The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-10-18

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The Astorlan advocates the closing OF
the Columbia river TO ocean vessels be-
tween Astoria and Portland In order 70
compel the loading OF wheat for export
at the former point. The Tribune under
stands this 70 be the point at issue. II
there Is misunderstanding on our part, II
is as 70 which Is the cheaper, rail or water
transportation: and until the Astorian
can establish as facts its assertions that
grain may be Transferred from Portland
% Astoria al less cost by rail than by
water. II seems useless TO discuss any
other phase OF the prOposiuon.-Pendle-
ton Tribune.
The Astoridn mas TOO high an opinion
OF the fairness and honest disposition Of
the Pendleton Tribune to believe 1t VIII
fully misunderstands the point In contro-
versy between the Astorian and the Ore
gonlan. We are rather inclined to think
the Tribune has been mlsled by some Of
the subsidized statements concerning the
matter which have appeared in other pa
pers. The Astorian has never advocated
the closing Of the Columbia river to even
ocean vessels between Portland and AS
toria. and the Tribune may satisfy itself
as to the truth OF this statement by an
examination Of the files Of the paper. 1t
Is true. as an incident TO the discussion
OF the main question. the Astorian has
maintained that no public necessity ex-
lists for the creation OF 2s-foot channel
In the river to Portland-a move Portland
has been for some time contemplating,
and, as an argument against future ap-
propriatlons for such a purpose. the As
toriau has stated. and we think proved.
to the satisfaction OF every intelligent
person who has followed the discussion.
that such national appropriations do not
benefit the inland producer. but operate
to his injury in postponing the extension
OF the common point freight rate TO AS
toria by the o. r. & n. Company. The
wheat will be loaded at the mouth OF the
Columbia sooner or later no matter how
much water the Port OF Portland COM
mission or the national government sue
ceeds in maintaining in the river. The
Astorlan contends, however, that the
present saving to inland farmers would
be so enormous II the loading were done
here now that It is their duty to insist
upon Il without waiting the slow course
OF its natural occurrence. The Astorian
has repeatedly stated, and latterly accom-
panied the statement with a demonstra-
tlon. that 100000 at least could be saved
inland producers this season by loading
grain ships at Astoria instead of Port
land. We are sure II the Tribune will
take the rliilg 70 look into the matter
closely II will reach this same conclusion
at once and without difficulty. 1t is the
policy Of the oregonian-in what interest
We leave the Tribune TO infer to miscon-
struc the position OF the AstOrian, and at
tempt to create theimpression thatAstoria
opposes a general system Of Improvement
for all upper rivers. Such is not the case;
and We do not believe any well informed
paper can be induced TO really believe
So The Tribune clearly shows the sim
cerity of its misapprehension OF the AS
torla contention when It speaks Of the
cheapness OF water, contrasted with rail
transportation. as determining the Ques-
ton. We earnestly ask the Tribune's cor
rection of the error implied by such a
statement. The question OF water trans
portation in any depth of bottom between
Portland and Astoria has nothing to do
with the real issue, except as 1t may con-
Germ the o. r. 4 n, Company in avoiding
the division of the rate 1t now receives
for grain from the Inland Empire with
the Astoria road or any other independent
transportation line, In other words, the
people Of Astoria are not seeking to COM
pei the 0. II, & n. Company to do busi-
ness with the Astoria road II 1t doesn't
want to. What they do contend, how
ever Is that the o. r. & n, Company
charges the inland farmers enough mon
ey, as compared with the relatively less
charges of other roads, to justify its de-
livery of their grain at Astoria instead of
stopping 1t at Portland and then demand
Ing another toll to take II to the sea-
board or to San Francisco, Does the
Tribune think this contention of Astoria
antagonistic to the interests of the farm
ers Of the Inland Empire or to the people
generally of Oregon2 or course we know
the Tribune does not so think, and yet
this Is all there is in the Astoria contro-
versy, except that we contend not only
that the inland farmer would be bene-
fitted to the extent Of the freight rate in
volved by laying his product down at the
actual seaboard instead or at Portland,
one hundred miles inland, at the same
charges; but We also claim that by put
ting Astoria on this same common point
plane Of equality with Portland and the
ports on the Sound, the proximity to the
open ocean and other admitted advan-
tages Of Astoria would make 1t such
cheap and desirable port for ships to
come to that the price Of inland grain at
Astoria would almost II not quite equal
the price now obtained for 1t in san
Francisco. Now, will the Tribune take
this subject up again and explain 1t to its
interested readers In the light Of the
real merits Of the Astoria proposition as
here presented2