The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-09-02
the oREGoNIANs CASCADES
WHEAT MARKET.

W AAA4thA sHfAhAN+f
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II certainly must have made Mr.. Mohle'
smile audEbly % read the oregOnian's
proposition to have the Ooean-gOlns
ships meet the grain ana load II at the
Cascades In psaoe OF az Portland as a
matter Of economy to the producer.
We val suppose Mr.. MOaier to be asked
ihe questions win the o. R & y. Com
pany deliver the whea, from the Inland
Bmplre to the vessel at the foo, Of the
cascadesg aud at how much less per
eushsi than II delivered at POr,lAndY' ~
BE- gave trunk answer he would prob
ably say: "why, yes. certainly. We viii
arsivsr the grain at the foot OF the Cas-
oadea a, as much less than Portland as
II coats US 70 take It on co Portland, pro-
vIding wharves are furnished You viii
understand THAI the distance from the
foot Of the Cascades TO Portland Is IOI
niles. and thas we are now moving over
this distance about $1,000 tons OF wheat
aSd -four per year. and the grades are
sazy. Therefore. the cost to US. consider.
ing the large quantity and the low grades,
Is only Traction OF the cost to US on
mountain grades. ana with light bust
ness. l would say that the cost to us-tOr
this ~ maes-Is ebOus Is cents per ton. or
a half cen, per bushel. and We would
make that reduction"
This would be a reasonable and frank
reply.
The As,Orian wnl add. however. that in
order to obtain this Is cents per ton re-
duction the per Diem to the vessel must be
paid. which Of itself is greater than that
amount, besides toWage. pilotage. and ex-
lraordinary risks to vessels. and the
aeepening Of the channel. all Of which
would swell the contra costs
Or. We will suppose that the DaIles OBJ
'truction Is overcome and the wheat OF
the Inland Empire is coming down by
boat Ioads. How much less could trans
DortAtion company take to have the boats
anIOa6ed at the foot Of the Cascades in
place OF Portland? Any steamboat owner
win own that the Is cents per ton reduc-
lion already mentioned would be extreme
y liberal So # can be easily seen that
he Cascades proposition would increase
the cost Of transportation instead Of
it.
But IN advocating Astoria as a shipping
point. we are not advocating something
that promises any little half cent to
the bushel more to the producer but some |
hing that would bring many cents more
per bushel. and at least s1.OOO.OoO more in
the aggregate TO the producers Of the In
land Empire from one seasons crop. We
promise that the producer shall obtain
aeariy as much for wheat at Astoria as
be viii get at San Francisco. To do this,
we are insisting that the grain rate from
common points Of the Inland Empire to
Astoria be placed at the same 81 is now
charged TO Seattle and Tacoma from the
same points.
This Is justice to Astoria. This is much
better for Portland; decidedly better Tor
the o. r. & n. Company: better for all
Oregon; better for the whole Of the Pa
rinc northwest. We will have larger ships
10 carry our grain from an Oregon port,
At minimum cost, and will no longer
be obliged to ship grain to San Francisco
in order to place the same in vessels for
We could charter vessels at once. the
carrying capacity OF which would be all
The way up to 10000 tons or more each.
such vessels viii carry the grain and
hour from. Astoria much lower than
.maIler vessels and nearly as low as
rom san Francisco. because their owners
prefer to keep them deep water. They
10 not like to go to Portland to load.
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The combined commerce OF Great Brit
1In and the United States. with China. IL