The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-10-20
WELL. by GUM" SAID
PoRTLAND's EXECUTIVE.
The Eastern Visitor Has chat with
Mayor Mason and Gives Him some
New Ideas Regarding Commerce.

Been eastf No. didn't get any
farther than oregon City. met an old.
time friend there and-well. didn't go
east That's the biggest thing In the
world. sure" said tho Eastern Visitor
to the Quill yesterday. as he settled down
for a good chat
what is?" queried the Quill. Oregon
City"
Nav said the F. ". knocking the
ashes from his royal havana, Il re-
ferred TO the great water power at Ore
Eon City falls. and those mAgnineent
heights Why. sir. its a sitp9tlon un-
e0ualled on the continent II only needs
your great bay as the seaport OF the
Pacific northwest In order TO give that
water power the greatest manufacturing
monopoly In the world. Just take a
blrdseye view Of the situation. Concen-
tratlon OF the four American transcon-
tlnentals at Astoria for the exports OF
this Pacific northwest would. through the
l2.ooO-ton ships OF commerce. force all
the trade OF the orient into this gate
way and give that great water power
the best port In the world for It's man
ufactured products. II would compel
an exchange OF trafiic that would put
the manufacturers OF Oregon city falls
In touch with more than half the popula-
tion Of the world Il would be a mon
opoly too, for there Is no rival for Il on
this entire Pacific coast Lowell and
Manchester. It's only possible rivals. are
nearly twice 1000 miles farther away.
Now. Just think OF the situation, II
only needs the o. Il. 4 y. TO extend lts
system TO Astoria, and. presto. all that
motive power. now dormdnt. leaps In.
stantly into active energy. II would put
myrlads OF spindles to spinning II would
make exports galore. and imports equal
10 that vast oriental trade
you draw a striking picture" said
the Quill. with visible excitement.
SURELY II Is a phenomenal situation"
continued the Eastern Visitor. ats value
to Portland Is beyond computation. but.
strange TO say. her denizens seem too
dense 10 appreciate truu. that. like
tropical spring bulb. Is almost burst
ing forth 10 view. | must tell you an In
cident showing II Is lgnorance that
makes Portland hostile 10 this port.
which Ia their greatest friend on earth.
II was down al the Portland chamber
OF commerce. talking with some persons
in the gallery hall One was large man.
with a large head. and large. flowing
whlskers reddish and tinged with gray
He had the front Of Jove. ! was much
impressed with him. ! gave voice TO
these IDEAS He seemed moved.
pressed further on his attention the
value Of this port 10 Portland. Why
said TO this Jove OF the metropolis,
why do your people stop commerce here
when Astoria bay as your port would be
so valuable to your
MY dear sir. he replied. we would
lose 10 ships. with an annual expend'-
ture OF at least half a million dollars.
II would ruin u.s. and ne nervously
stroked his flowing beard with his left
hand.
"'Lose half a million dollars annual
tradeH ] answered. My dear sir. the
extension to Astoria bay would add 10
cents per GENITAL TO the value Of your
million and q quarter tons Of wheat pro-
duct Of this Columbia basin annually the |
first year. How ls that compared with |
The shipchandlers' half million trader |
This would add four times n half million |
lolars to the Dockets OF your regular |
customers the first year. II would double |
your trade and double the o. II. e. MS
.raffic In a few years It would double
,Our tributary population and their ex-
oort products in this great basin, because
he concentration OF the oriental trade
ierc would make II the center OF the
vest. The doubling OF PortIand's trade
md population and wealth would quickly
ollow Likewise the trafiic Of the o. II.
n. would rapidly double. The effec OF
he energized electric and water power
Il the falls cannot be estimated n
"'Well. by Gum" said the man with
ove-llke front, as his eyes bulged out
nd stream OF Juice hit the cuspjdor.
I really had never looked at II In that
way The Oreg-- His sentence was
ever finished. He was interrupted by
call from large man. with close
ropped gray hair and stubby mustdche;
man OF massive intellect. evidently,
'ho armed my interlocutor and marched
n with him.
"'Who is His Wiskers.' asked irrev-
rently OF a weazen-faced man at a
esk, That was Mayor Masonp he said {
18th dignity. And who was Close