The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-05-09


the matter under consideration and az
wise that a memorial, or petition, b
sent to our delegation in congress, ask
ing them to take such action as I
their judgment, will cause the genera
government to act in the matter, an
cause the entrance to be lighted. w
have prepared a memorial of that ma
ture and herewith present the same 70
the consideration of the chamber Yer,
respectfully.
FRANK ]. TAYLOR,
o. w. TALLANT,
S. S. GORDON,
Committee.
Astoria, Or, May Z, 1894.
To the Hons. j. N. Dolph and j. H
Mitchell, U. S. Senators, and Hons W
r. Ellis and Binger Hermann, Repre-
sentatives in Congress, from Oregon:
Your memorialists the chamber OF
commerce, of Astoria, Or, hereby cal
your attention to the desirahility and
necessity of the general government SC
lighting the channel at the entrance to
the Columbia river that shipping may
be able to pass in and out in the night
time.
Shipping to and from the Columbia
river has grown to such proportions as
will, in the judgment of this chamber,
justify the government in making the
necessary expenditure, to accomplish
the desired end The San Francisco
steamers arrive at and depart from this
port every five days at the present time,
and increase their trips to every four
days when business is good. These
steamers generally arrive off the en-
trance to the river before daylight, and
often before midnight, but are unable to
enter, for the reason that there are no
range lights to guide them in. And so
it is with coasters, bound here from
sea-coast ports. Often these latter de-.
sire to leave port. before daylight. IN
order to reach and enter some coast
port before dark of the succeeding night
or at high water during the day, but
are unable to do so, owing TO their in
ability to go out of the Columbia river
before daylight.
1t has been urged that no shipping
passes in and out of the Columbia river
in the night time, and that, therefore,
1t is unnecessary to place range lighte
there. This objection could be urged
o1ainct any, aptranna vuhara fhara ora
no range lights. The fact that ship
ping does not now cross out and into the
Columbia river in the night time shows
the necessity for establishing those aids
to navigation which will make the en-
trance navigable in the night time, as
well as in the day time. Until this is
done the entrance will not be navigable
at night, regardless of the extent to
which commerce may grow.
1t has also been urged that the jetty
which is being built by the government
at Point Adams is causing changes in
the channel at the entrance to the river,
and that, until that improvement isl
completed and the channels have be-
come permanent as to location, the
necessary expenditures to place range
lights would not be justified. After con-
sulting with pilots and mariners en-
gagged in running in and out of the CO.
Iumbia river we are of the opinion that
this objection may be overcome by the
establishing of lights, which may b.
moved from time to time, as necessity
requires. This could be done by placing
a. light ship in mid-channel, inside the
bar, and about opposite Cape Disap-
pointment, and causing colored rays OF
light, thrown from the Cape Disappoint-
ment light to guide vessels along the
river channel from Sand Island to Fort
Stevens, and over the outer portion or
the bar channel, thus enabling vessels,
after taking their departure from the
line Of the colored lights, to steer d.
rectly for the light ship, she being WITH
in easy distance; or If the vessel be-
near the light ship she will be able toI
find the colored light, within easy dis-
tance from the light ship
A light ship anchored as above de-
sc,ibed would be a guide to shipping
not only in the night time, but in foggy
weather, if she be equipped with fog
whistle. For this purpose alone we
think the expenditure necessary to ac-
complish the desired object would be
justifaele.
In addition to the above objects. we
think the anchorage of a light ship at
the designated point would be justihed
in the saving of life which would be
thereby accomplished. At this point
many fishermen lose their lives by
drowning each year. owing to the fact
that the currents are so swift that once
in them the fishermen are unable. un-
less the wind be strongly in their Ia
yor to return to the harbor. ana tney
are swept ou; 10 sea or into the break
ers and drown. II is claimed by those
familiar with the facts and the location
that a light ship anchored at the point
designated would save more lives each
year than both Of the iife-saying sta
lions at the mouth Of the Columbia
river now do
The above are only part Of the rea-
Hnaa