The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-04-10
THE ASTORIA
RAILROAD PLANS
FuIlacy Shown Of Statements Made
by People Who Don't Know
Whereof They Speak.
DEPOT SITE IN GOOD SHAPE
NoN a Question o. the Easiest Nay 70 Close
Up Matters Several rIans Open
Larger Property -0haers Have
II Their 0hn Nay.

The following is taken from the Port
land Evening Telegram OF the sth. and
I, speaks for itself:
"a railroad man Tho has Just returned
from Astoria says he railroad situation
down there has not changed IN two
months. and that there IL about as much
enthusiasm left In the railroad boomers
breasts as there is In a dead campaign
sheet Although the business men OF
the town try TO put up bold ana
CHEEKY front. and the real estate men,
automatically encourage one another, yet
AT the same time they have no heart
in what they cay.
'' The Wild dreams OF Spectators In
real estate, skyscraper hotels and busi-
nrss blocks said the yidtor, have re-
ceiyed a rude shock since they observed
the manner in which Mr.. Hammond's 8
rchemes are being pushed. had a talk
with Few OF the people who are In a
position to know whereof they speak,
and to my surprise I found that while
to strangers they would say that ALI
their prospects were bright. yet on the
other hand there is a feeling that after
all the railroad will fail
Ltlt lhuit ueNs DFil@fe, Is the
lack OF that entarprising spirit that dis
tlnguishes some Oregon communities
Mr.. Hammond may not be entirely
blameless. He has secured great con-
cessions. and Is asking for more Some
81 the people are complaining now that
Hammond owns the town, and is kicking
because he cannot secure one small
block for that depot that they have
talked so much about Were II not
bread and butter proposition with them,
certainly there Is one Astoria newspaper
that would "let loose" and tell the exact
truth about the railway scheme, in
which more than Astoria Is rightfully
concerned. II has bean suggested to me
that there is something behind all these
hindrances TO the development OF the
line
The weather has not materially inter-
fered with construction work. I am told.
and yet progress IS painfully slow Ham
mond left town In anything but a peace
tul frame OF mind the other day because
they have not made the last concessions
he demands. The promoter has gone to
San Francisco. and may go East, and
nobody knows when he will come back
He has stated he will not let any more
contracts until the depot ,ite is settled
upon, and this means that there will be
a long delay or no work done at all on
the road this summer And of course
as long as there Is nothing definite the
real estate sharks can manage to do
business on attractive promises. In my
Judgment, Hammond wants too many as
surances to go ahead on every piece OF
work on the road He says the road
will be built; but when?'
That the statements made by zhe rail-
road man quoted In the above article.
are without foundation In fact, Is ap-
parent TO anyone familiar with the situa-
ton. II would seem that a newspaper
OF the reputable record OF the Telegram.
would hardly permit such statements
TO be made without giving the true name
or the - quoted. II the man who
wrote the article had stepped out OF
his Office and proceeded a few blocks TO
the wharf, he would have found a dozen
carloads OF bridge iron Just arrived in
Portland, and awaiting transportation TO
Astoria where II is to be Immediately
placed In the draw bridge across young's
bay connecting the Seashore road with
the new line now being built between
ioble and Astoria. II he had examined
The records of the United States custom
house, he would have there found
hat several ships have already left
England loaded with the heaviest
steel rails ever laid in railroad track
m the Pacific Coast, consigned to the
Astoria and Columbia River Railroad,
md that the first vessel will probably ar |
i've here in June, II he had inquired |
II the county recorders office of Clat- /
op county, he would there have learned |
hat the right of way for the railroad I
lad long ago been decided to the COM /
AMY II he had inquired also at the |
anne office. and of the committee in /
harge of affairs, he would have learned /
hat large donations of land have been |
made for the depot site in the central
ortion OF Astoria, aud that only few |
eet Of ground remain TO be given to
omplete that portion of the deal. He
hight also have learned that a large
ortion of the grading, two tunnels. and |
ock cutting work have been done on
he first ten miles of the road above
'ongue Point, as well as about five
liles of grading at Warrenton. If he
nd inquired little further he would
ave learned that a definite contract
'as executed last fall between Mr.. HAM
iond and the citizens of Astoria for the
ompletion of the railroad between As
oria and Goble, within the next two
ears; that the contract Is valid and
hiding on both sides; that Mr. Ham,
lond has the financial ability to carry
ut his part of the contract; that the
ioney is up, with which to complete the
ork on his part, and that the citizens
Astoria have practically completed all
ondittons on their part to insure the
irrying out of the contract. The II"
'ierred TO ought to appear before the
loHc IN his proper person and ack-
owleoge that he purposely misled an
newspaper editor or else he
as entirely mtsinformed upon the sub
ct about which he was talking.
Astoria Is comparatively small city,
1t 1t Is amply able and will carry out
$ railroad project, The ends may not
accomplished this year. but the con-
act VIII be fulfilled within the time
NIT Astoria has its little troubles, as
'es any other town, undergoing radical
lahges' That the people cannot agree
once upon plans which involve heavy
'pense for the location of the depot.
yes not argue that the main project will
lscarry. There Is no such possibility
'r does any one dream of such an out
me. II the location of the depot Is
u agreed upon within the next few
VS. the railroad company may not do
" active work within the city limits.
IL the enterprise as an entirety is al
ady assured, and II construction of
Q principal portion Of the line is tenn
rarily delayed, II Is certain of COM
etion In any event by the expiration of
time mentioned In the contract AS.