The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-09-12
HOW 1T WILL BE

HOW 1T WILL BE
Elsewhere in this issue appears a COM
munication OF a most interesting ma
ture. 1t clearly sets forth Astorias rau-
road problem OF the hour. The figures
are accurate and the difficulties beset-
ting the opening of the new line are not
overdrawn. Railroad experts Of nation
al repute admit that the entire question
now sought to be solved is one OF the
most complicated in railroad annals. We
have on one side Puget sound, the ter
minus Of the Northern Pacific and Great
Northern railroads. Both lines are now
under the control Of the Morgan ana
Hill interests. In the center, or on the
Columbia river. are the Great Northern.
Northern Pacific, Union Pacific, Denver
& Rio Grande and its Eastern connec-
tions. having their entrance into Oregon
over the Short Line and o. K. & ", the
same as have the Union Pacific and Great
Northern. All Of these lines, except the
Rio Grande are, or are about TO be-
come. members Of the same Morgan-Hn
family. on the south is the Southern
Pacific at San Francisco. with a line
running into Oregon, connecting at og-
den with the same Rio Grande and Union
Pacific roads. San Francisco. Seattle.
Tacoma and the Columbia river are all
rival harbors. doing business with the
Orient and Europe. On the Columbia
river a two-fold question is equally occu-
pying the minds Of the merchants, the
citizens Of the state at large and the
railroad companies. The building Of the
new road between Portland and Astoria
by sIr. Hammond, in he face Of ire
mehdous opposition, has set everybody
guessing, The questions OF vital interest
are whether it IS not cheaper and better
TO handle the grain shipments Of the
state at Astoria instead IF at Portland, as
heretofore. and how best to overcome
the competition of the Sound.
1t is readily seen that WITH all Of the
complex clements entering into f. the so.
luton of this question will not be arrived
at in a hurry. Reduced TO its simplest
form. will the handling Of grain at the
mouth of the rive, instead Of at Port
lard, enable the state of Oregon 10 do
the principal shipping business of the
Northwest coast? Perhaps :he best post
ed railroad man in oregon says it will,
but that the difficulties outlined by Web
foo. are 10 be overcome. There is a
way 10 do it, and that within two years.
The expenses Of towing ships TO and
from Portland are little more than the
average expenses Of towing ships up
the Sound IT, by joining hands, Port
land and Astoria can make the cost to
vessels loading in the Columbia river at
Astoria a mere nominal one, a large
advantage is at once gained over the
Sound. BY eliminating the river towage
and pilotage, a large portion of this cost
is at once cut off. This, Of course, will
be done as soon as the grain is handled
by rail to Astoria. Then the bar pilotage
and towage can easily be reduced to a
mere nominal sum. Doubtless, the As
toria road will be closely allied 70 the
Morgan family interests on this coast.
It is only natural that t should own its
own tug boats and do its own towing.
By loading vessels at Astoria, not only
towage and pilotage expenses will be
saved, but ships will save fifteen days
in time. many incidental expenses, ana
the dangers OF the tow one hundred and
ten miles up river. and as compared
with Seattle or Tacoma, saving Of three
hundred miles is made, one hundred and
fifty OF which is towage from the straits
TO port Besides this, insurance for ves-
sells loaded at Astoria is one-fourth Of
one per cent less than OH vessels loaded
at Portland. Within six months from
the time that it is noised abroad that
ships can come into the Columbia, get
their cargoes only ten miles from sea at
a mere nominal towage expense, and
save one or two weeks in time over
Portland or the sound, besides securing
a less insurance rate and an increased
freight rate. two vessels VIII head for
this port where one now books for the Co
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