The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1899-06-06

There is reason TO believe the question
OF future seaport supremacy on the Nor'f
Pacific coast is now trembling in th'
balance between Astoria ana Seattle
Every sign points 20 such a readiustment
OF the existing combination between the
american transcontinenial railroad sys-
TENS as shall sufiee TO turn the rich Or
entail traffie-imporied with American
money and destined for American mar.
ke,s-frOm a foreign port Of entry and
carriage across the country by foreign
railroad. TO an American port Of entry
and for the benef; Of American railroads.
BY system of ocean and rail subver-
ton the dominion and mother countries
have heretofore been able to eheckmate
every attempt OF the American railroads
10 control this trafic. While they have
been battling agains; each other for an
existence and maintaining operating ex-
penses 10 the limit Of ruin. foreign sea.
port and a foreign railway have divided
a business which II shared among the
American roads upon some equitable ba-
sis would have made them all paying iu-
vestments. This fratricidal war is to
cease and a unked front is to be hence.
forth turned against a common enemy.
1t is the part Of wisdom for Portland to
admit and reconcile herself TO the in-
evitable coming seaport situation. The
question now confronting her Is whether
she shall see Astoria or Seattle made
the leading Pacific seaport. With her
help and the influence OF her business
men the problem would be soon settled
in Astoria's favor A continuation Of her
policy Of opposition to the development
Of Astoria may mean moi only the frus-
tration o: Asioria's hopes but her own
ruin. for nothing is more certain than the
fact that Portland is not reckoned as a
factor in the seaport situation. The Ore
gonian has admitted that 2s-foot liners
are necessary for the Oriental traffic. This
admission necessarily excludes Portland
from any hope or expectation Of partlcI-
patton in that traffic. At best the chan
mel between the sea and Portland is but
% feet As matter OF fact, under nor
NAL conditions in the river, the channel
is limited TO vessels NOT exceeding IS feet !
draft, since that is the depth at at least
two points between Astoria and the I
mouth Of the Willamette river. That the !
American roads can never unite on Port. !
land for the Asiatic commerce is mex.
orably settled by this condition, indie
pendent Of her extreme inland situation.
That the tendency Of modern commerce
is in the direction OF much larger yes.
sells than even the 2s-foot liners sug.
gested by the oregonian is illustrated by
an article on the improvements begun
In New York harbor, published in the
ast number of the Scientific American.
The experience at New York settles be-
yond all question not only the hopeless.
ness Of Portland's situation as a port /
lor the Asiatlc commerce, but the utter
utility of her attempt to hold any con.
siderable portion Of the seaport trade Of g
the Pacific In the article referred to the I
Scientific american says:
1t Is cause Of genuine qualification
hat the contract has now been let for
lredging the great 40-foot entrance chan 4
vel to New York harbor. The position OF g
Sew York as the leading port in the New s
World. and the point Of arrival and de. s
'arture Of the great transatlantic steam g
hip companies, renders It imperative v
hat its facilities shall. not only be equal p
o the growing demands Of shipping. but a
hat they shall anticipate them. 1t goes fl
Without saying that. for harbOr to be C