The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-08-14
FROM ABOUT THE CITY.
Interviews With Prominent Men on In
teresting Subjects.


Eyes, sir" sair T. X. Robertson, on
of the proprietors of the big cradle nov
being built at Alderbrook, in answer t
question by an Astorian reporter. e
see no reason why big industry can
not be built up on the Columbia, raft
ing lumber and logs to San Francisco
and the other southern markets. The
logs and lumber are here, and thii
means Of transportation will lessen thu
cost of freight so much that vesse
transportion will have to come up lively
to compete with 1t.
"But 1t has stirred up the big San
Francisco lumber companies owning
mills at Gray's Harbor. Willapa, and
Puget Sound points, and they are all
right after our scalps. You see they
have very little interest in the Colum-
bia timber belt, and every foot Of TIM
ber shipped out of here, especially to
the San Francisco markets, comes in
direct competition with their output"
Have they manifested any uneasi-
ress since the news Of this last enter
prise?" asked the reporter.
"Well, that reminds me-" answered
Mr.. Robertson, kicking viciously at a
block of wood, indicating a vigorous
temper, that reminds me that the
man who sent out that Associated Press
dispatch about our present work and
probable intentions, will never go to
heaven. That information conveyed to
the San Francisco firms cost us cents
per foot on every pile we will take out
of here. The moment the news was
published in San Francisco the largest
firm there sent a representative to the
people whom we intend furnishing with
plllng, and offered to cut the rate from
IA to 12 cents per foot We had nothing
left but to meet the cut"
"Will you ship more than one raft
from the Columbian"
Only one this season, but next sum
mer we will average one each two
weeks during the summer season. The
frame now being constructed will serve
as a mould for any number of RATS, 1t
being an easy and simple matter to
take the huge bulk of logs apart from
the frame when the chains are all
tightened. We expect to launch the
cradle some time this week.
"It would be great thing for East
orn Oregon II 1t were possible to ship
her products directly by rail- or wate,
to the seaboard at Astoria"
The speaker was Mr.. A. c. Hawson,
a prominent business man Of Arlington,
oregon, who is staying at the Occident
until after the regatta. Continuing, he
said to the Astorlan representative:
FOR years we have been tied down by
excessive freight rates, until today IT
takes nearly the entire value Of our
farm products to pay for their shipment
to the nearest market. With the Cas-
cade Locks open, the country as far as
The Dalles will be benefited to great
extent but with us there will be nc
change until the distractions at Celtic
have been surmounted either by .
canal or boat railway, the latter being
the most feasible way Of opening "
'hc Columbia to naNIration.
'Ta Gillian county we havH perhars
the larrcst wheat Gro, that has ever
beon raised in that county, and a trip
through the grain ael'ls IS n eight ~c
often witnessed in any country. For
miles aud miles great aelas Of grain,
wheat wave in the sun
shine like the swells of the ocean, and
the crop when fully stored away will
be enormous.
speaking of horses. why, you can
get them at any price up In our coun-
Try, There is one company up there
that own 10000 head OF cayuse horses,
md you can get the best OF them for IS
, head That IN not reduced or hard
tines price, either for the owners claim
.hcy can make money raising the wirey |
'ayuse at that figure. We have plenty |
If sheep up there, but the present price |
II wool makes their raising an expen~
ilve luxury"