The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-09-15
WHY ASTORIA HAS NOT
coMMoN.poiNr RATES,
An Eastern Visitor TELLS Why THIS har'
Dor Does Not Enjoy Advantages
Held by Other seaports


An Astoran cunl s,eercd alonss'de
the Eastern Visitor yesterday and tooS
him IN tow
"How is t." auerlod the ouill "that
YOU say this seaport can capture th'
china and Japan trade from vancouver
any better than Portland or raeomav'
"slmply because this gateway FOR that
trade" said the Eastern Visitor Is
not only the mos, central ON which all
our American railroads can unite and Is
the only one with wator.lovel through
the Corillcras range, but because you
can get very much cheaper charters"
"Rut." suggested the ouin, Tho Tacoma
and Portland seaport advocates deny
this"
''Do they, reallyr We'll, Il Is conceded
fact In all railroad circles. Why, a lead
ing director OF the o. r. 4 NJ recently
in conversation with a friend ot mine
made that fact the basis of his objection
10 making Astoria common point WIKI
Tacoma. IL came about IN this way
Ny friend was present when he opened
his mail. IN which was clipping from
the Astorlan Of 'ex-wheat Buyers ar
tlele explaining the common point and
Insisting on the fairness OF the -, h. 4
Ms putting Astoria bay on a level with
Tacoma. The director said he didn't
know whether 'cx.wheat Buyer was cor
rect or not. why notr asked HIS Wis
lgor
"'Because Astoria Is a cheaper port
than Taeoma-can get cheaper charters,
was the frank reply.
"'You know. continued the director,
a dliYercntial has to be allowed 20 one
competing railroad 70 make up Tor the
advantages that another has This Is true
because the line with inferior advantages
must have a share of the business, or Il
will cut rates and demoraline the tratie;
that Is 20 say, the absolute need IN rail-
road trafiic Is pooling. II We made AS
toria a common poin, With Tacoma, we
would set all the whca, trarnc. and rates
would De cut by yke otaeg roads, ln order
70 get a share Of that ,rafile.
How Is that managed In the cast. be-
tween New York and other Poytsr' Quer-
led the Quill.
"weu the cheapes; route 20 the sea-
board makes the rate there as elsewhere.
The steamers on the lakes and canals
nx the grain rate to New York. The
great trunk lines into New York meet
that rate. The lines TO Philadelphia cut
under IN an effort 10 sc, some Of the
grain haul But the New York roads pay
no attention 10 this under-cut. and still
they haul all the wheat The Pennsyl-
yania Central hauls past Philadelphia TO
New York. Il allows the former city a
iinerentlal Of, perhaps, 80 cents 4 ton.
but nlneteen-twentisths ot the wheat
goes past that city to New York. II would
be the same with Astoria bay. Ultimate
ly. too. the Columbia river will tx the
rate here. as the lakes and canals do at
New York.
"of course, Astoria bay Is cheaper
port than Tacoma or Portland: Il Is al
most as cheap as san Francisco. II will
become much cheaper very quickly when
the rich development OF the traffic OF this
basin shan follow the capture OF the Ash
attic trade. Why. Il will quickly double
the population and products OF the Pa
eihe northwest In this great Columbia
valley. II will double Portland's popu-
lation and wealth very SOON
Then why is Il" said the Quill. that
Portland fights Astoria as the seaport
1T is the wheat pool that fools Port
land merchants and property holders into
that suicidal policy. Anybody can see
that. The wheat buyers and elevator
men have pooled their issues with the
pooled railroads. Your farmers raise a
million and a quarter tons OF wheat II
sells for at least s. ton less than It's
value in San Francisco or It's value at
Astoria bay II Astoria were made a com
mon point with Tacoma. Here Is over
two million dollars annually out OF which
the wheat pool gets its rake on see
some Of the Inland Empire papers are
sneering at Asioria's claim 10 a com
mon point No doubt they are like Abe
jury-'they've got some OF the
hog However. the American roads will
solve this problem very soon. They will
all unite on Astoria bay. to capture the
Oriental traffic"