The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-07-24
THE REASON
ALLEGED FOR IT
Philadelphia Went to Portland to
Clean BarnaeIes OFF Her
Bottom.
OTHERS WANT TO COME. TOO
The 0nly Fresh Water nsrbors On the IA
ellie Coast Nay become Regular
Cleaning rlSees for the
Big Mar Ships.

IN dlFruhhidE me question OF hNFlnK
battleship present at the coming re-
gatta. an1 TIE reason for the Phlla.
dclphia's going 70 Portland. Rh Official
said yesterday that IN his opinion,
from mere standpoint OF etiquette,
IL would be impossible TO secure for
eign warship to take part n the fes-
tlyltles here In August. The COM
manders of these vessels do not know
Astoria, It's chamber Of commerce, or
regatta committees. The admirals IN
command OF foreign fleets. only know
the United States Should they re-
ceive an invitation through the proper
governmental channels 10 visit this
port. they might be glad 10 accept.
but for a foreign ship 20 enter this
hRrbor without special invitation
and the permission OF Its own govern-
ment. for other than business pur-
poses provided for by treaty, II would
be like a British officer in British ''ol-
umbi0 sending troop OF soldiers
across the line to participate In a
Fourth-0f-July demonstration Fur
ther. In view OF the fact that Astoria
has been unable 10 secure a United
States wRrship. II is highly improha-
BILE that vessel OF any foreign gov
ornment can or win be present Had
vessel Of the white squadron been Sc
cured. and the proper Invitation sent
TO a British. French or German ship
10 take part with her In the exercises
here. Il is more than likely that Az
torla might have secured three or sour
warshipa
Why did the Philadelphia go TO Port
land? II II almost self-evldent fact
that Admiral Beardslee took his Gag
ship up the Columbia river for more
than one reason Portland has been
after her for twelve months II has
been a year or two since the Phlladrl-
phia was ON a drydock. and what bet
ter opportunity could she have 20
loosen the barnacles from her ,o'
tom than spending few days ia the
only fresh water harbors on the Pacific
coast, thus putting herself In good
trim for the fleet maneuvers TO take
place at Port Angeles next month
This Is Admiral Beardslee's las. year
OF service on this coast and in this
capacity, and naturally he Is anxious
TO make a brilliant showing. Had II
been possible for Astoria TO hold ifs
regatta In July. all would have been
well. II would have been better could
the admirars plans have been known
sooner so that arrangements might
have been made that would have har-
moniEed all around, That there is any
specific intention on the part Of the
navy department or any of Its officers
10 sit on Astoria, cannot be CONSIDER
ed for a moment. Circumstances were
simply against the proposition An
other year perhaps matters win be
differently arranged.
II the floods OF the Columbia river
were known quantity, and the time
OF high water could be calculated
with any certainty. doubtless many Of
the ships OF the white squadron would
make yearly pilgrimages up the nigh
~ Columbia in order to get rid of the
barnacles on their bottoms, 1t was
stated that information has been re-
celved from the headquarters of the
British navy on the Pacific. tina: had
the commander known about the high
water In the Columbia in time, he
would have liked to avail himself OF
the opportunity to clean Oft few
British bottoms. However this may
be, II is certain that the Columbia rlv-
er is destined to become very popular
with war vessels for this purpose. II
It is used to any great extent by these
great ships. with the object Of saving
dry dock expenses, It is safe to say
that when the floods subside, there
will be left behind very strong re-
minder OF the presence Of the ironclads
arising not only from ship barnacles
but other barnacles left behind.