The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-03-31
The Contract Has Been Accept
ed by the Committee.
THEY WILL SIGN IT MONDAY
Great Things in Store for Astoria
Says Mr.. Hammond-WOrk to
Begin at Once.

The railroad question is virtually set
tied, at least in so far as any differ
ences there might have been between
Mr.. Hammond and the subsidy COM
mittee of twenty-one. Three meetings
we're held yesterday and at the after
noon meeting Mr. Hammond present.
ed his amended contract, and 1t was
read to the committee and afterwards
thoroughly discussed by them. Before
the contract was signed the subsidy
committee members seemed at sea re-
garding just what Mr. Hammond re-
quired of them in the matter OF guar
anteelng the right of way and subsidy.
They discussed the plan, as suggested
yesterday, of incorporating guaran-
tee subsidy and right of way company,
with q capital stock of $10O,OOO said
company to receive subscriptions from
every responsible man in town if pos
sible. The idea was for this company
to guarantee Mr.. Hammond the right
of way as requested, and furnish
clear title TO the subsidy deeds. When
Mr.. Hammond presented himself at the
meeting this plan was made known to
him. He thought the guarantee COM
pany was good thing, and that the
right of way could perhaps be pur-
chased for half the amount of the
capital stock proposed; yet he would
prefer to take the names of a few
Of Astoria's best business men and
property holders, and they could take
the guarantee company.
When the committee read the con-
tract over and saw that dts provisions
if they signed, really bound them to
guara 1tee just what Mr.. Hammond
had been talking for AZ was smooth
sailing and it did not take them long
to decide to sign IT, 1t was agreed
that q meeting would be held on Mon
day, at which time the contract would
be signed Several members who are
going out of town today will sign it
before they go. The changes from the
original contract are really slight. Mr..
Hammond is not required to spend
any specified amount per month; he
has three years to complete the con-
tract; the subsidy, or at least 95 per
cent is guaranteed to be clear and with
perfect title he is to have a clear
right of way from the west end of a
draw bridge to be built on Young's
bay, thence to Goble. 1nere are a few
other minor changes but not import
ant. Mr.. Hammond agrees to COM
mence work at once, and to keep 1t
up without stop, until the welcome
sound of the locomotive whistle Is
heard in Astoria. He will start en-
glneers out at once over the line who
Will work in conjunction with the COM
mittee to be appointed to secure the
right of way. This it is thought, will
take about six weeks, and then dirt
will fly. In the meantime a great deal
Of work remains 10 be done in the
way of securing new deeds, abstracts,
etc.
Mr.. Hammond was feeling in the
best of spirits last night, and great
strain had been removed from his
mind. He promises the people of AS
torla surprise before they are many
months older, and is here to work with
them for the upbuildlng of the city.
JIe goes to Portland tomorrow night
and from there to Corvallis to look
after Oregon Pacific affairs. He will
return here in about a week.