The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1899-12-09
SERIOUS, If TRUE.

Inc AstOrlan, commenting upon ar
editorial that appeared in these col
umns q few days ago concerning the
lack of facilities for handling grain a,
Astoria, and asking why Astoria. be-
fore it invites wheat raisers to ship
their product to that place, does moi
erect warehouses capable of taking
care of it, says:
"The reason why Astoria has no
better warehouses or other arrange.
ments to care for the crops of the in
terror is because the railroads have
prevented such preparations. Capital
is plenty, local and outside, stands
ready to invest in these structures as
soon as it is safe to do so. The o. r.
& N. Company would now crush out
the slightest manifestation of such an
enterprise. That company has already
killed two different projects to ship
wheat from the mouth of the Colum-
bia river, under circumstances much
less provocative of its opposition than
exist at present. No man who has had
the thrift and brains to accumulate
money is going to put it into such in
vestments until he knows it is safe to
do so. The O. r. &. N. Company and
its allied interests have power to force
any Independent grain buyer or ware
houseman out of business, not only in
Astoria but elsewhere. Without fixed
and ironclad agreements with the rail-
roads, millions might be squandered
in an endeavor to change the present
course Of grain to the seaboard. Too
much money is being made under the
existing unnatural conditions. Is it
possible that the es.Mountaineer
doesn't know that the grain buyers of
the three states of California, Oregon
and Washington have combined to
control the Northwest grain output
and determine the price to be allowed
the farmer for it? Can't the Times.
Mountaineer understand that the
superiority and cheapness of Astoria
as a grain market would disrupt the
combination and necessitate new deal
all around, If it did not utterly destroy
any possibility of future manopoly.
We feel sure closer examination of
the subject will satisfy the Times.
Mountaineer that 1t is useless to ex-
pect any developments for the care
and shipment of grain at the mouth
of the Columbia river until the rails
roads are forced by legislation or other
means to make common rate to that
seacoast point with the inland and
sometimes more distant points to
which the present combination now
finds it profitable to force the grain
for export"
If these statements made by the
Astorian are true, they present indeed
serious outlook for the wheat raisers
Of the states of Oregon and Washing.
ton. But we believe the Astorian
rather overdraws on it's Imagination.
The o. r. & N. Co. cannot control the
wheat markets of the world. Neither
,an it longer control the transporta-
lion business of the Northwest. Be-
lore another crop is ready to move tn 9
portage around. the dalles of the Co
umbia will be built, and grain car be
carried from the interior to Astoria as
veil as to Portland or the Sound, and
,ffered there upon the open markets
provided there are sufficient storage
ABILITIES.
The Astorian seems to be too ready
o give up to adverse influences. If it |,
will display enterprise that was shown
" The Dalles few years ago it can
nd will become the wheat market of
he Northwest. When the o. r. & N.
,o., Disseminated against The Dalles
he people put on boat line between
ere and Portland, and the result was
hat the monopoly of the carrying
rade was broken. Now if Astoria will
o likewise, put up warehouses and
md encouragement to boat lines op-
Grating on the river, it can get com.
ION point rates and also become the
heat market of the Northwest. The
,ture of Astoria rests solely with
storians.