The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1889-10-19
AsTDuf1,
The SeiFofi OF Oregon; Signs os zsii-
proyeSent Ana Of Pr0asinE by the
Advantages which Nature has
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! I1GSt0k w Ath1h AtS VIaSPs
There is no more historical spot in Ore
gon than Astoria. Named after Astor,
who, in 1910, established trading station
at this POINT, and brought into prominence
by Washington Irying's celebrated work,
"Astoria, it has been known to the read
ing public for many decades. When the
| Columbia river became known as the great
commercial highway of the west, this point
! at the mouth of the stream was considered
of the utmost Importance. 1t was the
natural seaport Of the new empire, and as
such attracted the attention of the Hudson
Bay and other commercial companies which
were battling for the trade of this portion
of the country. 1t is many years ago since
we landed at its wharf on an ocean steamer,
and first beheld Oregon, with all its prom
ises of agricultural and mineral wealth.
river, with anchorage for the fleets of an
empire, we were assured of its future great
ness, and haYe seen no occasion to change
this opinion. With the shipping of the
Columbia river under the control of Port
land capitalists, and no connection with the |
interior except by means of the Columbia |
river 1t is not at all surprising that Astoria |
has not developed her resources or displayed |
enterprise commensurate with her advan- |
tages. But a new era has dawned for this, |
the seaport of Oregon, and we firmly believe |
that IN the next decade more advancement |
will be made than in all the years since the
establishment of the place. The great fac
tor of growth, the railroad, has been called
advanced, and new life appears to be infused
into the community. The terminus of the
proposed road will be near Albany, and this
will connect the rich Willamette valley
with Astoria. 1t is not reasonable to be-
lieve that, after railroad connection is made
with the interior, producers will send
their grain by any tortuous route to sea-
board when they can chip direct.
Further than this, in many instance, large
sea-going ships are forced to be loaded at
Astoria by means Of barges, and this plan
will not be pursued when the iron.horse
brings the producers OF Eastern, Western
and Southern Oregon in close communica-
tion with ocean traffic. 1t will be only
few Years before this railroad will be COM
pleted, and then We expect to see a revolu-
ton in trade centers in Oregon. Astoria
has waited long and patiently for her rights
to be acknowledged. and the time Is at hand
when she will rise or fall by her own merits. ,
There are very many evidences of thrift
and enterprise in Astoria, and the present /
era is one of substanstial progress. New
building have been erected IN many Places |
and three liye. daily papers-Astoria Pio-
neer and Iranscript-well supported by the |
business men, are infusing life and activity |
into all business industries. These are the /
criteria by which the growth and prosperity g
Of any city can be judged, and when news
papers maintain sickIy existence, the city I
IS doomed and the handwriting on the wall +
can be easily dlscerned. Another project
that will help astoria IN her development s
IS an open river, ard she has equal interest {
with the inland empire in the construction \
If the locks at the Cascades. With OBJ 7
,tructions to navigation in this great river a
the wheat output of the inland \
empire would seek tide-wa ter at the wharves \
# this city. The citizens understand this, | r
md are in sympathy with any movement
iiCu Lie DdlleS uuuSTLdke 10 |
The river as channel of commerce. They are
lnxious to see all improvements in the riyer
pushed to an early completion, knowing
hat they will eventually solve the freight
problem in their favor. u
Astoria is the Venice of the northwest. t,
t is built in TIE river on piling, and docks d
AN be constructed almost around the j,
ity. Travel is not done by vehicles, but =,
~ boats, and these can be seen ON the bay u
oursing In every direction. One runs to a
It. Candy, another to the jetty and Ft. G.
stevens, still another to Ilwaco and Skipa- c
ion. Astoria needs no roads. The river Is =
Ter highway, and this will always be util- b
zed tor commerce and pleasure. In few "
ears we expect to see wharves along the al
'hole shore line of the peninsula, where al
ny deep-sea going vessel can load or un- al
pad her cargo. +,
There is no doubt that the future of this b
lty by the sounding sea is bright, and v
er growth and prosperity are almost un- d
United. Her salmon exports now reach b
bout 81, 100000 annually, and brisk b
rade is carried on In lumber to every part a
f the coast. The Cutting Co. has a branch o.
Establishment here, end other industries ii
nay be expected as soon as the commercial b
aciiities are fully developed. Astoria now r,
oasts Of 7000 population; but this will o
ouble in the next two or three years, and
he seaport Of Oregon will be the second 81
ity in the state. t,