The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-05-10
AN UNEXCELLED
NAVAL STATION
Land Locked HarbOr Of the Columbia
That Can Be Made I'M
prcgnable.
DRY DOCKS TO BE ERECTED
Of the korld can BE Accommodated
and Amply Protected Modern Ap.
plinnees Needed for Coast
Deiense. Etc.
DRY DOCKS TO BE ERECTED

Tie mouth Of the Columbia river Is
The only port of It's sise ana importance
that has not one ir two drydocka or
all the sraporu on the Pacific coast A.
toria 10 perhaps the one which can be
most easily defended against foreign
power, and tho one whose geographical
position will naturally give II the iarg-
ost occan trafie In the future. The har-
bor IL but ten miles from the ocean. is
land locked, and Possesses the tromon-
dous advantage OF Being fresh water
ksrbor. Thu main current and channel
al tho entrance OF the river passes close
under thu brow OF the high cliffs OF Fort
Candy. and no ship could possibly enter
tho port without tho permission OF the
government troops stationed at that
point with modern coast defense Ap-
piiAnceH. the comparatively small gsrri-
Eon at Fort Candy sould easily prevent
the NarrhpH OF the world from entering
the Columbia The channel OF the river
N deep enough TO accommodate the
largest war vessels. white the rntFchant
marine fleet Of the world could md safe
and secure anchorage within this har-
bOr Il II thcn no wonder that one OF
tho ilrat works Of magnitude ts be un-
dcriRkcn by tho projectors ci the i'm
provcmcnts at Astoria ana me lower
Columbia. should be drydoeh In which
can be accommodated the lRrgvs, vessels
With tho rertsmpiR,ed fast service Le-
tween Astoria and san Francihco. and the
handling OF tho lsrgc number OF NOR
tho wheat ana lumber trAfhc OF oregon.
ono Of the iitst provisions FOR taking care
Of this utfne will be nnrge floating
dryiock Plans aud ~pcclArationa of the
principal drydocks NJ the United SiRteA
ana EuroIc, arc now In possenslon OF
the parties interested In the builiing ,ln
ot tho lower Columbia river port. ana
u IN expected that definftt action will l.,
takcn In "a very short rme towards thr
establishment here OF modcra noatinv
drydock
The development OF Industries on the
west side of the bay su.h as drydock
ana hotci, elevators, ETC. means but a
consolidation OF interests on both std.s
Of the huy. There can he but one town
onr grruNcr Astoria. The advancement
on one side OF the cIty means the pro-
motion Of every interest on the other
There II no room for narrow jcaIoisIes
and competition. nor can II he expected
That any such principles will he recog-
h'rcd by the bctter liars OF business men
In rlthtT part Of the city Those who
have htntod at any such condition OF uf-
fairs have certainly made a mistake Let 7
Flhvel Nndwarrenton have their machine
shops, elevators ana a drydock. ana !
East Astoria will have It's great ware /
houses, large mercantile establishments. /
hNnkA and general shipping houses With 4
the fSung's bay bridge affordlng Quick \
transit between the two points. both ends 4
OF the city viii be bound together In Il
Sueh manner that nothing can sepa-
rate tfUtir intCrcsts I
Looking NJ The situation OF this port /
from the standpoint OF protection 10 /
the nations interests. there can he pos
sihly no mistake made In selecting this /
hnrbor Tor co1lirg station and rcndeA-
Nous Tor the governments war vessels /
Az INFINITELY less expcunc and with much |
greater certainty OF absolute protection 1
can hcrc be established a naval station
complete In every respect. provhiinr "A
dry dock and proper coast defense appn-
nnces arp established. on the blurrs nI
Fort Cunby a few mortars and modern
guns stationed behind the ridge would
have complete control over the entrance
w NhlS HaiuOTs " IN TeuSOnNhly certain
that these coast defensss will he cstah-
lshed' With proper action and hearty
90 co-opcrltion on the part OF the citizens
Of Astoria and ClNtsop county It is also
reasonably certain that tho other fea-
lures necessary for "A perfect seaport
VIII also he secured. a drydork, such
ns is required by the largest war vessels.
and the merchant marine. can easily I've
obtained II only tho people stand to-
sether Ms unit upon this subject Ms
they have in their efforts TO secure a
railroad
What were once the suburbs of Chicago
now compose Its business center. What
IS now farm in Astoria win tomorrow
he the heart OF the city. Like the recent
" formed greater Now York. the Young's
Bay bridge viii Join together two differ
mt sections, each specially fittod 10 take
ts place In the new city, one side OF
he bay will not he depleted to advance
hi other One will supplement the
'ther, and both together win form n
piendld city well qualified to control
he commerce OF the Northwest Coast.