The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-07-26
SOMETHING WRONG.

The following from the Nehalem
Press contains very little that is not
Gospel truth, and will undoubtedly
prove interesting reading to those who
wonder why Clatsop county has no
roads:
After a short trip through the farm
ing districts of Vesper, Fishhawk, and
Mist, with its substantial farm houses,
hop yards and highly cultivated Or
chards, we returned home possessed
with the idea that there was some
thing wrong with the county of Clat-
sop.
A traveller along the road will note a
decided change in the general aspect
of things before he has travelled over
two miles into the country. The roads
are in poorer condition; a majority of
the farm houses are mere shacks, and
there is a lack Of that appearance of
industry and prosperity which should
characterize farming district as rich
in its natural resources as this county.
Upon endeavoring to learn the cause
of this apparent defect we met with
many responses, or rather excuses, none
Of which we believe at all applicable
to the case-"they can make better
roads there than we can here;" they
don't have as much rain there as we
have here" they have q better mar
ket than we have" ETC., etc.
While we do not wish to deny or in
sinuate the farmers of this locality
have not done well under the clrcum-
stances, still we can see no reason why
they should not be as far, if not fur
ther advanced than those Of the sur.
rounding counties. Regarding the
above excuses, we would say: Firstly,
no county in the state has better IA
cilities at hand for building first-class
road than Clatsop, as nearly every hill
between here and Astoria is simply a
volcanic seam covered with the very
finest material for Tellford or maca-
dam road, and there is plenty of timber
all along the route. Secondly, the differ
between Jewel and Fishhawk, is so
slight that it is not perceptible. Third
ly, regarding a market, we believe that
nine out Of every ten head of beef
shipped from the vicinity of Vesper
and Fishhawk, goes to Astoria via
Westport, making it no nearer to mar
ket for them than for Jewellites.
We believe the cause of this difference
lies principally in the fact that in Col
umbia county there Is more co-opera-
tion, more of concerted action OH the
part of the farmers, and less faultfind-
ing and Kicking in all public affairs;
that in road and other questions there
is less jealousy shown when it is seen
the other fellow may profit thereby,
but on the contrary, all put their shoul-
der to the wheel, and push to compile
ton any project that is proven to be of
mutual benefit, and give their hearty
support to enterprises in their own
county. At the polls they see to 1t
that st. Helens nor any other one town
runs the whole business, but all take
hand in managing county affairs.
For the deplorable state of affairs
here Astoria is the principal culprit,
but until the farmers awake from this
lethargical state of inactivity and give
Astoria to understand we are not all
dead; that no office-holder who does
not work heart and hand for good
county road need ever expect re-elec-
ton; that we are able and willing to
supply Astoria with all Of it's necessi-
ties in the way of farm products at
nominal price; until we stop this ever
lasting clicking over trivial road af-
fairs, owing to fear that someone else
may profit; until we back the enter
prises already in our midst, and offer
, some inducements to others, we can
expect to remain where we are-in the
soup.
Right here it might not be out of
place to say that had it not been for
this cussed kicking a bridge would have
spanned the Walker creek long ere
this. Tie Press believes where it is
possible, the road should be built on
section lines, and does not see any good
reason why this should be made an ex-
ceptional casa