The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1889-06-16

and witness the process. It. ap-
pears that when it is desired, as it is
daily, to cut million feet of spruce,
fir or hemlock, an electrical circuit is
formed. Wires connected with CEN
tral battery encircle the huge trunks
of the giant trees, more wires con-
meet with portable motors close by,
and at a given signal the current is
turned on: the wires cut through the
trunks of the trees, and as they fall
PROSTATE second, current, similarly
applied, sewers the tops and branches.
By the time the giants of the forest to
the extent Of twenty or thirty have
fallen, they are lifted by the same
electric current applied with static as
well as dynamic effect, and carried
swiftly to where rapidly revolving
saws cut them at once into manufac-
tured lumber, everything, from the
telling of the tree to its placing in the
holds OF vessels, being done by elec-
tricity. l shall, if possible, pay those
mills visit.
The seashore here Is very pretty.
From the mole, or jetty, at the mouth
of the river to the Necanicum, is lined
with seaside villages, some of them
having very fine cottages, costing from
$25, 200 to $4,000 apiece. The presi-
dent of the Astoria Nut and Bolt
works, a large concern employing 800
men, has as fine seaside cottage as I
ever saw. 1t is built after the model
of the Jardin des Plantes, of Paris, and
is really superb.
The drainage and streets of these
seaside villages are beyond criticism,
and reflect great credit on the resi-
dents. The president of the Astoria &
Oregon Central railroad and the super
intendent of the Astoria Air line both
say that next year there will be far
ther extension OF building down to
a point opposite Tillamook Rock,
which place is now connected with the
shore by means OF a suspension
bridge.
Up to toward the close of the last
century there was q lighthouse on this
rock, but one stormy night in Novem-
Der 1893 q tremendous sea washed over
the rock, carrying away the lighthouse
and whelming in ruin the hapless
light keepers, Shortly after the gov
eminent, at the urgent solicitation Of
the twelve senators and representa-
tives from Oregon and Washington
succeeded in having two light ships
stationed near there, which, in con
nection with the two off the mouth of
the Columbia, afford protection to
vessels approaching this coast.
But find I am DEPRESSING, my idea
being to give you an idea Of Astoria
proper.
The streets. are superb. You re-
member how hilly and rugged it used
to be south of Fourth street, and the
fiat wood streets built out over the
tide, in what, twenty-five years ago,
was the business part of town.
The great fire of 1898 swept that
part Of the city out Of existence. In
mediately upon rebuilding it was, de-
termined to level the hills and with
the debris and dirt fill up the flats.
This was quickly and easily done, and
the city as now built presents beau
tiful appearance. There is a fine grade
each way from what is still called
Summit avenue. The most of the
residences are from Summit avenue
half way toward the Columbia on the
north and Young's river on the south.
On what was formerly known as
Smiths Point, now the most thickly
populated part Of the city, are some
buildings that, in size and structure,
would compare favorably with any
building in Whatcom or Tracyton,
the two great cities Of the Sound.
The bank of Astoria, a nine-story
edifce is built OF iron and steel
Not bit of timber is to
be seen. In place of joists steel beams
are used, and in place OF laths iron
rods receive and hold the plaster which
is made from burned oyster shells,
immense deposits of which are found
in the vicinity of Warrentown.
The Clatsop Loan and Trust Co.
also has an immense building here.
covering an entire block and facing on
Central, Fourth, Taylor and Fifth
streets 1t cost nearly million dollars
to build, is eight stories high, built
of Clatsop basalt and Tillamook mar
BILE and faces the post Office, hand
some six story building OF polished
erected by the government
in 1902 at an expense Of S650,OOO.
The streets attract my attention
and would claim admiration anywhere.
They are built on scientific principles,
are very wide, have a substratum of
macadamized rock, overlaid with bit
umen intermixed with fine gravel,
and are clean, hard and very durable.
The insurance rates vary from one
tenth to one-fifth Of one per cent. L
afforded much amusement to a young
business man this morning whom in
formed that I remembered when from
6 to 9 per cent. insurance was paid in
Astoria. He didn't believe me, and
while he was too polite to tell lady
she lied, could see by his face that
he thought it.
The slope from Summit avenue,
south to Young's river is believed to
be more desirable for residences.
From Bellvue around by Eagleton,
Shelby, east Astoria and on down to
the stock yards and lumber depots is
almost solid business blocks. The old
water front line was advanced years
ago, and where formerly was what used
to be called "the ship channel" is now
covered with business warehouses and
crossed and recrossed by railroad
tracks, and the main channel with IS
feet Of water is pushed away to the
north Of what was formerly called "the
sands" A sea wall, completed ten
years ago at an expense of over $500,
mn ,oro1-o1 ~, oQ % -, 4l,.