The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-08-19
THE BOARD OF TRADE.

trade rooms at winch Cnere was gOOu.
attendance considering the number of
people out of town. The meeting was
called to order by Mr.. G. Blakeley.
Mr.. G. L. Phillips was appointed to
collect membership dues which are now
delinquent and an order was commanded
to be drawn on the treasurer for the
amount of the bill of Ward & Kerns-
some sixty-five dollars.
Mr.. T. A. Hudson spoke at some
length on the subject of a portage rail
road from this city to a point nearly OPP
posite Columbus on the upper river.
company, which was incorporated some
time ago, to build road from this city
to the Fossil coal mines, had incorpor-
ated as an entirely distinct company to
build the portage. They had done so at
the suggestion of the Portland chamber
of commerce which thought it best not
to entangle the affairs of portage with
any other scheme. It was well known
committee of the Portland chamber of
commerce had viewed the new route
and, while their report had not yet been
made he was assured it would be favor
able to the Oregon side of the river. Two
expert engineers who accompanied the
committee have pronounced the survey
to be as good as they had ever seen.
Mr.. Hudson had no doubt the company
would get aid from the Portland cham
ber of commerce to build the road but he
believed The Dalles should render what
help it could. He did not think there
would be sufficient trade for line of
boats, without a portage connection
with the upper river. He appreciated
the fact that The Dalles had subscribed
good deal of money for the boat scheme,
still he thought this city ought to do
something, and if the new company
could show that they could build the
road The Dalles ought to help. He
had no suggestion to make as to what
ought to be done but The Dalles should
at least give terminal grounds and right
of way within the city limits. He sup
posed an arrangement could be made at
least to fix a through rate from the east
ern terminus of the portage to Portland.
Mayor Mays considered the subject be-
fore the board of the highest Importance
to the people of The Dalles. He had
gone with the party who had viewed the
new route and had been assured by Mr..
Habersham, whose ability was of the
highest order that the road could be
built cheaper than most roads in Oregon
and at comparatively small expense. We
I'll ~ of 10 II
city. The question is, What are we able
to do? We have, it is well known, had
a hard time to get enough money to pay
for our line of boats, still he was we'll
assured The Dalles wonld do everything
in its power. One thing was certain !;
this road would be the first railroad built
in Oregon, and The Dalles should do
everything in its power to assist it.
D. w. French said: 'sWe are all
deeply interested in a portage road.
We need a road, the Inland Empire
needs it and Portland needs it; yet Port
land led us to believe they were going to
contribute $4,000 for the new line of
boats, and when it came to the pinch
all she was willing to put in the scheme
was 1000 and we have been informed
the remaining $4,000 cannot be raised.
do not believe that Portland is
yet sufficiently alive to the importance
of an open river to give $25O,000 to have
it accomplished. The Dalles will do all
it can and if this portage road was once
well started The Dalles will get in and
help, but we cannot start so large a
scheme ourselves. We have had hard
time to raise $50 900 for the new boats"
Mr.. A. J. Cooper had conversed with
President Osborne about the two
rival projects for portage facilities and
Mr.. Osborne said there was no compari-
son between them, the road was so
much easier of construction on the
Oregon side. He thought The Dalles
should make proposition.
| Lieutenant Norton said, his company
was not asking this board for penny of
money at present. The people of Port
land would say, "What are your people
doing at homer and he wanted to know
what answer to give. He would like to
know what The Dalles was willing to do
in the matter.
B. S. Huntington believed that
The Dalles would do what 1t ought, but
he thought this meeting could not give
an intelligent answer to Mr.. Norton's
question. He moved that committee
of three be appointed to confer with our
leading citizens and ascertain, if possi
Bile, what might be expected. The mo-
ton prevailed and committee was ap-
pointed consisting of d. w. French, B.
| S. Huntinot01 and I11dd Fish NTH