The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1899-10-24
The oREGoNIAN's ANSWER

IhE OllEGONlAN = Ans " En-
Yesterdays oregOnian quotes pas
sage from recent article in the Asto-
rian as follows:
Tie Oregonian some time ago. in
commenting on the advantages Of Port
land over Puget sound as a shipping
point, declared that one engine on the
o. R. & n. line could haul as much
freight into Portland as four engines
could haul over the mountain grades
Of the Puget sound roads into Tacoma
or Seattle. This statement is true, and
it is one Of the main elements which
should give either Portland or Astoria
nearly the entire outgoing and in
coming commerce OF the Nacifc North
west. Eut will the Oregonian explain
why Portland doesn't insist. upon
reduction of The o. r. & n. rates com
mensurate with this advantage OF its
lower operating expenses?
In reply the OrsgOnian says:
This shall have a fair answer. r.
duction Of freight rates over the o. r.
& y. from the interior TO Portland is
a matter which has had and will still
have the attention Of the management.
Such reduction Is sure 10 be made. The
question is as 10 the extent OF il. and
the time when. But, OF course
no person who is acquainted with rail-
way business expects the o. r. d y.
10 establish and maintain lower rates
TO Portland than will be given to Puget
sound by the railroads that terminate
there. In other words. whatever cut
may be made on the products OF the
upper Columbia will be met BY the
Great Northern and Northern Pacific.
No matter how deep the cut, they will
meet II at once The question whether
they can afford TO do so will not enter
into their calculations. for they will
think II Necessary tc protect this i'm
portant part Of their business. aud they
will do II. We shall never there
fore, have lower rates to Portland and
Astoria than they will make to Puget
sound. They viii carry without profit
or even at loss. TO hold their part Of the
business and protect their terminals.
These reads are great transcontinetal
lines. and each will use its entire re-
sources to support its system as a
whole The Oregonian has no
doubt the o r. & y. will reduce rates
when 1t finds ii can afford to do so. But
no Dne has right to expect that every
reduction II may make viii not be met
al once by the roads that terminate al
Pugec sound no matter what the sac
rihce 10 them. The good results will
inure mainly to the producers OF the in
terror. We should be glad to hurry I'D
these results, but regard must be had
10 financial conditions and various con-
Of possibility The Orego-
Man would have the reduction made
right now, II II could. II would be as
free with other peoples money in this
direction as anybody could desire. IL II
Saw a practicable way. Long time Il
has been doing its utmost 70 induce the
Q. h. & y. TO put very heavy addi-
uonal sums intD Improvements and ex-
tensions, but the owners Of the prop-
erty have seemed 10 think they wera
going as fast as they could afford or
prudence would permit. We shall all
get there" some time, but We fear not
soon enough to enable US to realize" as
fast and as fully as We would like upon
our real estate. Let US remember. how
ever that we have something to do
ourselves in the matter Of building up
Industry and commerce, and that the
can't do 1t all.
There is a significance in these frank
from the Oregonian which
'hould impress every Portland property
owner and business man. Itis the plain
of what, to them, must con-
'dtu'e the strongest point in the AS
.oria claim. If the principle Of gravity
shall cease to operate in Portland's
'avor where is ner hope Of continued
supremacy even in the Columbian ba-
sin trade? If all benefit Of any rate
which the 0. r. & N. may or can make
'ver Its down grades is to be nunifel by
cut over the Puget sound mountain
'oads' npon what reasonable ground
an Portland expect to longer serve as
)regon's seaport? With Portland and
seattle on a parity as 10 inward and
outward railway rates. how can the
Columbia river look for any share In
he coming great Oriental commerce?i
even with so important an element as
'ailway rates in her favor, Portland
would stlll be out Of competition with
he deeper water and heavier tonnage
u Puget sound. Forced to divide her
naturally tributary trade in the Column
'ain basin. through equal railway rates
With the cities Of Puget sound and