The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-05-11
THE SEATTLE HARBOR
Five Hundred Thousand Dol
lars Raised.
AsToRIA's OBJECT LESSON.
The Live People of the Sound Want
all of the Business of
the Northwest.


Thursday the news was flashed over the
wires that Seattle had completed the sub
sidy Of 100000 which they had agreed to
raise towards the building Of the canal to
connect Lake Washington with tide wa
ter for the purpose of furnishing fresh
water harbor for deep sea vessels. 1t is
announced that the st. Louis parties who
are to do the work will commence OPP
erations May sd. The construction VIII
occupy five years and cost S.OOO,OO0.
What is the expenditure Of this i'm
mense sum of money for-what do the
promoters hope to gain as profit on the
capital invested?
There is but one reply to the query
to increase the traffic through the port
of Seattle 1t is found necessary to have
fresh water harbor, or the large ocean
carriers Of the worlds commerce will
not go there. BY means OF a first
class harbor it Is hoped to attract the
wheat and flour of the Walla Walia and
Palouse country to Seattle for shipment.
The most of this traffic is naturally trib-
utary to the Columbia. 1t Is also no
doubt believed that the canning Of salmon
can be increased on the Sound with the
establishment of facilities which will in
creas all lines Of business and bring new
capital; and that new outlets for the tim
ber of that region will be found, through
an increased ocean traffic.
During the season 1S94-95 up to. date,
the Puget Sound grain fleet has embraced
thirty ships. For the same period the
number of vessels which left the Colum-
bia river. was eighty-eight.
In 1894 the Columbia river and Southern
Oregon salmon pack was 569,424 cases;
Shoalwater Bay 81. 457 cases; Puget Sound
10000 cases; Alaska, 76O,lsS cases, and
British Columbia, 4s4,Sn cases.
These figures speak for themselves and
alone give ample reason for the building
Of the Lake Washington canal.
What is the necessity for a railroad to
Astoria? The old residents state that
they have existed for fifty years or more
without one and could probably live out
their natural lives in the same way.
This is self evident and needs no proof
the amount Of moss on some Of the
residents alone establish such fact.
For twenty years or more Astoria was
but village of 1000 people. The estab-
lshment Of the salmon canning business
brought few more people and enlarged
the town. There has been no material
growth of the town in five years, and
there is nothing to further improve or
enlarge it or better the condition Of the
mass of its citizens. Those who are now
making fortunes here, care little for the
most part, about the growth and prosper
ity of the rest of the town or the people,
and should the salmon be exterminated,
would leave Astoria and its interests far
behind.
But Astoria is destined for something
different. Upon the broad plane Of the
worlds commerce there is a place of
equality for Astoria among the great
ports. Naturally in a commanding posi-
tion, with magnificent fresh water har-
Dor, but ten miles from the Pacific, and
with a channel navigable for the largest
ships without the construction of can
nails, the possibilities open to her in the
near future are Ilmitless.
Seattle is about to spend 100000 in
canal to secure a fresh water harbor,
while the city Of Manchester, England,
is completing a similar canal at a cost
Of S4O,OO0,0OOO. Capitalists and conserva-
tive business men would not invest their
money in such enterprises were not the
ends to be obtained commensurate with
the outlay.
Astoria only needs fifty miles OF rail-
road to connect It with the rest Of the
world, and make It possible to bring the
products Of the great empire in Eastern
Oregon and Washington and the VIII
lamette Valley, to its great port OF ship
ment. The railroad will also provide
oNStue1sS hASoHD lOA BSbtAiB buc hLiulcnbt
body Of timber in the Nehalem Valley to
market as well as quick and direct
communication with all Eastern and in.
terror points.
Astoria and the people Of the Columbia
river are only required to furnish the
right Of way and land subsidy valued at
about 81. 10000.
It is a moral certainty that II the pres
ent opportunity to secure the railroad
and the consequent control Of the great
traffic Of the Northwest is not embraced,
Seattle win have so firmly estab-
llshed its hold on this bust
ness. and Will have 80 well laid out
its lines in all directions that before an
other effort on the part Of Astoria could
be made to build railroad, the business
tributary to the columbia win be for a
large part lost-turned into other chan
nels.
No time should be lost By the good peo-
pie Of Astoria and the Columbia river
valley to close up ana complete their do
nation Of the subaiay lands and rixht Of
way They might Eesi emulate the ex-