The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1889-07-24
A FINE COUNTRY.
That Will Have Railroad Connectio
As Soon as 1t Is Ready For 1t To Com
TILLAMooK, July 2lst, 1889.

Oh Il budb Was 1T d
recent meeting of the citizens of this
county, said committee to ascertain as
far as practicable, the possibility of
railroad connection with Astoria and the
Willamette valley, am pleased to say
that circulars have been prepared, des-
criptive of practicable route through
the county, together with the probable
amount of local business to such q line.
But pending their printing and distri-
button, / would respectfully call the
attention of Astoria and the people of
the South Coast Railroad, that in their
choice (as we Iearn,) of route, via up
per Nehalem, in preference to the much
easier one via TilIamook, they will find
it to be committing one of the
greatest errors in railroad con-
struction in the northwest: errors
not only in cost, but in time also. Be
sides it taps country-the upper Ne
halem, whose possible area and popula-
tion can never exceed the one-tenth of
that of this country, to say nothing about
the almost inexhaustible product of tim
Der that is destined to become factor of
great importance to line traversing this
county.
Our population has nearly trebled with
in the last four years and at present
rates of increase will treble again in the
near future. And as to products, give US
railroad and we will become the banner
county of the state, In the growing and
exporting of all crops adapted to the
coast.
As to a route from Seaside, having
crossed nearly the whole of it myself sew
eral times, L am prepared to say that
after the engineer crosses the low divide
back of Onion Peak, near the head
waters of the Necanicum, he will find, SO
to speak, level country from there all
the way to Sheridan, in Yamhill, barring
the ordinary fall of the streams, whose
courses the route ascends and descend.
Reckoning the minimum cost of con-
struction of railroads in the Pacific north
west, at from 100 to 12J per cent. per
mile, and the maximum rates at from 200
to 240 per cent. | will make the assertion
here that this line can be built within
the above minimum rates, which in
cost would be hardly a comparison with
that of the upper Nehalem route as re-
ported upon by Wizards engineers few
years since.
The Tillamook route would be a saw
ing of time in construction by reason of
its lighter grades. and from the fact that
work could commence IN the center at
Tillamook bay, as we'll as at both ends.
Again, does Astoria properly consider
that the Forest Grove route contemplateS
the successful DETECTING of traffic des-
tined to the sea board, after it gets with
in a few miles of a rival trade and cap
ital center, imagine, if YOU can, how
much of the trade of the orient westward
bound, via Central Pacific, could be de-
fiected from San Francisco when within
few miles of it. Many view it every
way, in the light of its vastly greater
ease in construction, the ten times
greater amont of local traffic to certainly
accrue to it, and the fact that it can be
built in one half the time, and common
sense will ever give the Tillamook route
the palm, and if the projectors of the
road will give it the merest preliminary
look, am satisfied that they will fully
agree with me.
However, whether Tillamook gets a
road or not, she does not at all begrudge
to Astoria what she has so long deserved,
a railroad. +. NJ. LAMB.
THE Historian is pleased to know
the citizens of our sister county are
awake to its advantages and desirous
of making known these advantages,
which are manifest and manifold.
Regarding the subject of our cor
respondents railroad comments The
AsToRIAN is also pleased to be able to
assure him and other prominent resi-
dents of Tillamook county that AstO-
ria and the Astoria and South Coast
Railroad company are heartily in &C
cord with them.
Supplementary articles of incorpo-
ration of that road were filed a few
days ago, and the very first provision
in these articles of incorporation is to
build, maintain and operate rail
road
From point in the city of Astoria,
Clatsop county, state of Oregon, to a
point at the head of tide water on
Tillamook bay, and thence across
Tillamook and Yamhill counties to a
point of connection with the Oregon
Railway lines at or near Sheridan, in
Yamhill county, Oregon"
So far as TillamoOk is concerned
the above exhibits exact and definite
knowledge and intention, and plainly
shows Astoria's realization of the rich
ness of that country and the necessity
in mutual sense of its development
AS to the relative merits of the
several routes, that is question moi
so much of opinion as of fact.
1t is a matter that can safely be left
to the decision of the two corps of rail
road engineers now in the field.
It is the opinion of The AsTOR IAN
that the shortest, most direct, anG
most essential part of the work will
first be done. That is to make rail
road connection from Astoria to stand.
ard gauge connection in Washington
county.
For this reason the first railroad
work will probably go up the Lewis
and Clarke's and on via the upper
Nehalem.
Tillamook's turn will come all il
good time. Once having established
railroad connection with and from
Astoria to transcontinental lines, oul
company's attention will next be takel
up with lines to Tillamook and tn,
lower Nehalem, in this our needs and
immediate requirements taking prec
edence of our wants.
AS to the relative cost, while W,
do not clearly understand our CORE
spondent's figures, he will pardon II
| for suggesting that the matter of prac
tical cost can safely be left to thOs
who have had considerable practica
experience in building railroads IL
this state.
Tillamook will be neither forgottel
or ignored. She Ia nearer railroad