The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-02-05
BUOYANT FEELING
NOW PREVALENT
Business Men and FrOpcrty-Owners
Confident Of a Quick Change.
THIS YEAR TO III MEMORABLE
Signs Of the Times Point 20 Rapid De-
yciopmcnt- Old Stmndbys Ready 70
Take the Breach.
THIS YEAR TO BE MEMORABLE

Throughout the city. among all
CLASSES Of business men, merchants and
property owners. there II n general
feeling or buoyancy concerning the Inn
mediate future. a change for the bet
Ter has come 10 Astoria Interviews
yesterday with prominent business men
developed these facts.
In spite OF the fact thai January ana
February are always dull months, and
that even when good fishing season
II anticipated. February business II
always slack. and while collections for
the past months business have mo-,
been quite up 70 the standard. yet the
volume of business done was large. and
the business now being done is above
the average FOR the season. Property
owners and real estate men. for the
iiiwt time In many months are conf
dent OF better things 90 come this sea-
son,
The basis ot this general good feeling
Ia the yigor with which railroad work
ls being pushed ard the number OF con
tracts recently let and In contempla-
ton. Bids are being called for the tres
tie work to nnlsh the line In the city
from Booths canne1y Ca Tongue Point.
Contracts have already been let for
the treptling and track between the O.
II. and ". dock and the Clai~op Mills.
including the requisite number Of de-
PIT side tracks, BIDS have been called
for 10000 sawed raiiroad tier. almost
enough TO complete the entire line. II
IL an open secret that the Hotel Fla
vel will be opened on April LIST. In
charge OF competent manager II Is
also whispered In certain quarters that
MIR Hammond has arranged for GER
tain construction work on the railroad
terminals al Flavcl. and that one or
more auxiliary manufacturing enter.
priscs viii be- launched this season All
these things, more or less substantiated.
have caused thc general fceting of en-
couragcmrnt throughout the communi-
lty.
II IL conceded by the most conscrva-
tive business men that above all things
Astoria and Clatsop county need popu-
lation. factories and payrolls. And that
with the establishment OF these. devel-
opuhent In all other lines OF improve
mcnt. both interior and ON the water
!
II ls understood that working on this
! line Of argument several OF Astoria s
largest property owners are now ready
to stand In the breach. as they have
done In the past and help forward the
| building Of the first few factories which
will open the way for the fuller and
more complete development ~ the en-.
tire community. II Il be possible this
season to So supplement- the construc'
ton of the railroad by the establish.
ment OF auxiliary enterprises which viii
make It's operation profitable from the
first opening, there can be little doubt
but that the wheat crop OF '97 viii be
loaded In the deep sea vessels at the
wharves and elevators OF Astoria In.
stead OF In Portland.
II Is Il good sign OF the times that
not only the business men Of experience
but the young men. boys and women
Of the city are taking an extraordinary
interest In the trend of affairs. Where
heretofore there has been controversy
competition, opposition and jealousy
there Is now, with but few exceptions
n unanimity Of opinion upon the sub
ject OF the best method Of making the
railroad an immediate benefit to this
port, There are hut a few months left
In which TO work. and II Is good that
all are imbued with the same idea. and
have set their shoulders to the wheel.