The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1889-09-29
THE DELAYED RAILROAD IRON.
Where the Blame Lies for Its DetentIO

For the last three weeks the direc
tors and resident officials of the Asto
ria and South Coast Railway company
have been the constant recipients ol
the questions, why doesn't the iron
comeT "Where is the delay?" "Why
don't you have the material brought
here!'
The delay in the arrival of the iron
etc, is and has been wholly beyond
the power of any Astoria and South
Coast railroad official to obyiote or
correct.
The delay is in Portland. The ma,
terial is to be delivered here, and the
freight paid here, and to take it out OF
the hands of those who have the de-
ivering of it would occasion the pay
ment Of extra and unnecessary freight
charges from Portland to this city.
The following is copy OF a letter
from Mr.. VIM. Reid, the president of
the Astoria and South Coast Railway
company, to Mr.. b. Campbell, the
general freight agent of the o. r. 4
n. Co., and it SO concisely and sue
cinctly states the existing facts that it
is here published without further COM
ment, save the suggestion that the
directors be given a rest.
They are doing all they eau, and no
blame or censure can be justly laid Oh
them:
ASTORIA AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY Co.,
PRESIDENTS OFFICE, ?
PORTLAND, Or, September 81, 1889.
b.: Campbell, Esq, @. F. A., o. r. If N.
Co.:
DEAR SIR:-I regret to be compelled to
again complain Of the manner in which
the Astoria and South Coast Railway has
been treated in regard to the shipment
of their rails and engine to Astoria, the
rails now lying at Albina for three weeks.
On account of accidents to your barge
We submitted for time to the delay un-
til last week we were promised most
faithfully that on Friday today the
rails and engine would 60 down to AS
toria sure, and to accomplish which /
took care on Tuesday to have this prom
ise repeated. This morning your Mr..
Woodworth again assured me they would
go off, and this afternoon went to Al
bina myself in company with director
E. p. Thompson and found nothing
done. On complaining at 3 p, N. to your
Mr.. Woodworth through the telephone,
he admitted we were shamefully treated
and would see to the matter forthwith;
and two hours afterwards / again went
to Albina and was told that between the
first time at 2 o'clock (you assured me
the rails would go) and p. N, an order
had been received countermanding the
barge going to Astoria, and ordering her
back again to Oswego Iron and Steel
works with limestone.
Such treatment is scarcely fair. The
people of Astoria blame me and not you,
and think it is only fair the cause of
delay should be fully explained and their
wants attended to forthwith.
Unless the engine and rails are taken
down upon Monday without fail, fear
the board Of directors will instruct me to
ship the remainder of their rails and ma
terial via Northern Pacifcland KalamR.
If, as said to Mr.. Woodworth, it is
the payment of freight which is keeping
the rails back, kindly say 80, and will
endeaYor to pay the freight here at Port
land, although the rails being consigned
to Astoria, the freight is payable there.
am assured that q check is waiting
for $2,7S2, the amount Of the freight on
these fifteen cars and rails, TO be deliv-
cred when they get there.
AS / said to Mr.. Woodworth, however,
if there is any miscarriage regarding pay
ment at Astoria, / shall in that case be
pleased to give you my personal guar
antee to see that freight paid.
Yours truly,
Signed WILLIAM REID,
President.