The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-09-21

rtands this to be the point at issue, IL
lherr = Misunderstanding on our part, II
4 a which ls the cheaper, rail or water
TRANSFORMATION, and until the Astorian
rsa establish a. facts Its assertions that
xrsln may be transferred from Portland
20 Astoria az less cost by rail than by
water, Il seems useless TO discuss any
olher phase OF the propositon.-Pendle-
lDn tribune.
Ths Assonan has too high an opinion
81 the fairness and honest disposition Of
ne Pendle,on Tribune to believe It viii
fuIly nlsupdsrstAnds the point In cOntrO-
vsrzs between the As,Orian and the Ore
noninn. We are rather Inclined to believe
ne tribune has been misled by some Of
ne Subsidized statements concerning the
mnfter which have appeared in other pa
psrs. The AseOrian has never advocated
ne closing OF the Columbia river TO even
oeean vessels between Portland and AS
torsa. and the Tribune may satisfy itself
rs to the truth Of this statement by an
sxzmhasion OF the files of this paper. az
b true, as an lnciden; to the discussion
II the main question, the Astorian has
maintained that no public necessity ex-
lsts for the creation OF a as-fOot channel
n gAe rfer to POrtland-a move Portland
has been for some time contemplating.
and. As an argument against future ap-
proprIations for such a purpose. the As
torian has stated. ana we think proved.
10 the satisfaction Of every intelligent
person who has followed the discussion.
ihas sueh national appropriations 90 not
beneft the inland producer. but operate
% bis injury In pOstpOning the extension
OF the common point freight rate to As
toria By the o. R. & n. Company. The
Ehsst VIII be loaded at the mouth OF the
Columbia sooner or later. no matter how
much sGfar the Port OF Portland COM
mission OF the national government sue
eesds in maintaining IN the river. The
Astorian contends. however. that the
present saving to inland farmers would
De 50 enormous II the loading were done
here now that It Is their duty to insist
Rp0n II without waiting the slow course OF !
its natural occurrence. The Astcrian has
repeatedly stated and latteriy accom-
panied the statement with a demonEtra--
anu. tfao s2SNSoo at least could be saved
inland producers this season by loading
grain ships at Astoria instead OF Port
Iand. We are sure If the Tribune viii
take the pains to look into the matter
closely. It win reach this conclusion at
snee and without difficulty 1t Is the policy
Of the oregonian--in what interest We
leave the Tribune to infer. to mlsconstrue
the position OF the AstOrian, and attempt
70 create the impression that Astoria op-
poses a general system Of improvement
Tor all upper rivers. Such is not the case;
and we do not believe any we'll informed
PAPER can be induced to really believe
20. The Tribune clearly shows the sin
cerity Of its Misrepresentation OF the AS
aoris contention when It speaks Of the
eheapness OF water, contrasted with rail
transportation, as determining the ques-
tion We earnestly ask the Tribune's cor
rpetiou Of the error implied by such a
statement The question Of water trans
p0rtztion IN any depth Of bottom between
Portland and Astoria has nothing 10 do
with the real issue. except as It may con-
eerH the o. R. & n. Company in avoiding
the division Of the rate It now receives
for grain from the Inland Empire with
tho Astoria road or any other independent
transportation line. In other words. the
people OF Astoria are not seeking to COM
pei the o. R. & N. Company to do busi-
mess with the Astoria road If 1t doesn't
HHnt to. What they do contend, however.
4 that the 0. R. & N. Conn any charges
1hs Inland farmers enough money as
a0mpared with the relatively less charges
sf other roads, to Justify its delivery OF
sleir grain at Astoria instead Of stopping
4 at Portland and then demanding an
stEer ton to take IT to the seaboard or to
ssn francisco. Does the Tribune think
This fontention of Astoria antagonistc
10 the Interests of the farmers of the In
Hnd Empire or the people generally of
OF course, we know the Tribune
ioes not 50 think. and yet this is all there
i p the Astoria controversy, except that
~ eouterd not only that the inland
larner would be benefited to the extent
4 the freight rate involved by laying his
IrSanes down at the actual seaboard in
.t...1t 80 !. 1pArt4ha, -