The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-06-09
THE O. R. AND N. co.
W!ll the Prediction of Right of Way Be
FULFILLED?

Astoria, Or, June 7, 1895.
To the Editor
Some weeks ago 1 addressed a commu-
nication to your paper and suggested to
the people of Astoria, who are interested
in the construction of the proposed Asto-
ria and Columbia River Railroad, that
1t would be well for them to keep their
eyes on the o. r. and N. Co., and into-
mating that that company would not
consent to a right of way being procur-
ed through its property without a con-
test. Considerable indignation was ex-
pressed, not only among the employees Of
said company, bua by many Of our citi-
zens that such an opinion should be en-
tertained by any one, and the chairman
of the right of way committee published
a card denying all knowledge as to who
the author of the communication was,
and denying all responsibility therefor.
l ask the citizens of Astoria to say
whether 1 was right In my opinion then
expressed?
Possibly some of our people do not
know that a scheme has been finally
worked up by the o. r. and N. people,
whereby not the receiver, nor yet the
attorneys for the Trust Co., but the at
torney for the o. r. and N. Co., under
instructions from Mr.. Clarke, who is l
believe, president of said company, to
make the fight in the condemnation pro-
ceedings. By referring back to my for
mer communication, 1t viii be observed
that l intlmated at that time, that the
fight would not be made openly, but that
a fight would be made.
Now 1 have suggestion to make,
which Is this: If the o. r. and N. Co.
persists in the course at present deter
mined upon, and makes a fight in the
condemnation proceedings now pending,
in the United States court at Portland
the people Of Astoria should, to a man,
fight back Let us get together and ask
our merchants and shippers not to pat,
ronize any company, person, or trans
portation line which opposes us in this
matter, and let us see that such persons
or companies receive no favors at the
hands of the public. The o. r. and N.
Co. has been for years enjoying the priv
ilege of using certain streets in the city
for warehouse purposes. 1t is simply
using those streets by permission, and,
If the company sees fit to oppose the
citys interests by compelling its citizens
to pay damages for a right of way
through its property when, by so doing,
ii will not be damaged, but, on the con-
trary, will be benefited, let the city,
which simply represents its citizens in
the aggregate, see that the said COM
pany no longer enjoys those privileges
at the hands Of the city.
The same thing may be said of tn
Shaver Transportation Co. The head Of
that company is standing us up" for
compensation for right of way over his
land, while his company is asking us
for our patronage for its boats. Mr.
Kamm Is doing the same thing, and
should be dealt with accordingly.
have often heard it said that Portland
would oppose the building of a railroad
to Astoria; but this has been SO often
denied by Portland people during the
past two years that 1 had concluded it
was not true. However, when find that
nearly every Portland man who owns
property in Astoria is opposing us In
our present efforts to have the road
built Gas witness this opposition of Cor
bett, Kamm, Corbett G. Mccleay, o. r.
and N. Co., etc., l am inclined to be,
lieve the truth of the charge. One thing
is certain, and that is that we are re-
ceiving no help from Portland.
Talk Is cheap. Let us act, and at once.
BOGUS(O RIGHT OF WAY.