The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-12-04
The YOUNG'S BAY
BRIDGE QUESTION
Great Importance to CIatsOp County
Of Completion Of This Highway.
LARGE TERRITORY INVOLVED
County Court Can Be Depended Upon
to Do the Square Thing--Time TO
Consider the Matter.

Astoria. December s.-Editor Astorian.
--slnce much interest has been taken
in the bridge across Young's river or
bay. you viii perhaps permit a. word
from me.
In the first place. II should be said
that great confidence is felt in the fair
ness and good judgment OF the county
court. Never before has so much been
undertaken or accomplished IN the way
Of road building. The difficulties OF
making public roads are great and the
work Is slow. but II is now felt that a
community without public wagon
roads 1T for travel at all seasons, is
much like a man without nerve; It is
only about half alive.
The proposed bridge across the bay
or river Is the most important piece of
improvement in public roads that has
yet been undertaken. and Is In fact q
large enterprise. II connects Astoria
directly with its milk supply. and what
win soon be its vegetable supply. and
also to quite an extent. its poultry and
meat supply. On the southeast. south
and southwest side OF Young's bay, In
Guiding the lower branches Of the river
entering there. are thousands Of acres
of the most productive lands which win
most readily feed the people Of Astoria.
Without road connection so that the
milkman or gardener may load his pro-
duce into a wagon and take II to his
customers. transportation Is trouble
some and uncertain. as well as rather
expensive, 50 that the producers are
not encouraged to raise what they
might or to deliver it in the best possi-
Bile shape. As a consequence Astoria
sends her money to Portland and San
Francisco for. what she might very
largely get OF her own producers. IN
less the farmers have something TO sen
in town. they cannot buy much there.
This proposed bridge win also con-
meet Astoria directly with Clatsop
Plains, Gearhear Park, Seaside and
Cannon Beach. making. with an i'm
proved road, a splendid carriage and
bicycle way equal to that out Of any
city on the coast. Along this road win
naturally spring up cottages and villas
Some question has arisen as to where
the bridge should be placed. This mat
ter should not be hastily decided Three
main factors are to be considered. First
the character OF the shore, width OF
stream, cost and general desirability OF
the bridge itself; the place where the
bridge can be built the cheapest and
to the best advantage. which viii nat
urally be a controlling factor. Second.
the most convenient place for the travel
both Immediately across the bay and
the through travel to Clatsop and Sea-
side Very naturally the shortest and
most level route would be the one pre-
ferred. Third, the effect Of the bridge
upon the bay itself and future indus
trie should be considered 1t is GER
tainly right and necessary in making
this great improvement not to unneces-
sarily incumber the waters of Youngs
bay. This question in itself demands
careful consideration.
All those interested should present
their claims and views ON the subject.
and the matter should not be rushed
or decided until all the various interests
are considered. The county court viii
decide the question impair
TALLY and intelligently. And located
either across from the old mill to Dag
gett's Point, or across from Fadrfelds
Point, the bridge win be one Of the
most positive advance steps ever taken
by this county. H. S. LYMAN.