The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-02-09

CITY Oh ASLOIld, OI6.s pdSSCu IuLCuSA
the city yesterday Oh his way home
from 8 trip to New York City. Mr..
Smith has much to say concerning the
future greatness Of Astoria, and from
his remarks It IS learned that certain
projects which are now under way in
his state, in the way of railroad build
ing. mean much to this city, inasmuch
IS q new route will be opened TO the
seaboard from Salt Lake thereby.
Astoria, as is well known. is situated
at the mouth of the Columbia river.
Some years ago If one ventured the
assertion that it would ever become
one Of the leading seaports of the
cosat he would have been laughed at
for the statement The mouth of the
stream eliminated In bar, which was
almost impossible and rendered the
entrance Of shipping nearly impossible.
But Of late the government has eX-
pended q great deal Of money 1mprov-
ing the conditions and now the city
has as fine a harbor as there is on the
western shore. It required an outlay
Of nearly 100000, but the cash was
expended and a safe harbor has been
provided.
Astoria has been minus railroad
tated against the place; but all this is
tC be overcome and in securing them
the city will be enabled to give this
city and country the benefit Of a
shorter route to the Seaboard by
twenty-four hours, and bring US three
days nearer to Japan and other Asiatic
countries.
As is well known, the route to the
northwest at present is by the Ore
gon Short Line and the o. r. & N.
The former line takes one to Hunting
ton, Oregon, and the latter from there
TO Portland. From Portland to Ia
coma freight and passengers are
taken by the Northern Pacific, via
Gobel. Up to date all shipping enter
ing the Columbia river has had to be
tOWed from Astoria ITO miles up the
river to Portland. This is an enormous
expense when it is considered that tow
ing charges OF 80 cents per ton. If a
railroad were built from Astoria to
connections with the lines referred to,
this charge would be obviated and
Astoria made the receiving point, IN
stead Of the capital.
And this exactly what is being done.
A company composed Of New York and
Montana capitalists is engaged in
building a line from Gobel the point
mentioned on the Northern Pacific,
down the river to Astoria. The con-
tract is being carried out by Carey
Bros. Of Ogden, and viii be completed
some time in September. The line is
flftY-eight miles in length and is on a
water grade the entire distance When
completed il is BEL eyed the wharf room
at Astoria will have to be enlarged.
as the ships will discharge their car
goes there instead Of paying towage
charges to Portland. This line is going
to hurt Tacoma also for now ships
have TO be toWed up the sound a dis
tance of $50 miles in order to reach
that point By unloading at Astoria,
this can be almost entirely saved, as
the railroad charges, the cost of load
ing and shipping per cars, viii not
equal that charged for the tugs, which
haul the ships.
But there is still another line which
will reach the place and it is the latter
in which the people of this city are the
most interested. Running south from
Astoria down the coast is a short line,
which was recently purchased by A. 3.
Hammond, who is said TO have behind
him the firm of H. 3. Claf1in & Co.,
Of New York. for the sum of S55, 600.
It is called the Oregon Central & East
ern. It is proposed now to extend this
line eastward as far as Huntington
connecting With the Short Line and
cutting out Portland with her Oregon
Railroad and Navigation. This new line
passes through Carvalas, and pene-
trates the richest portion Of Central
Oregon, a region where there are no
railroads at present The country is
rich in valuable timber and is a min
ing and agricultural country combined.
East Of Corvallis, the line passes
near Baker City where there are
some rich mines, Hon. Heber J. Grant.
Ct this city and other Salt Lake parties
being heavily interested there The
building Of this line will open UP a
new field for the smelteTs here and will
place at the disposal Of this section i'm
Inense amounts OF timber which now
come in by q roundabout course and at
figures greatly in advance of what
they should be.
That the road will be built is evil
denced by the fact that in all the
mountain passes where opposition
might have been expected, iron is al
ready laid the same having been
hauled in by mule teams. There was
an object IN this, as may be imagined.
1t is easy enough to get a right
of way through an open country. but
difficult in narrow passes through
mountain ranges, where other lines
have already q footing.
This line viii be constructed as soon
as possible and in a few short months
the whistle OF the engines will be heard
IN Astoria.
When completed, this city will have a.
direct route to the coast by way Of the
short line and the Oregon Central &,
Eastern; viii have a direct route to a
ssaboard town and viii have a COM
peting line with the Southern Pacific.
AS has been stated, this line will bring
us three days nearer Japan and other
-Asiatlc countries This is accounted
for by reason Of the fact that the rail-
roads will beat the Pacific's time to
the coast by at least tWenty-four hours
while all steamers which leave San
Francisco have 10 go as far north as
Astoria along the coast in order to
reach the route Travelled by ocean yes
sells. The trip requires about forty
eight hours.
In Gsmuch as theirs are regular lines
from Astoria to Asiatic ports, South
and Central American ports and Aus
tralia, it will be seen that the construc-
ton Of the lines mentioned are of the
grGvest Importance to this section IN
stead OF landing goods and merchan-
disc ct the port of San Francisco and
paying heavy freight charges to the
Southern Pacific company from there
here, or unloading thsm at Portland,
where the toWage charges are added
to the cost Of freight, the Salt Lake
5obbers will have the advantage of a
shorter and cheaper route.
Mr.. Smith says the people of his
town are very enthusiastic over the
prospects, and believe they are going
10 become great city In a short space
Of time. Inasmuch as they have large
canning interests; the value OF the fish
product last year being over 1000, 600,
and that the lumber interests are such
SIS to attract the attention Of the en-
tire west, a shorter and quicker. outlet