The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-04-16
Union Pacific
and Astoria.


Pacific, visited Astoria and looked owe
the broad expanse of water at this port,
he expressed surprise that no trans
continental line had turned 1t to &C
count. The great railroad manager
who paid this compliment to Astoria Is
now more powerful and influential than
ever. He enjoys the confidence Of the
Gould interest, which is large, and he
has been induced to remain president
Of the Union Pacific, with the approx
al of all who are concerned in the de-
yelopment OF that important railroad
system, which embraces 5000 miles Of
track with gross receipts Of about $11,-
100000. In Mr.. Clark's hands the Union
Pacific will be conducted solely On
sound business principles with the OBJ
ject Of increasing its prosperity and de-
veloping the vast region which Its lines
traverse. 1t has already about $780,
900 in its treasury, and its collateral
trust Is regarded with favor by invest
ors. 1t is at peace with all other roads,
and must profit by the increased bust
ness which most railroads may expect
from the Worlds Fair at Chicago.
The Union Pacific has the strongest
incentive for building to Astoria from
Portland or Goble. 1t is only by that
course that 1t can retain its hold on the
export grain trade Of the Inland En-
pire. 1t has tried what might be called
the Portland route, without success.
Instead Of retaining the firm grip which
1t had on the grain traffic as the sue
cessor of the Oregon Railway and Nav
igation Company, the Union Pacific has
been compelled to yield a large share
Of that business to the Northern Pa
cific despite the heavy grade at the
Cascade mountains and the remoteness
of Tacoma from the seaboard, COM
pared with the port Of Astoria. 1t Is
threatened with more rivalry by the
presence Of the Great Northern rail-
way at the Sound-an extension that
was built over easy grades, under a
contract which ensured good work at
reasonable rates. The Great Northern
will undoubtedly reach out for this
grain traffic, and will repeat in WASH
ington and Eastern oregon what 1t has
done In Minnesota, where 1t has formed
a network of lines, leading on the Il
hand to the great flour mills at Mime
and on the other to the head of
navigation at Duluth and West Supe-
rior. The rivalry of the Great North
ern will be still keener when 1t builds
to the proposed extension from the
Sound to Portland, crossing the Co.
at Vancouver, and invading,
not the Oregon metropolis alone, but
the Willamette valley. and in due
Astoria. All this will simply
verify Mr.. James j. Hills remark that
his road will be a rake-the handle
will be the main line to the East while
the prongs will be the branch lines ex-
tending to the coast cities, including
and San Francisco.
But, apart from the impending COM
petition which the Union Pacific must
expect to encounter more and more, as
wheat production increases, that rail-
road has a strong incentive to build TO
Astoria in order to save money and in
rease Its general business. 1t has con-
'essedly conducted the pilotage and
.owage business of the Columbia river
t a loss. 1t is losing money also by
Us river steamboats,. 1t sees monthly,
passengers in large numbers and
'reight in great quantity, converted by
'lval steam boats. such as the Lurline
nd Telephone, despite its supposed
eadiness to make lower rates. More
,ver. 1t loses nearly all the San Fran
isco freight business with this port,
because that traffic is connected In the
mercantile mind with the river bust
ness. which as observed, is mostly In
the hands of the Independent boats,
How different 1t would be If the
Union Pacific had a railroad to this
city! Then it might expect a large
share Of the passenger traffic as well
as of the general freight business. Then
1t would be able to haul wheat from
Walla Walla and other grain markets
to the seaboard on better terms than
any OF its rivals. Then would the
Union Pacific be a transcontinental
railroad in fact as well as in name. Its
territory would be compact and clearly
defined. 1t would enjoy the fullest con-
idence of the financial world, and hav-
ing settled satisfactorily the govern
ment claim. 1t would enter on an era
OF rapid growth and permanent pros
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