The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-11-23
THE RAILROAD OUTLOOK.
The Subsidy Committee Discharges It's
Subcommittee and Clears the Ta-
BILE Of Propositions.
The Stanton Party and Messrs. Ham
mond and Bonner Leave the City.

moters, Messrs. Stanton and associates
having withdrawn their proposition
from before the subsidy committee.
This was done yesterday afternoon
shortly after the investigating commit
tee had made an adverse report on
Mr.. Karr. it being ascertained that his
financial condition was not such as
would warrant the committee In clos
ing up contract with him. This vir-
tually left an open field for Messrs.
Bonner and Hammond, Of Missoula,
Montana, who had previously an
nounced that they would submit no
proposition so long as others had one
before the committee. A meeting with
the committee was asked for at
o'clock in the afternoon, by these gem
tlemen, which was granted, and at the
appointed hour the committee held a
session at their room in the Occident
hotel. Just what occurred was not CIV
en- out, but 1t Is thought that a future
meeting was arranged for at which the
Montana gentlemen would submit a
proposition
After the meeting was over Mr.. Bon
ner was approached by representa-
tive of the Astorian, and when ques-
toned regarding their probable inten-
ton, he said:
'It is true that Mr. Hammond and
myself have been looking into the rail-
way problem somewhat, and 1t is just
possible we may take a hand in its
completion. However, I cannot give
you anything definite on that subject
just now. We are going tonight to
keep appointments which we are a day
or two late on, and in week or ten
days time Mr.. Hammond and prob
ably myself will return and take this
matter up again with your committee" :"
He said that until shortly before he
and Mr. Hammond were about to
leave Portland for this city, they knew
rothing Of the appearance in the field
Of other negotiating parties, and that as
soon as they became aware of the pres
ence here of the others, they felt dis
posed to abandon their visit at this
time, but were persuaded by bus,
mess connections and friends to
come down anyway, and that on reach
ing here and finding the field occupied
they had refrained from making any
suggestions or proposition whatever,
out Of a desire not to interfere with
any negotiations in progress, or that
others. Should they make a prop
ostion, 1t would not be on any terms
or conditions that he understood others
had agreed to. They had he said
carefully examined the estimates made
by the engineers showing the probable
cost Of the construction of the road, and
were satisfied that proper road, viz:
such one as Astoria required, could
not be constructed for the amount esti-
mated by the engineers. Those esti-
mates, he said made no allowance for
terminal expenses, and that no provls.
ion whatever had been made for roll
ing stock, which had to be considered.
A road to Astoria, and from there to
the beach, Mr.. Bonner said, must be
first-class In point of both construc-
lion and equipment in order to compete
with river transportation. 1t would be
necessary, he said, in order to make II
paying investment, to look more to
the volume Of traffic rather than to the
rates to be obtained, because the COM
petition would be such that a large
volume of business would be indispen>
sble in view of the Inevitable close
competition. Nothing but steel of the
best and heaviest description should,
he said, be used for rails, and the roll
ing stock should be the best of its
kind, and such as would permit Of run
ming passenger trains between Portland
and the beach at the rate Of fifty
miles an hour. Referring to the du-
ties of the citizens of Astoria, Mr..
Bonner said they must make some
showing Of a disposition to encourage
development of the right sort. and
prepare to take care OF the grain tom
mage that would be brought In this di-
rection when the road is completed.
Conservative business men and capital
lists were loath, he said, to make invest
ments and locate enterprises where
they were not sure of being backed UP
by progressive spirit among local
citizens, and properly owners.
Among the most urgent needs of AS
toria, Mr.. Bonner considered, was a
first-class modern hotel, in which to
entertain and make comfortable peo-
pie who might be induced TO visit .he
eity on either. business or pleasure, be-
cause the impression produced on the
mind of stranger by his hotel accom-
modations and surroundings, very often
had much to do with his subsequent
opinions and actions with reference to
the place he happened to be visiting.
Clap magnifying glass upon piece
Of Marshalrs twine. Notice the threads
plump. round. even. Honest work in
every twirl that changed that fax
into cord. The best fishermen ON the
river use Marshalls twine. Why
shouldn't you.
What Is the use to 60 and pay u 1-2
,enls for cigar when your can get the
Robert Mantell at Chas. Olsen's for 10
cents. the best Havana cigar in the
market. mild and free smoking.