The Portland daily press., 1891-12-05
CUSTOM HOUSE wsARF.
Chicago Parties and Not the Cana
dian pacific want 1t.
II Mr.. Barker sells 1t the Beaver
Line May Come Hero.

An item printed in the PRESS yesterday re-
carding report mat Custom House wharf was
likely 10 be sold by MIR. Peleg Parker t, a cor-
poration representing sSo.o0O,0o0, was read
with a good sal of interest. AS was sup-
gested by til PRESS the fcofporafi6rf most
likely to be rested 10 the purchase Of The
wharf, for the purpose assigned by the rumor
therunning of a line of ocean steamers. wonld
be the Canadian Pacific, but Mr.. Barker statas
that the Canadian Pacific is not 'theshtef estes,
party. s.tsst sssHkFFF
While Mr.. Barker declines to give the mama
Of the corporation or firm with whom he 10
treating, because the matter has not VET
reached point where In a business, point Of
view it would seem best to talk too freely a.
may be said that the proposed purchase has
been under consideration for about three
months. The wharf is wanted by western
parties, and it is said that the property has been
examined by their agent, that he was defiebted
with 1t, and that an offer. was made to Mr..
Barker. This was declined by that gentlemen
who in turn made price to the Chicago mar
ties. They nov have his offer under con s,ders !.
tion, with the probabilities in favor of accen.
tances sslsirff Haea,stlss,I.ssas4 a. -
They want the property for several reasons
their goods to the east just at the time when the
rush is the greatest, and when the railroads are
in a position to demand rates. They have "a
risk detention by reason of storms, and the
blockading OF the road, and SO have concluded
that It would be well to have warehouses and
an elevator In Portland, to which grain and
"Chicago hog product" could be sent any time
This would relieve the Chicago storage, ALWAYS
valuable, and have the grain ready for The
steamers at once.
A plan Of Custom House wharf has beer
made, and by that plan the present buildings
| would be removed In the case Of the sale of the
property. A double track would also be iaid
to the end of the wharf, and, sea wall put In
| The wharf is solid now. Dredging would be
| done, and warehouses and an elevator built
With very little trouble it would be possible tc
SO locate the projected elevator, that three
steamers could be loaded at once.
The western parties look to the securing Of
still another advantage. They will be able BY
sending freight to the east before the rush be
| gins, to secure better rates. no small item In 3
| year.
As the matter now stands 1t is only question
whether they will pay Mr.. Barker what he ask.
for his property. He has made his price. and
1t is only case now Of "Take it or leave II. ,
1t is understood that the offer they made wa:
within few thousand dollars of what Mr.. Bar
ker asks. and there is therefore good reason fol
thinking that the trade will be made. The
location Of the property is such as to make it a.
valuable for the purposes contemplated as an,
wharf In the city, while it has many advantages
OF Its own. Such an enterprise would be apt t.
bring the Beaver line here, as well as one OF
more Of the tramp" lines, and would be O
great advantage to the city.