The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-12-04
THE AsToRIA-PoRTLAND ROAD.
The Contract Signed. and Work to Be
Commenced Early in the Spring.

The Contract Signed. and Work to Be
Commenced Early in the Spring.
The following from the Portland Sun
was evidently written py one who has
not studied very closely the facts, eith-
er as regards the contract for building
the Gobel road, or the geography Of the
lower river country. The Southeast
road Is seventeen instead Of four miles
| in length, as mentioned in the Sun,
and runs west and south from Astoria.
The writer gives Mr. Stanton credit
for having secured the contract, in
stead of The rlghtful partles Messrs.
A. b. Hammond and E. l.. Bonner, of
MissOlla, Montana, with whom Messrs.
Stanton, Kimball and Campbell are as
sociated, indirectly:
The Stanton-C Campbell railroad party,
which has taken the contract for build
ing the Astoria and Portland railroad,
ratul ned from Astoria yesterday. The
contr ct, which is complete and has
been properly executed, calls for the
work % begin about the first of March,
1895, out the probabilities are that ac-
tive preparations will commence as
early .s February. The party VIII leave
for gAe East tomorrow to get their
easter affairs in connection with the
railroad completed, and will return in
about a month with their families, who
will reside here during the construction
Of the road 1t is estimated that the
cost Of completing the road from Gobel
| to Astoria will be in the nelghborhood
of $4,000, 600. This, however, Is a very
small item in the expense of building
the road, as the cost of necessary
wharves, docks, elevators and other
buildings and equipments necessary to
put the railroad in first-class condition
will run up into the millions. Mr.. j. G.
| Stanton's name at the head Of the new
company is sufficient guarantee that
| the road will he put Through with the
greatest possible rapidity, and by jan
uary, 1896. The chances for straight
connection from Portland to Astoria
are exceedingly favorable. 1t will re,
quire large number of men to build
the road, and the construction Of the
same will no doubt furnish employment
to large number OF men who are out
of work, and will gladly avail them
selves of the opportunity of lucrative
employment for a year at least.
This WILL undoubtedly, be the most
valuable 100 miles of railroad to the
| farmers in the state of Oregon, as 1t
will give them direct shipment of
l0elF pTOuuClS 10 IHe sea, ana Will
bring The vast amount of Eastern Ore
gon grain shipments, which are now
handled by other sources, through
Portland to Astoria for shipment to the
foreign ports.
When this road is completed it will
put both the farmers and merchants OF
the Willamette Valley and adjacent
country practically on an equal foot
ing with Puget Sound ports. At pres
ent the tonnage rates in the charter
calls for so cents per ton more than
the Puget Sound charter, thus causing
the farmers to sell their produce for ST.
cents per ton less or compelling the
merchant to pay so cents more.
In connection with this road, the
contracting parties, Bonner, Hammond
and Others have definitely secured the
option to purchase the "Seashore road"
which runs seaward from Astoria about
four miles,
In this last anxious and effective eff
fort the Astoria people have shown
great liberality in regard to the sub
sidy. The grant according to the op-
orators, consists of large portions OF
Astoria city property, valued, in all, al
over $2.00O0OO. SO that with the natur-
ally occurring advantages to Astoria
by the building of this road, and the
consequent enhancement of Astoria
property, the builders of this road ara
liable to make a good thing out of what
earlier prospectors have been scared to
undertake.