The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-07-29
The RAILROAD
CONTRACTORS
Two Hundred Men at Work and 9th
ers Are Being Rapidly
Employed.
HAMMOND is THE RIGHT MAN
Manager Buchanan Says Astoria Is Forta-
nate Ia Having Secured iiim-Hsad-
quarters Established at
Rainier.

Yesterday Mr. w. A. Buchanan.
manager for Honeyman. DeHart e.
Co. contractors Of the main line TO
Goble. was in the city and spent a
large part Of his time IN consultation
with Mr.. Hammond. When seen by
an Astorian representative and ques-
toned about the work. Mr.. buchanan
said:
1--WE now have over 200 men at work
and win put more on as rapidly as we
are able to secure them. People do
not yet generally know that there is
work TO be had for the asking. and
we are not particularly pushing mat
tiers as II takes a little time TO get
such a large enterprise thoroughly
started. We viii soon have plenty Of
men and expect TO run force OF be-
tween 500 and 1000 men. Our work
consists entirely OF grading and tun-
nellng. and we will have IL all finished,
by the terms Of our contract. May Ist
next. Wakefield and Goerig have the
contracts for bridge work on our part
Of the line.
I'VE have established our headquar-
tiers at Rainier. where we have our
bookkeepers clerks and commissary
department Speaking OF the commits
sary. It is astounding how much grub
men win eat who are working out OF
doors Every FIVE minutes / get a
telegram asking for a quarter Of
beef, a half dozen quarters OF mutton.
or two or three barrels OF -four. /
think we will establish our own
slaughter house at Rainier and thus
provide our meat with the least possi-
BILE expense and trouble"
1T is said that the rate at which
you have taken your contract is an
Improbable one. Mr.. Buchanan"
I'VE are perfectly satisfied with our
contract. Other bidders, think. went
on the basis Of old times and old
prices, when every railroad contractor
used 10 make a fortune on every job
he took Times have changed now.
The prices OF all commodities have
lowered. and every class OF business is
on a different basis. Our proposition
is a cash one. We get our money
when We want 1t. Mr. Hammond pro-
poses TO have the best possible road at
the lowest possible cost He has made
no secret of this, but has steadily
maintained every agreement on his
part. and expects his officers and con-
tractors to do the same The people
OF Astoria. are very fortunate to have
secured such a man to carry out their
long-cherished railroad project. The
entire scheme is a magnificent one and
will advance the interests both of Port
land and of Astoria. There can be no
question of rivalry between the two
cities. Both are in the same state,
working for the same great object
the building up of the commerce of Or
egon and establishing of the greatest
domestic and foreign traffic on the Pa
cific coast. What helps one city helps
the other We propose to stand by
Mr.. Hammond, as he has and will
stand by us. He is man who keeps
his contracts to the letter, and what
he has undertaken to do you can rest
assuerd will be accomplished. Asto-
ria's great opportunity is here and
your people win be very foolish aot
to grasp the situation as a drowning
man clutches at straw"