The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1899-11-10


The Astorian has always conterded
that Astoria could never Be developed
against the opposition Of Portland. 1t
has always been the Astorian's en-
deavor to obtain the corporation of
Portland in the utilization Of Astoria's
undoubted advantages as the seaport
Of the Pacific Northwest as against
any port on Puget sound. 1t has been
repeatedly asserted by the Astorian
that the people of Portland were like
any other people, and that their preju-
does against Astoria were born Of fam
cied self-interest and not due to feel
ings Of malice or sentimental conoeru
over Astoria's possible rivalry as the
metropolis of Oregon. Once convlnce
Portland people that commerce cannot
be held at Portland. Once convince
them that the Columbia river is losing
trade and commerce in consequence Of
the attempt to maintain the seaport OF
Oregon az a point 100 miles inland
from the ocean. once convince them
that SeaUtle's wonderful strides ahead
OF Portland are due to nothing elss
but the artificial restrictions now m
posed on the commerce of the Columbia
river through efforts to hold deep-Ya;er
tonnage at Portland instead Of allow
ing it to come to Astoria Once per-
suade the hard-headed business men OF
Portland as to the truth Of these prop
ositions. and no power on earth could
stop their energies from at once con-
centrating at the mouth of the Colum-
bia river. But, with all due respect to
the opinions OF the Oregonian. the AS
torian cannot agree that the best
way, to bring Portland people to the
proper realization Of present condi-
tons; that the best way to circum-
vent the well-laid plans Of Oregons
commercial enemies, who labor inces-
sanity 10 create such a strong
tendency Of trade and traffic 10 Puget
sound that even the restoration Of nat
ural conditions on the Columbia river
will be unable TO prevail against it for
the next 100 years-the AstOrian can
not agree that the best way to
accomplish these important ends is
TO indulge the halluclnadons Of Port
land people as TO the practicabllity Of
a 1OO-mile, 90-foot inland channel from
Astoria to Portland, or that the Uni
tad States government after the years
and years Of delay that must ensue in
surveys and Investigations as to the
feasibility and public policy Of such a
project, will eventually appropriate the
millions Of dollars required for such
an experiment What the Astorian
would urge upon Portland people is their
quickest possible reconcilement 10 the
inevitable law Of nature and commerce
which debars Portland from the race
for seaport supremacy with Puget
sound. What the AstO-ian would DO
is to bring to the attention Of the sen
sible business men Of Portland ,ha
enormous loss which has already Ie-
suited to them and to Oregon from the
non development Of Astoria. What he
Astorian would bring TO the rsallza.
don Of Portland people is the stern ne.
c=ssity for the immediate recognition Of
Astoria as Oregon's seaport, and The
cheapnesg, the SURPRISING conyen.
ience and inestimable value u tha
seaport, as against all other seaport,
for the outgoing and incoming com.
merce Of the Pacific Northwest. And
the Astorian humbly sugg asts that thu
right way to bring these important
facts to public attention; the right way
to force them upon the minds Of intel
ligent business men in Portland, is no
by indulging the dreams Of Portland
future greatness through the impossi
bic creation by government bounty Of ;
SO-foot deep sea channel, but rather 4
tell the plain truth as to Oregon's de
cline as compared with other Pacif
coast states; to stir up the men of Ore
gon to face the crisis brought abOu
by present conditions; to make then
comprehend the advantages whiel