The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-11-02
MAJOR B. M'NBILL
0. R. 4 N. Receiver a Visitor in
Astoria Yesterday.
Says His Company is Friendly to the
Columbia River, Which Means
Astoria.

Major McNeEl, receiver and general
managec of the o. r. and N. Co.. visited
Astoria yesterday as the guest of Major
Post, United States engineer who has
just made "trip down the Columbia TAX
ing data for ln.s department.
Major McNeill Is one of the active rail-
road men Of the West, thoroughly wrapp-
ed up in the interest of the corporation
of which The now has charge and the or
iginator Of plan for its reorganization,
wtllcA MANY financien5 think will he car
ried out. There has been much newspaper
talk and considerabel speculation in re-
gard to the attitude Of the o. r. and N.
towards tlhe traffic ON the Columbia river,
and the interests Of the port of Astoria,
when 1t slnh have acquired radl connec-
ton with the other portions of the state
and with transcontlG1ental railways.
10 an Historian representative last even-
ing, just before leaving for Portland
Major McNeEl stated that beyond the
fact that the o. r. and N. receiver5hip
would shortly be wound up, The could say
l9tte at the present time in regald 10
tle future status of that company. He
wtds most emphatic in his statements
concerning the attitude of the o. r. and
N. towards the Astoria railroad project,
and Astorfa's shipping interest; that that
company was the best friend the Column
bia river ever mad or ever would have.
He said
when you say the Columbia river, that
means Astoria. Our frfendiiness 10 your
advancement Is thoroughly evidenced by
the fact that at one time we had fully
CucDdeh TO build the railroad to Astoria
Ourselves. The financial crisis came and
of course while in the hands of receiver
we were utterly poweriess to do any
tIhing In THE line Of new construction. AS
You know we freely gave the right OF
way Through our property for the Ham
nijnd railroad and we arc in most lar-
nroniolEs relations with THAT gentleman.
~ lloTia will get her railroad and she will
find that ais the o. r. and N. Company
has ever en1eavored in the past to build
up traffic upon the Columbia on broad
planes regardless of petty controversies,
1actionaG differences or competition OF
other lines, sine will Sti.f be at the front
for The best inteHetits of AID concerned
and the welfare of Astorias com neee.
We have lAbored hard and continuously
to improve the service on the Columbia
and at loss are today giving double
daily service between Astoria and Port
land, and when the railroad Is competed
we viii not be found wanting"
What do you think, Major, of the re-
ports current, that Mr.. Hill, of the Great
Northern, is opposed to the Astoria rail-
road project and Will be inclined to d.
vert all the traffic he can to Puget Sound
and use his influence to kill the line or
steamers between the Columbia river
and the Orient?'
u am satisfied there is nothing In IT,
Mr.. HJt Is working most harmoniously
with the o. r. and NJ, which is most
eTphaticaly an Oregon railroad, In The
interest OF Oregon's development and for
the welfare of Oregon's people foremost
and all the time. We are also working
very cioge'y wlf1 the Oregon Snort Line
and Union Pacific. ] know that Mr. Hi
Is most friendly to our fine and to Ore
gon. He is one of the hackers Of the
present Oriental line Of steamers cper-
atdng through tine port of the Columbia
and an the traffic we secure goes to East
ern points via Spokane and the Great
Nogthern. ! have no reason to begeve
t,lat the reorganization OF this company
wiz change this status OF affairs"
Major McNeilHS statements must be
taken as conclusive evidence that Asso-
ria can expect tfae fAlrest treatment az
the hands Of that company upon the eom-
pletion OF the GOboe raEroald.