interests; it is from that time
that they commenced to put up the
salmon in Theoretically sealed cans, and
brought this excellent product into the
markets of the world on a large scale.
Since that time there has developed a
life and stirring up about Astoria which
but few could have dreamed about 80
years ago. The city has now, counting
the suburbs, about 10000 inhabitants,
| and this number is increased during the
| fishing season by some thousands more.
A larger portion of the business part of
/ tho ~ &c hr1ilt ON niles and in some
| places in the city built several blocks over
| the water; the rest of the city Is built
| along the beach and up on the side hills
| adjacent to the city. The whole length
| of the city including Union Town, Upper
| Astoria and Alderbrook is about miles.
| A street car line makes the cOmmunlca
| ton or intercourse between the different
points comparatively easy. While As
| toria is situated in one of the best lum-
bering districts on the Pacific coast, 1t
is, however, only the fishing interests
that up to the present time has been the
principal pursuit of majority of the
people. Astoria has % cannerles; the
amount of salmon canned increased
every year up to 1884, when over GOO,OOO
cases were packed, but from that time
the fishing has somewhat fallen off and
been more variable. This year is packed
only about 100000 cases of 4-doZen l. ID
cans each. 1t is figured that about three
| salmon will fill 4 case; the market value
of the salmon has been about $500 per
case, but this year the price has been
somewhat higher. The price for raw fish
this wear was S1.25 per fish, which Is
higher than usual. The fishing season
opens the 1st of April and closes the lst
of August. 1t is prohibited by law to
catch salmon during the months OF
March, August and September. Some
fish are caught in the fall, but in less
: quantities and the salmon then is a great
deal poorer. The cost of fishing gear is
considerable, yet great many are earn
ing a fine yearly income during the sea-
son. The city has good harbor with safe
anchorage and is headquarters for about
20 small steamers plying on the river and
coast. Astoria has steamship connection
with San Francisco every Sd day and
) with Portland twice every day, and
several steamers have weekly routes
along the coast south and north. Large
vessels loading up the Columbia river fol
Pacific or Atlantic ports must finish load
ing with a considerable portion of the
. cargo at Astoria on account of low water
above.
They are building breakwater wall at
the mouth of the river to facilitate the
entrance and lead the current in more
positive direction out over the bar. The
river is about miles wide at Astoria but
both above and below it is considerable
wider. The great difference between
high and low water makes the water III
the harbor sometimes salt and sometimes
fresh. When it is flooding the current
runs in from the ocean and returns with
!. increased force when ebbing. High and
low water is noticeable as far up as Port
land but the current is not affected more
than about 80 miles. Astoria has
churches, of which are Scandinavian
large school houses, . banks, 4 large
hotels, 8 sawmills, ? planning mills, ma
chine shops, L foundry and breweries
Boarding houses are quite numerous
| the principal part of them are running
only during the fishing season.
The Columbia Water Co. is furnishing
excellent water through six miles o
: mains laid from fine creek southeast o
the city. Two daily and three week.!
papers are published in Astoria.
{ The population of Astoria represents
nearly every nationality, and the China
men are particularly numerous. Scandl
navians are about one-quarter of the IN
q habitants of the city, and of foreign borl
citizens they are perhaps the most mum
S erous. Some of the Scandinavians ar
+ owners or part owners in canneries an,
others are in different branches of busi
/ ness, among them can be mentioned,
|. Hansen, jeweler; Martin Olsen, furniture
Martin Foar6, part owner of the larges
Il grocery house in the city; c. A. Hanson
It general store; Th. Olsen, druggist. an,
G. Evensen, proprietor Central hotel
= Among other well-known Scandinavian
e can be mentioned: A. Z. Brake, j. NJ
J. Olsen, policeman, M. Jensen, inventor
l.. Larson, F. Oberg and Jeldness broth
't ers. A. L. Brake has been justice Q
n the peace for z years in upper Astoria u
! to the 1st of July last; he has also bee
connected with different canneries a
j. president and secretary, etc.
~ M. Jensen is the inventor of severa
IL useful machines for canneries, and he
s, undoubtedly genius in this direction.
"a What Astoria lacks to compete wit
the many growing towns on the coast
l. railroad connection with the interio
" and the east. This has, however, for
long time occupied the mind and atten
le ton of the Astorians. To help up thl
" leakage some of the capitalists of Astori
\ have subscribed a sufficient amount
build railroad from Astoria to Tilli
nook, where they expect to connect wit
the o. g. G. II. The company has alread