The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-11-11
AN EXAMPLE, FOR PORTLAND.

San Francisco is aroused over the i'm
mense advantage Seattle bids fair to
enjoy in the rush to the Alaska gold
fields next spring. The enserprisdng bust
ness men OF Seattle have very nearly
cornered the Alaska trade. What with
newspaper descriptions, magazine ari-
cles, hundreds Of thousands OF circulars
and letters distributed. and the constant
and persistent prattle of Seattls people
Of all grades and classes, intending
Alaska adventurers have been led to
believe that al roads to the new e Do
rado lead through Seautls. 1t is TO The
credit OF San Franchsco thai her business
men propose TO change this situation
somewhat. If they can. before the spring
run to Alaska sets in. But what about
Portland and Astoria? Out of the mi
lions OF people in this country who are
reading with avtdity every scrap Of pap
which pretends TO furnish information
about Alaska, how many have ever
heard OF Portland or Astoria as a way
to get there? There is ample time for
Portland. in imitation Of the example
Of San Francisco, TO claim her share
OF this business before next spring. Tha
question is. will she do it? There is jus;
one way, and only one way. by which !
Portland may expect 10 accomplish this 1
object. 1t is by availing herself of the
advantages Of Astoria's location. Tne
new Cramp steamers cannot be induced
10 go to Portland. They could not AFFORD
the waste Of time involved in the climb
up the river and back again. The sam
time required to put these S cam rs in
Portland. after reaching the mouth Of
the Columbia river, would suffice TO put
them in Seattle: to which point what
ever business Portland might have 10
contribute 10 the new Linz could be
sent by rail cheaper than the sieame :
could go up and double back down tn
Columbia-withoui any loss Of time in
the operation II is strange that the
enterprising business m n OF Portland
should be so blind or prejudioed as not
10 see this. It is true that som effort
is now being made to call attehtion 10
Portland as a port of embarkation 10
Alaska. but the money sp.nt in such an
undertaking VIII be little better than
wasted. 1t make no diff renee how deep
the channel is, or with what other IA !
cility sea-going vessels can go up and
down the river TO Portland-she point
is that Portland is too far inland: Il
is too much out of the way to ever ge I
much Alaska business simply on IT,
merit as a seaport The city OF Buhal'
might with equal propriety expect 20
compete with New York, Philadeiphil
or Boston as a port for transe,lanu Z
traffic. People who are intending 10 20
to Alaska want to shorten their journey
by water as much as possible and win
not think Of taking the steamer any
where Use but at the seacoast. To their
mind It looks as ridiculous to go 70
Ataei,. b,, ,,,o,. 30 .I0o..lora a. 4. ,.o,,,g
be to start from st. Paul and go down
the mississippi for Europe Astoria, OIL
the other hand. can be shown to b. right
in the line of Alaska travel With
railroad down the Columbia, Astoria Will
offer more advantages as an Quitting t
and embarking point for Alaska parties y
than any other port on the Pacific coast 4
1t is a pity Portland cannot be made TO Q
see this now, as she certainly will after
II Is too late TO get her share OF next
seasons business. Astoria must, OF
course, in the fullness Of time, become
the headquarters for nearly all Alaska
business but 1t is TO be feared It wiz o
not be until after the stubborn and fat o
uous policy now pursued by Portland c.
has diverted many millions of dollars v
from her own people 10 their competitions "
on the Sound. tC