The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-01-14
EXPERTS TALK OF
THE SEA WALL
Think II the Best Possible Plan for
Starting Growth Of the City.
BUSINESS MEN ENDORSE 1T
Get the Bill Through on a Broad Basis
and Re Prepared for Any
Emergency.
BUSINESS MEN ENDORSE 1T

Not one Of the most skepucal and
pcssimirtic residents Of Astoria or Clat-
SOP county or the state of Oregon viii
gAinEAy the proposition that the build
ing of a scawali along Astoria's water
front means the beginning Of new
era for the CITY and that Il Is one
II the improvements which must be-
made sooner or later The only ques-
ton In how much sooner can this
Improvement be secured
Tb- sentiments expressed above were
heard In II number Of public places
yesterday and arguments pro and con
were made All agreed that Astoria
musJ have a seawall. Each and every
on. disagreed ~ 20 the best method Of
securing Il. and the right time To un-
dcrtAkc the enterprise. Its most ar
dent supporters argue that as soon as
the work should be- commenced the in
crease In valuation 81 lands would be
much more rapid than the increase In
taxation. and that the reclaimed land
on the city water front level would
have such an additional value for bus
neEs purposes that the income from
this source In a few years would more
than take care Of the extra expense
TO property owners. even should the
cost Of the enterprise exceed the esti-
mate Of $50 600 per mile The Scawall
which win make II possible 10 grade
down the hillsldes and an In under the
present board streets over the tide
land. viii dispens. with these insight
~ and unsafe streets which could not
possibly stand the traffic Of a city Of
20 900 people. and would furnish n solid
foundation for the brick and stone bus
mess blocks which win be necessary
for the conduct Of the business Of "A
commercial center.
Those who have studied the question
say that Il would be a comparatively
easy matter 10 pass an act at the
present session Of ;hc state legislature
appointing board OF public works
with authority 90 construct the sea-
wall. levy the necessary tax for the
funds with which 90 carry on the work.
and that now. while the railroad work
IL progressing. Is the time to push
forward the seawail II the railroad is
ever going TO benefit the town one
half AZ much as It's most conservative
supporters anticipate, there can be no
question as 10 the growth In popula-
tion and increase in business import
ance. Given these facts as assured
and no one would like TO deny them
ample means for the construction of
the seawall can be easily provided, even
though IL should cost $500 900 per mile
The engineer who has drawn the plans
for this work and made the estimates
showing that the maximum cost would
b. $4,000 per mile. has had great ex-
pcrieRce in this kind Of construction
work and is supposed 10 know whereof
hc talks, But even II he should be
mistaken as Ia the cost, the very
prosecution OF work OF this magni-
tude, Il is thought by the progressive
property owners Of the city, would be
the most effective advertisement the
city could possibly have and would
give II a standing the world over, in
surfing the investment here Of unlimit-
ed capital
The workingman is in favor OF the
proposition because II will not only
make more wages, but would have a
tendency TO raise the rate of wages.
The real estate men are In favor of
the proposition because 1t will at once
create a market for the sale OF prop
erty,
The real estate owners are in favor
Of the seawall because II will increase
the population and the number Of rent
ers.
Every business man favors the sea-
wall enterprise because It will increase
his customers,
Every saloon man, every cigar dealer
is anxious 10 see the contamination OF
the scheme because he win sell more
goods.
Transportation companies, both by
water and land, want TO see the COM
pletion OF the seawall because 1t means
more freight to haul.
The lawyers will vote for the sea
wall because they win have more deeds
and acknowledgements to record.
The present portion of the city along
the water front everyone knows is go
ing TO decay. A fifteen minute walk
along Commercial, Bond and Astor
streets win convince the most skepti-
cal OF this fact. Thousands of gallons
Of water are going TO waste every day
al the water works which might be
used in sluicing down the high hills
and remedy the difficulty with the slid
ing land districts. This cannot he
done, however until there is base
against which TO throw the dirt.
Contractor Wakefield, Of Portland, Of
long experience in construction work
OF all kinds, said to an Astorian rep
yesterday that In his opin-
ion the proposed seawall was the great
est scheme ever suggested in the inter-