The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-09-21
SITE FOR A DEPOT.
The Question Discussed at a Well Attend
ed Meeting.

Last night at tine Chamber of Com
merce "a meeting of property owner!
In Shive.y's, Adair's and McCLure's Addf
tions was held to consider the matter ol
donation to the railroad of a depo
site.
The meeting was organized by the elec.
ton of Judge Bowlby as chairman. and
g. Wingate secretary. Among the gen.
tlemen attending were j. Q. A. Bow,by
w. B. Adair. Ed Taylor, DR.. J. A. Fu..
ton, c. S, Wright, j. w. Welch, 1. Berg.
man, ID. We.ch. Grant Trlllinger, Mr.
Young, of Alderbrook, d. NJ. tSuart, and
Jas. Finlayson.
Mr.. ID. Welch took the floor and said
that he thought that at least 2,4OO feet
should be offered, so that no excuse could
be had for not accepting the proposition
because of lack of ground He guaran-
teed that he could get the 2,400 feet east
of the o. r. and N. dock in five days If
Mr.. Hammond would say that he would
take it, but that it must be understood
that 1t was subject to certain conditions
as to work, etc. Judge Bowlby suggested
that the proposition be put in writing
so that 1t could be properly considered
by Mr.. Hammond; that several, includ-
ing himself and Mr.. Parker, had offered
a BOOu Q6dd OI water front III the C4at-
sop Mill district for depot purposes with
out conditions; that nothing definite had
been heard as to what the C.atsop MIN
would do; that Do,ph and Dell would
probably come in; that it was conceded
by all that the only location for the
depot from a business standpoint, was
the central portion of the city. Locations
had been offered at Tongue Point, and
Smiths Point, and it was not likely that
Mr. Hammond would pay anything for
the privilege OF stopping his trains in
the city, and that 1t was of the utmost
Importance that the business men pro-
vide ample facilities in the central por-
tion of the city for the transaction Of
all business, and not merely secure
Platform for passengers to get on and
off the trains and let the main business
be transacted elsewhere. When the Great
Northern was recently being built the
Spokane people donated $1,000,O0O for a
depot site, wnen they already had two
railroads. / myself was not originally
in favor of the scheme, but If the great
body of citizens and business men are
to be accommodated we must do some
thing for ourselves"
DR.. Fulton said that with him 1t was
a business proposition, and that 1t was
not fair that the few owners of water
front at the only available spot should
have to bear the whole burden of the
expense. The depot was to be a benefit
tc all alike and that property owners
throughout the city should bear their
Part of the burden, and that he ana
others would be perfectly willing to ex-
change water frontage on AN equitable
basis.
Many others made remarks In much the
same tenor, and on motion of Mr.. j.
W. We,ch, j. G. A, Bow,by, D. We,ch,
Or. j, a. Fulton, G. Wingate, and w.
b, ,.idair were appointed committee to
take the matter up among property own
ers and report at the next meeting Mr..
Welch suggested that the proposed de-
pot site be districted and that lines be
drawn through all continguous property
in each direction and that each member
work on certain lines with the property
owners covered He also stated that ne
thought 1t was matter of general inter-
est, and responsibility on the part of ale
taxpayers and that he would be in favor
OF the city spending $4,000 in the matter
and that the council, under the charter,
had the right to do So IT don't think
Mr.. Hammond can be expected to spend
a dollar for depot purposes here-he
might make mere stopping place In the
the main business be done else
where. The Lord helps those who hep
themselves"
The meeting tdjourned till tonight. at
the same time and place.