The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-02-08
RANGE LIGHTS
FOR THE HARBOR
Deep See Pilots Should Be Enabled
to Enter the Channel Day
or Night.
MATTER SHOULD DE TAKEN UP
Views Of Various rilots oa the Subject and
the Advantages TO Be aiaed--cham-
bsr Of Commerce Proper Body
TO Advocate Matter

Among an OF the matters which tend
TO advance tho interests of this port,
none. perhaps. II OF more importance than
tho question Of establishing range lights
Tor tho use " yesnela entering the mouth
Of tho Columbia river. The subject has
been advocated "a number Of times In
the past. aud about two years ago the
associated pilots sent petition 10 con-
grras, which SeemH 10 have been buried
after natural death, or lost In the
pigeon holes OF some members desk. Now
that everything points to the rapid dcvel-
opmrnt of Astoria and the lower Column
bin river this question again comes up
with renewed interest aHd importance.
The railroad II being. constructed that
VIII center In this city the larger part
OF the shipping OF the Northwest coast;
depot sites. for tho handling of the in.
mcHEc traflc sure 10 follow upon the
completion Of the road, are being donated
sShomes are being foatsd for the esiab-
iishmrnl u -four mills, saw mills, cie-
vators dry docks, machine shops. ara
what not the great ie,ty AZ the mouth
Of tho river has been somplst ,d. insuring
deep channel ana safe harhor, ana yet
the ohe small Improvement that VIII GU
able mariners 60 dsrlyc the fullest use
and advantage OF all Of thesc great i'm
proycmcnus has boon neglected.
A CRYING NECESSITY.
Range lights at tho mouth OF the river
are crying necessity Asycsscl. perhaps
long overdue and anxious 20 save its
charter approaches the river at dusk. or
after nlghtfall, and cannot enter the hRr-
bor because the channel cannot be dis
ccrned with sufficient distinctness to
make Il Eafe to cross In. particularly In
stormy weather. apd 10 the good ship
must stand on to rca gtin. and mayhap
Il h a week or more before fhe can get
back and enter the port All remember
the recent experiences Of tho Flotbeck.
with Pilot McNi 'kcr on hoard. which
during a storm was obliged TO put out TO
sea over night and iinally In the morning
entered shoalwatcr Kay where she was
storm bound q week or more before being
ahle TO make the Columbia. Hnd there
been range lights In our harhor she could
IN all probability have come IN whcn
nrst on the mouth OF the liver.
Pilots Peter e. Cordincr and H. a.
Mathews when seen by an Astorian rep
TcscntRtlve yesterday were unanimous in
their opinion that the establishment Of
these range lights would be OF the utmost
benefit TO the shipping Of The Columbia
river and OF Immense servi,e 10 the pilots
who have hard enough lines as Il rs.
The certainty OF being able TO enter this
port at nearly all times. would be a very
great additional inducemont 20 ship
masters TO seek cargoes here and would
place this on a par with all other first
class harbors OF the world. where tystems
Of range lights are maintained with one
light on Sand Island and another at Ba-
ker's Ray, a sure guide would i've fur
nishcd which would unable any 9ilot to
bring his vessel into harbor after n.ght,
no matter how rough the weather. AS
Il Is now ships do not dare come into
port after dark. and consequently often
lose much valuable time. and rot infre-
qucntly their charters cant. Cordiner
said that II these lights were secured
II would be one OF the greatest possible
aids TO the commerce OF this port
The subject is paramount one and
demands the attention OF all Astorians.
The Chamber OF Commerce >" said Capt.
Mathews, should
TAKE ACTION
AZ once and put the matter before our
senators In such shape that II must re-
ceiVr attention. Cant. Farenhplt once