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

described, can locate and destroy a
hostile feet at the distance Of o miles.
Such means of protection are rem
dered necessary by the magnitude of
the traffic here. was at the CONNER
cial dock this afternoon, which is
5000 feet In length, and saw four
steel steamers loading, each drawing
% feet, the government work at the
mouth Of the river which: was COM
pleted the year after Senator Dolph
was appointed secretary Of the treas
ury, giving a depth OF nine fathoms
clear across the entrance to the river.
This commercial dock is only one of
40 large docks and warehouses all of
which are constantly full. was con-
siderably interested in one steamer at
Fulton Dock, called the NeaC Era. 1t
is propelled solely by zozolOnite. the
new force, which is generated direct
from coal, and bears the same rela-
ton to steam that electricity does,
only in a modified degree. It appears
to be an hitherto undiscovered mode
of electric force. The last trip this
steamer made from China was seven
days, which is considered very good,
as with the newest service OF balloon
service it takes three days to go from
Astoria to New York, the defective
arrangements in the Mississippi valley
service occasioning twelve hours de.
lay at Chicago. 1t is, believed. how
ever that very shortly, the Transcon-
tinental & Universal Balloon Co.,
Limited, can carry passengers from
New York to Astoria in 48 hours.
The census OF 1910 gave Astoria q
population of 764, 1913. It is believed
that the municipal census to be taken
next year will show a population Of
100000 on this peninsula;
The city government is entirely in
the hands of seven commissioners who
have absolute control of the twenty
nine wards which comprise the city
proper. Each commissioner is paid
$4,000 year, and has charge Of one
department of the public service. The
president OF the board Of commission
ers is paid $4,000 q year. The city
appropristes fixed sums annually;
$4,000 for street cleaning, S250,0O0
for street improvement, 100000 for
entertainment of visitors and distin-
guished guests, $4,000 for public
parks and libraries, 100000 for cre-
nation, etc.
The value Of the property In the
city is estimated at $2,7O0, 100000.
There are no taxes. The revenue Of
the city is derived entirely from the
sale Of franchises, special privileges,
wharfage dues, etc. The Astoria Belt
line, for instance, pays $1,000 day
for the franchise for carrying all pas
sengers from one part Of the city to
any other part. It cost over $780,
900 to run the city last year. There
is no surplus. II the appropriation
for any year overruRs the expenses q
new scholarship in the School of Tech
nique is endowed, or another public
library is started, or the suburban
drives are extended.
There are 81 public schools in the
city. Women that do what ia usually
considered mems work" are paid
mena wages, and rigid examination
and high salaries insure good teach
ers. The teachers who teach in the
primary roonia get the highest sal
aries; those in the upper rooms the
smallest, the idea heing that it re-
quires more ability to akayt the chill
dren right than to guide than when
fairly started. No child is allowed to
go to school till ten years OF age, nor
to remain more than four hours each
day. Every pupil is expected upon
going through to be able to read in
telligently, write a legible hand, add,
subtract, multiply and divide figures
rapidly and correctly and talk En-
glish so as to be understood. It's a
new idea, and is said to work well.
The country south Of Young's river
presents a very pretty appearance.
It is covered with suburban villas and
residences with handsome grounds
and parterres Of flowers. The three
Yacht clubs have annual regattas on
the river and the stone quays and
docks on both sides of the stream on
these occasions are lined with eager
spectators.
Four miles south and east OF here
are the extensive yards and depots of
the great Pacific and Continental
railway covering $40 acres of ground.
Shortly after the development of the
immense coal mines which now sus-
tain q population of 28000 in the town
of Keeney, the company erected these
yards and depots and have an i'm
mense traffic.
Noiseless motors transfer all pass
engers from there to this city, there
being an elevated railway from their
passenger depot to Summit avenue.
Three miles beyond, lies the thriving
village OF Wahlooscee. It is sup
ported entirely by the smelling worksof
the Rock Creek Mining Co., who daily
crush and smelt 1,675 tons Of ore from
their mines in Rock Greek district.
The first importation of skilled miners
and metallurgists from Swansea, Wales,
met with some opposition from q con-
servative element, but at the ensu-
ing election the new arrivals elected
eighteen out Of the twenty-seven rep
resentatives to the state capital at
Vernon. and this overcame all opposi-
ton to their continued presence.
There are thirteen railroads now
centering here, and though it is proph-
esied that by 1920 the balloon and
pneumatic system Of transportation
will have superseded the railroads,
yet the immense expense now being
incurred in opening the new electric
railway to the astronomical observa-
tory at Saddle Mountain, indicates
that capitalists do not believe that
the electric railway system is soon to