The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-09-29
A QUANTITY ALWAYS PLUS.

The oregonlAn October %. 1884:
Portland was founded and Portland has
crown strictly In accord with natural con-
ditIcns. II was founded at the place
where natural routes meet along which
eonmerce could move with the least re-
sistance. By some Il has been supposed
that with the development Of our rail-
road systems this advantage which na-
fnre has conferred would cease 10 be op-
srAtfxe. or certainly would be greatly re-
suoeL In the time Of speculative devei-
sumSnt this seemed plausible; but now.
chen the spurt OF burst Of irregular &C
t.vity Is done. and industry and com
nsrce are settling down into natural
channels. the old advantage is again as
ssrting itself Tue same conditions that
made the Columbia river gateway the or
iginal route OF commerce and the irst line
in the northwest along which industry
vas developed. are operating today. and
VIII operate forever. wita the same gen
erai force. In other words. It Is easter ana
cheaper and quicker TO pass through our
h.Eh mountain walls than 10 pass over
them And, the closer the margins on
Our products. and on trade In general,
the more distinct will this advantage be-
come.
The distance from Pssco 10 Tacoma
By rau Is g76 miles. The distance from
wallula 70 Portland 5y rail Is IA miles,
or G miles in favor OF Portland. But this
Is not all. The former is q high noun
famous route: the latter a water-level
grade. Nevertheless. in the application
OF the common point principle, there
has been Discrimination against the Co
iunibla or Oregon lines. The roads TO the
north Of US have made the same rates
10 their terminals that have been made
to Portland. though our route is g miles
shorter and free from mountain grades
Neither Portland nor the producers OF
the interior therefore have yet received
the full benefits OF their natural advan-
hgeS
The quick and ready way to bring about
the desired result Is 10 build a railroad
to Astoria. This will shift the common
point for the Columbia or oregon route
down to the sea. 1t does not mean that
the river between Astoria and Portland
would no more be used by ships but II
would mean that the railways running
direct into Portland and on 70 Astoria
from the interior could rid themselves OF
the disadvantage under which tney labor
through being held down by the com
mon point doctrine 20 a condition that
permits them TO receive no advantages
from their shorter distances and easy
grades.
From Portland to Astoria by railway
survey. the distance is IS miles. This
would make the entire distance from
wallula to Astoria by rail Si2 miles, with
water level or lightly descending grade
all the way and only % miles further
than from Paseo to Tacoma, with very
long and heavy grades, and enormous ex-
pense 70 overcome them. In such a COM
parison the further distance OF 8 miles
Is not to be taken into account; and, II
Il we're, It is far more than oyerbalaneed
by the greater distance that ships must
san in gong into ana returning
lr0m Puget Sound. Vessels bound from
Puget Sound ports almost all sail up past
the Columbia river. and the excess Of dis
tance, going and returning, is not less
than 500 miles, and the time both ways
from twelve 10 twenty days
With the opening Of railway route 10
Astoria the common point doctrine may
be made TO work in our favor; for then
cur common point will be at the sea-
board, and rates will be calculated for H.;
and with a deep channel from Portland TO
the sea, Portland will have a footing 10
demand such lower rate for herself as
her position and her enterprise may war
rant In this way we shall get for Port
land. for Astoria, for the only water level
route through the great mountains. the
full advantages that nature has offered
ua. The expenditure OF enormous sums
Of money during the few years past mas
turned away from US part Of the COM