The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-12-04
THE KLoNDIKE RUSH.

To the surprise Of most people, the
spring rush to the Klondike and Alaska
gold fields has already commenced. The
O. r. & y. steamer Elder will leave here
Monday with a large number Of passen.
gers from Portland and Astoria and many
tons Of freight. These persons are deter
mined to get into the gold bearing fields
at the earliest opportunity. Expeditions
are being fitted Gu, in all portions Of the
east. ana the leading feature of the COM
mercial world today is the DEVELOPMENT
OF Alaska anl the capture from its cold
soil Of the millions there buried.
Corporations with larEe capital behind
them are everywhere laying .heir plans
10 engage in this traffc and are about to
send colonies Of nnners to seek the yellow
meal. The Cramps. of Philadelphia, viii
orersse a lire OF large steamers from san
Francisco 20 81. Michae.s. with a con-
Meeting line Of steel river steamers on the
Yukon. Portland merchants are organ
lzing a line from that city; the o. r. *
n. has increased its service from Port
land to skagway and Dyea; Victoria has
come to the front with another large
scheme to hold the traffic for Canaia,
and Seattle is redoubling her efforts to
MAINTAIN the great prestige she has al
really established as an outh1ting point
and port Of departure for the new e.
Dorado. Astoria has arranged for one
small steamer to ply from this port direct
and has oeher schemes under considera-
ton
The question is. however. what Astoria
can and will do to derive the bensat from
this particular commerce which her geo
graphical situa;ioa entities her 10. With
in few days. comparatively Speaking.
the A. & c. r. r. r. will have been
opened for traffic. This Will place AS
torla in the lead as a transcontinentai
terminal port Of departure and Quitting
point for the Alaska trade and mining Of
all these on the coast and possessing the
best haroo- north Of san FRANCISCO. II she
does not nov establish herself IN the
business. she might as well lay down her
arms and expect nothing. Both the caam-
ber Of commerce and the Astoria Pro-
gressive Commercial Association and
committee Of citizens are working on the
problem and viii be successful If hey
have the support Of the people in the full
measure to which they are entitled. The
days for dreaming are past; the time for
hard work is here. The example Of SEATTLE
in its methods Of securing the attention
OF the word may wei be- followed ~
Astoria. IN proportion 20 population and
capital we can accomplish just as mu5b
and let the world know in lust as large
letters where We are and v,asr %. Are and
what we can do. A ut.la energy little
snap. and plenty Of hard work aII sc-
complig7 The results IN. magnitude sf
which the most enthusiastic can hardly
realize I.e. every mercbart garke-
property owner man. woman and child
nut on the harness-talk Astoria KIo7-
dixie. China J5pan. and their relation,
to this mort as the center NJ t,a man
Ceaseless work on ths= lines Iav and
night will obtsi, what mere nancy ca,.
not buy.
In connection with r5e traffic and g,,t
mining Of Alaska js very closely .ujed
our position as che termi,us t, rid. qs-
ter Of half a dozen traDs-c,o-ise-tal
railroads and their connection here with