The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-12-23
THE INLAND EMPIRE.
3tfl' 2zgg... -!
J. L. Killiam States Some In
teresting Facts About It.
WHERE THE WHEAT GOES.
The Natural Market, Astoria, De-
barred by Lack of Railroad
Connection.
WHERE THE WHEAT GOES.

Mr.. ]. L. Killiam, of Pendleton, ar
rived in the city yesterday afternoon,
and is registered at the Occident. Mr..
Killiam is in Astoria for the first time,
though his residence in Oregon dates
back sixteen years. In company with
Mr.. James w. Welch he visited differ
emit places If interest during the after
noon, and to "a representative Of the
Astorian had many commendable
things to say regarding Oregon's only
seaport In go and ~, Mr.. Killiam
was a member of the legislature, and
together with Mr.. Welch, did some hard
work in am effort to get am appropria-
ait The Dalles. Like all residents of that
section OF THE state from which he
comes, Mr. Killiam is an earnest ad
vocate Of an open river to the sea, and
firmly believes that he will live to see
the day when the great grain fields of
THE Inland Empire will send their pro-
ducts on barges and Steamers to AS
torfa for foreign shipment. He is
manager of the Produce Warehouse
Company, with headquarters at PEN
dleton, and is well posted on grain
shipments from THAT country. Speak
ing of the movement of this years
crop, Mr.. Killiam said:
"Our company has shipped 100000
bushels of wheat ito Tacoma this sea-
son, and before our elevators are en-
ptied THE amount will reach over 1,0O0,-
900 bushels. The grain all goes by the
way of the Washington and Columbia
River railroad, to Hunts junction,
thence via the Northern Pacific to Ia
eBma. Although the freight rate to
Tacoma is the same as to Portland,
we are able to get from to IL cents
per bushel more for our wheat at the
Sound port THAN Portland, due to
better charter rate from the former
port The distance to Portland is 100
miles nearer, but of course she is a
common point with Tacoma"
What proportion of the grain from
your county goes to Tacoma?" asked
the reporter.
Fully one-half. Portland should be
our natural market, but dt never can
be, as the Sound will always be able
to furnish cheaper charter rates. We
are not the only firm in that country
sending wheat ito Tacoma. Hamilton &
Fourke, have already shipped over 1,0OO,-
900 bushels this year, and there are
various other smaller shippers.
"You ask me how long this state of
affairs must continue. Well, sir, Vt will
continue until the Columbia river is
open to the sea, or until Astoria has
railroad connection with one Of the
lines tapping our country. There was
a time when firmly believed that the
.ormer condition would prevail first,
but as / understand THAT Astorias
prospects are very bright for the long,
desired railroad connection, why the
.ii.le seems near when wheat raised in
he great Columbia River basin will find
an outlet for our foreign shipment
through this port In the event Of a
railroad to Astoria, 1T is safe to say that
but little of the vast quantity Of wheat
raised in our section of the country will
ever reach Tacoma"
Does all of the wheat you ship to
- a.. R.,.osfo.v, ,,,o q
mot direct. A great portion Of 1t
goes to San Francisco and from there
reaches the foreign market."
"Can you explain the economy Of
shipping ito San Francisco, which re-
quires at heing handled several times
before reaching the vessel that carries
it foregn?"
"Yes. California wheat, like certain
brands of Columbia river salmon, has
a certain standing In European mar
eets. 1t commands a higner price than
amy other wheat grown ON the coast.
The buyers there find 1t pays to ship
Columbia river wheat TO San Francisco
ait a rate OF $2.25 per ton from Tacoma,
and re-ship it as a product Of the
Golden State"
rs the California product a really
better grain than the Oregon wheat?"
II consider the Blue Stem wheat as
good quality as is grown on the Pa.
ciAc coast, and some day will command
i1st as high market value. What we
need IA this country, is a wheat in
spector, whose duties 1t will be to es-
aablish grades, A bIll Is now prepared
and viii be presented 70 the next
Washington legislature for state
wheat inspector, and Oregon should cre-
ate the same Office"
What do you think Of the Argentine
wheatg VIII It have disastrous effect
on the Pacific Coast produdt2"
Argentine Is a bankrupt country,
Her money values are down TO that
point where wheat. for which the buy
ers pay her farmers slSo per bushei In
paper money, sell the same in Liver
pool for As cents in gold. 1t Is the only
country on the face Of the globe where
the farmers claim to be making money,
and The government constantly going