The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1899-10-31
SOME QUESTIONS FOR THE ORE
CONAN 10 ANSWER.

Some days ago the OregOnian said
the railroads Of Pugst sound would al
ways make the same rates for the pro-
duce Of the interior to Puget sound
points as were made to Portland by the
o. r. & n. The Tacoma Ledger and
the Astorian want to know what, then.
will be Portland's advantage from the
easy river grade. The answer is easy.
The advantage Of warer-level grades
remains. ana the bulk Of the produce
and heavy freight will follow this route
because the haul will always cost less.
Has not President Mellen OF the North
ern Pacific said that in order TO get the
benefit Of the nO-grade route his road
will build along the Columbia down to
Portland-if trackage cannot be had
over the o. r. & n. lines? While any
rates that may BE- made to Portland will
be met by roads to Puget sound, yet
thc bulk Of the heavy traffic Of the Co
iumbia basin will be turned in this way
because it will be SO much cheaper for
all the roads The conditions even now.
though only partially developed, ope-
rate strongly in this direction. Hence
Portland now ships much more wheat
than Puget sound. For what reason
does the Northern Pacific want a line
direct from the interior to Portland? Is
it forgotten what the president Of that
company was so recently saying? And
why tine contention Of the Great North
ern for the same connection? The rail-
road men may be supposed to under
stand this subject. Money will not be
wasted where it can be saved; and
though the rates viii be the same the
great bulk of the traffic will take the
route Of least cost for the haul--Sun-
days oregonian.
There are two objections to the Ore
gonian's line Of reasoning. First, If the
other railroads are to continue their
joint use and control Of the o. r. & n.
low grade TO Portland, what object can
the combined roads have in granting,
or how can the o. R. & N. carry out
its promise, made through the Ore
gonian. Of a lower rate? Second, since
the same common-point rate is now
made by all the roads from interior
points TO Puget sound and Portland,
and yet Portland is handling less and
less general commerce each year, while.
in spite Of the large margin between
present high rates and operating ex-
penses, Portland is shipping a smaller
proportion Of the wheat Of the Inland
Empire each year as compared with
the Sound, how is Portland to main
tain the advantage Of the down-grade
haul or how is she to increase the guam
tity Of outward bound products carried
on the only water-level route to the
sea?
What is the matter with the Orego-
nian in this discussion, anyway? That
paper some time ago resented the AS
torian's suggestion that il was making
money through the maintenance Of ar
tifcial conditions against the natural
conditions which should prevail to
MAKE Portland the greatest city on the
Pacific coast The Astoran has more
than once since then recalled this, per-
haDs, unjust insiuuauon, but there GER.
tainly must be some restraining infiu-
ence about the Oregonian, else paper
of its ability would not discuss this vi
tai question in the lame and impotent
fashion it has been pursuing. The Ore
gonian cannot BE- blind to the prepara-
tions both the Great Northern and
Northern Pacific are making at their
Puget sound terminals to handle both
inward-bound Oriental traffic and the
outward bound products Of the Inland
Empire. Now, what preparation is the
0. R. & n. or the Union Pacific making
to utilize the incompatible advantage
Of the water-leyel grade for the hand
ling Of greater commerce in and out
the mouth Of the Columbia? And II no
such preparations in behalf Of Portland
and The Columbia river are making or
even talked Of by the Union Pacific,
what is the reason for this strange in
difference IN the face of the activity Of
the Sound roads and the recent tremen-
ious impetus felt in all lines Of Pacific
coast commerce?