The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-01-09
That Commerce of Eastern Oregon and
Washington Comes to Astoria.
SOUTHERN PACIFIC Is IN 1T
Will Do Business nere-Eay rsiutsd 0ut
Between the Lines for the Harmou-
ilins Of o. Il. & y. 1Stsrss:s.

AT a special meeting OF the Chamber
Of Commerce held yesterday 10 con-
slider Wrtys and means to secure the estab-
lishment of Astoria as common point
from interior territory with Portland,
letter written by c P. Huntington, pres
ident Of .the S. P. Ry- to "a well-known
citizen of Astoria, was read, and excited
considerabae dis ussion. This letter is
considered by many to have strong
bearing on the solution of the problem
as TO what the relation Of the Astoria
road when completed will sustain 10 the
Southern Pacific. and other leading trans
continental lines. II Is thought that
fair construction of the letter establishes
beyond controversy that the Southern Pa
c!fc not only will unite on common
basis with the Astoria road, but that 1t
points out a way and foreshad0ws an
agreement by which the o. r. & y. in
teresis will also be harmonized, President
Mohler of the latter company now being
in san Francisco presumably to consider
the question. It is argued that Presi-
dent Huntington would not have been
to so much pains to answer inquiries ad-
drzKed TO him at this length If he did
not have a deep interest in the accom-
plfshment of that plan In any case It
is thought that the opinion Of so great
am authority as Coils P. Hunting on on
the future OF the Astoria road must have
an important bearing on the future status
of that enterprise.
Nj. Huntington's letter is as follows:
'Nsw York, Dec. %, 1897.
Dear Sir:-Your letter of the 18th 10
received and your inquiries are all noted
carefully. You ask if the Vanderbil:s or
the Northern Pacific or the Great North I
ern OF the Southern Pacific company. any /
or adj Of them. have made arrangements /
with the Astoria & Columbia River Rail |
road Company.
Now, l am entirely frank in saying .
that 1 cannot answer you with respect to |
the three interests first named, simply be- ,
cause | do not know anything about It.
AS TO the Southern Pacific, can say that
they have not made any such arrangements .
any objection to making a fair one with
the A. & c. r. r. r.; and I think the
other three great overland roads would
be willing to do the same thing. as Il
would be advantageous to their Interests
to do so, for the reason that Astoria must
be made common point with Portland.
''The best possible thing for Portland
will not have been done in my opinion
unless Astoria Is made a common point
Unless the deep-sea commerce Of that vast
territory east Of the Cascade mountains
as far east as its produce goes out TO the
Pacihc--can be transferred at the mouth
of the Columbia river from rail to ship
and vice versa that transfer will be made
in the future at Puget sound and not from
any point on the Columbia river or its
This seems to me to be
forecast which can be relied on, for It Is
the logic Of the present commercial sit
uation in the great Northwest.
ION the contrary. If good advantages
for the transfer Of cargo can be offered
at Astoria that country east Of the cas-
cades must naturally seek its outlet there, q
as q has the gravity line from Eastern I
Washington and Oregon and the commerce ]
from the large section Of country Is bound t
TO follow It. provided a transfer can be T
made at Astoria at minimum rates from p