The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1899-01-10
a NEw DODoE

The latest dodge Of the o. r. & n.
Co.'S snIssarIes for the suppression Of
Astoria's demand sOr common point rates
with Tacoma Is the idea. put forward in
an evening paper, that AseOrIans should
not bother abOu, that question: tAa, /,
win work itself out because our great
natural advantages win force the e4-
ports here TIE Idea advanced Is that we
should busy ourselves with the aevel.
opmens Of our county roads and asri-
cultural resources. and let the railroad
people manage the seaport problem
that /, IS "a railroad proposition
No doubt ii is OF vas, importance tha,
we should develop the spea, wealth that
exists in our rich and fertile delta Our
roads should Be improved. The rich
ness Of our soils and the advantages Of
this region TO immigrants should be ez-
plotted We should pursue these things
with a steady industry and purpose.
whether We had any chance for seaport
supremacy or not. But the advice for
our people to lie supinely on their backs
and refuse to take a vigorous hand in
the question Of our destiny as a great
seaport is that OF an enemy. Il
is an InsidIOus appeal to ye Ancient
Mossbaek such as always held Astoria
back until the steam-engine vigor Of
L. B. sesiey discovered Hammond and
through him stirred our people from
that same lethargie spirit into action
that has brought Us railroad to Port
land But that railroad connection with
the transcOntinental systems is only
physical 1t has given US no trahac con-
neetions that are essential TO an open
railway" such as can make ours the
seaport. Without an active and persist
ent and incessant clamor such as win
show the people Of the Columbian basin
the inestimable value to them OF this
port the railroad may do us no good
In securing seaport supremacy. /, may
be neutraliEed by railroad combinations,
such as now undoubtedly exist against
Astoria If we lie supInely. resting on
our great natural advantages" IT might
be another twenty years before COM
merce would quit its present ruts and
make US the seaport. OF course, we be-
lieve the pending absorption Of the
Short Line and the O. R. & n. Co. by
the Union Pacific means an "open rail-
way to Astoria. But we have no clear
evidence Of that fact We do not know
what controlling purposes may exist in
the councils Of the Deutsche Bank, Kuhn,
Loeb & Co., Pierpont Morgan and other
giants who seem to have "a finger in
the pie"
The advice to act like ninnles, to walt
for what may come. to refuse to utilize
the power we have in the premises to
force the o. R n. Co. to make this
the seaport, is the advice OF an enemy
The FACT THAT AN open Rail.
WAY 10 ASTORIA MEANS FOUR
MILLIONS ANNUALLY TO THE co.
LUNfBLAN PRODUCERS. with an in
creasing tendency is fact that is ir-
resistIOle in forcing the desired result.
1t only needs to be drilled into the
minds of the dweIlers in this basin in
order to procure US the "Open railway
against all outside influences.
II the vanderbrtS have already ar
ranged to make this their terminus. well
and good. The agitation of this question
will not have hurt us. 1t win have more
thoroughly advertised our great natural
advantages" to our very great benefit.
H. however, our railroad is an orphan"
II Il has to fsht for just prO-rates with
the 0, R. & N. Co. then our manly
Efforts viii have been most nesdful and
timely.
Our people should beware OF these in
sldioua sch.rnea - III, 49,, ,,,., ,....,.