The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-07-20
PoRTLAND's AND AsToRIA's oP-
PoRTUNITY.

PORTLAND'S AND ASToRIA'S oP-
PoRTUNTTr.
Portland IS lamentng her inability to
compete with Seattle In the enormous
trade which win result from the rush
lnto the gold fields of Alaska, and it
IS the tatuous policy which she has for
years pursued OF discOuraging the devel-
opmen, Of the great natural seaport OF
the Columbia that is responsible for this
impotency. But even with the present
means Of communication between Port
land and As;oria, there is no reason
Why Portland should repine over the
situation. with the expenditure of the
proper amount OF energy and small
sum Of the boarded and idle capital in
Portland. the greater portion Of the busi-
ness to be done with Alaska can yet
be conducted from the mouth OF the
columbia. Portland merchants should al
eiioe begin the transportation and aeeu-
mutation at Astoria of sufficient stores
OF the kind needed to supply Alaska. and
the fleet Of steamers now entering the
Sound to discharge their precious bur
dens and to reft for their return voy
ages will come to Astoria. But no time
should be lost in these preparations.
Dispatches from all over the East indi-
cate that people by the thousand will
soon be on their way to the Pacific coast
10 embark for Alaska The fact should
be advertised far and wide that the best
route TO the gold fields is via the mouth
Of the Columbia. and Astoria will soon
become the great rendezvous for this
travel and trade. AS it is now, no man
in a hurry to get to Alaska would. ever
think OF Portland as one Of che ways
TO get there. A glance at the map shows
her extreme inland position. and. since
no EFFORT has ever been made by Port
land merchants to encourage commuai-
cation or trade with Alaska, it will never
dawn on the majority of the people COM I
ing from the East or the interior that /
there is any other point to embark from
but Seattle. unless special efforts are
made to divert them to this direction |
without delay. There is no intention TO 4
deride or belittle Portland in these sug-
gestions. but, on the contrary. there IS I
the most sincere desire to induce her /
wideawake and energetic business men
to join hands with Astoria in an effort /
to save for Oregon some Of the benefits |
Of what promises to be the greatest
streak of prosperity that has struck the
Pacific coast since lsia. Astoria has so
long been overshadowed by Portland that
she is hardly recognized as a seaport &
Oregon. Portlaad has posed as the only
port between San Francisco and the
Sound until people have come to actually
believe in that pretension. Like the dog
II the manger. this illusion has been
kept up to the disadvantage Of the whole
state of oregon, until the cities on the
Sound are eommoaly regarded as the
only general ports accessible to tie great
trade of the Alaskan territory. Portland
now has an unexpected opportunity to
retrieve her mistake; and by uneovcring
Astoria at this critical juncure, the
prestige of the Columbia nver as the
great entrepot of the whole northwest
region can be easily recovered. The time
'or action, however is extremely limited
rhe iron must be struck while 1t Il hot,
or Portlands chance Of recovering 'or
herself and Astoria the commercial su-
Dremacy of the Northwest coast will
.ave vanished almost forever Another
such boom as now seems approaching
he Puget Sound country will end all
respect OF any considerable commercial
;rowth in Portland. With Astoria as
'er right-hand bower Portland will
Don become invincible; but let her pal
er in the old invdious spirit OF wanting
. hide from the world the knowledge
u Astoria's superlative and uneqUaled
natural advantages, and the tide will
e. in towards Seattle with power
Which win prove to be for years to come
,bsolutely irresistible