The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1888-12-14
SALEM's IDEAS OF A RAILROAD.

A correspondent in the Salem
Statesman discussing the rivalry be-
tween Salem and Albany in regard to
railroad connection, especially the
Astoria and South Coast railroad,
says of Albany and her harbor, va
ouins bay: x
"Her harbor can be completed only
at great cost. and then can only be
accessible to small sized vessels. But
Salem's proposed route leads to deep
water, and is accessible to all sea 60
ing vessels, and as trade seeks the
most practicable routes it must of
necessity seek that way. Thus would
Salem receive the travel and traffic of
a transcontinental line, besides the
developed trade of the new country
through which the line passed. The
proposed route of the road from Asto-
ria to connect with the o. P. line lies
through o section of country un-
touched by any proposed railroad
route to Nestucca, and of course as
yet undeveloped as to its farming
and mining resources. But from
Nestucca to Salem and east to Stay
ton it lies through as good farming
and grazing country as the sun shines
upon, on this continent, and would
support railroad itself, as this pro-
posed route is the shortest and best
outlet to deep water, and any road
communicating with such a harbor
as Astoria must of necessity carry
with it the facilities for cheaper
transportation than any other route,
and would naturally draw to it all the
traffic of the country through which
il passes. And as this Will open a
direct line Of railroad from Salon to
New York and all points east, i! looks
like city of the pretentions of Salem
ought to take advantage of such a
state OF affairs, and use her utmost
endeavors to secure such an addition
to her facilities. When this road
passes through Salem, no one will
deny that every dollars worth of
property in this city will enhance IN
value very greatly, and the value OF
such an enterprise to farms and
farmers in the enhanced value of
products caused by cheaper trans
portation to deep water, can only be
estimated by the amount in years to
come. The fact that the proposed
route is the only one feasible to con-
meet Salem with deep sea port, in
creases the magnitude of the interest
to Salem. Now the route from Salem
east lies through the Waldo hills,
whose fame for fine farms is pro-
verbal; the further it extends up the
Santiam the more of this country il
passes through. Stayton is thriving
little town that enjoys the best water
power in the state, and from that
point the Santiam is easily bridge,l
having been indicated by engineers
about one year ago as the most feast
ble point TO bridge. Why don't the
1eup1e all along the line do something
10 secure this route before some
either more enterprising section ee-
cuses the advantages? Every farmer
along the line, every man in Salem
who owns property or does business
ought to consider well before he lets
the opportunity pass"
Some Clatsop county property
owners who are slow to grant right
OF way through their property to the
Astoria and South Coast railroad, a
home enterprise, for the benefit Of all
IN tkis vicinity would show more
sense, public spirit, enterprise, and
business foresight if they would aid
instead Of hindering an enterprise
that viii surely very much increase
the value Of every acre of land they
own IN the vicinity Of the road.