Telegram-herald., 1891-11-14
GREAT PossIsILiTiEs.

To readily understand the great ad-
vantage TO he gained by converting
Grand River into n navigable stream a
comparison with other rivers will afford
. definite CONCEPTION. Take for in
stance the Colunlbis and WilIame tie
rivers in Oregon. These two streams
in relation 10 Portland Ore, afford .
striking parallel o - CIT and IL
Grand River. The
umb,a River is obstruc.ed by o bar
rendering entrance at all times ditticu!.
and most Of The time exceedingly
hazardous. At points along the river
for distance OF sixty miles and to the
mouth of the Wlllame,te, there arc or
were = number of shoals and sand bars
which obstrrcted navigation 70 such
an extent that only hst-bottomed river
steamers could ply the stream. From
tho mouth Of the Willamette to Port
land, . distance of twenty miles, per-
haps, the river was divided into q mum
bsr of shallow channels. forming delta
completely blocking navigation 10 all
but boats Of the iishtest draft. The
whole state Of Oregon constitutes but
one representative district, and It's
population is little greater, or was q
little greater few years ago, than that
of the fifth district. APprcciatIng the
vast benefits to be secured by an i'm.
pyovemert of the two rivers, deter
mined efforts were put forth to secure
An appropriation. which resulted in
eucceee. Jetties were thrown across
the mouth Of the Willamette. one of
the channels was dredged and after
wards dyked, and . sufficient depth OF
water secured 10 admit OF the free pas
sage Of ocean going vessels. Then the
distractions in the Columbia were ye-
moved and sufficient channel was
secured from Portland to the SEA. To
minimize the dxngers to shipping enter.
ing the Columbia = gigantic breakwater
nae been constructsd to protect the bal
from the force of the shoreward waves
Today asreguiar line OF ocean or coast
wise steamers ply between San Fran.
cisco aud Portland aud between Port
land anu the cities on the Puget sound
The passenger and freight traffic
is enormous. Following the opening
Of these two rivers the whole inter-
OK Oregon responded to the quickened
life IF commerce, and Portland becams
the distributing center for vast area
of territory. Porilsad by water is liC
mile from the sea, aad has ouistripped
in wealth and population the village vi
Astoria. at the mouth OF the Columbia
although . settlement was formed
there years before white man ever
saw the present sic Of The former city.
By the expenditures OF one-sixtecnth
OF the amount speut to improve the
Columbia and Willamette, Grand river
could be made fourteen feet in depth
| from this city to deep water. Witt
such . depth the most etupid mus
see the inevitable advantages e.
follow. This city would have direc
s'esp,boat connection with Chlrago
Milwaukee and o:her lake ports afford
ing inestim sole advantages IN tho way
St fr,Ights and fares. The direct IN
nuance upon the value OF crops snd
manufactures would be appreciate.
and TO all interests and puiposss thii
city would be . lskepors. enjoying al
the privileges incident to such cities
The value of the Improvement is NOR,
likely to be undcrestims.ed than exsz-
-erssed and for that reason ther,
should bs no abatement Of enthusiasm
por pers'stsncy until the hoArse grat,ng
of the drsdgs srates upon our ears.