The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-11-24
pogrLANp's FrruRl
II viii reDend Largely on Her Attitude
an the Question Of the Location
II the Port

Oregonian.
PORTLAND. Nov. 2O.--CTo the Edl-
tor.)--I have taken keen Interest IN the
'mOuth.of- the-riyer' question 30 thor
Ougbly discussed IN the oregon an Of
late, and ! can but regard some Of the
Communications as more talk than logic.
can find neither logic OF argument
In n statement that upon transp1r-
tatiOn question, the opinion Of 30 IA
nous n transportation man as Mr..
Huntington In unworthy of cOnsldera-
tlOn. because. as a flnancier. he may
have had the saRhSity 10 shape his af-
! fairs 80 az 10 profit by the ultimate
solution Of the problem. even H. like
ourselves. his Judgment may have been
somewhat biased by his personal inter-
ests; more especially as his judgment.
in the main. has been confirmed BY
many leading transportation men Of the
Nation.
But a few years ago shps Of 1000
tons register and over were al dis
count In this port. owing 10 the fact
that cargoes OF i.sat slze were unwield-
ly In the worlds markets. While this
may still be true 10 some extent and
as regards some markets. II is laud-
ed fact that ships Of from 5000 10 5000
tons have sailed from our docks.
We have not only this local evidence
hut the shipyards Of the world give
most convincing proof that the carry
| Ing trade Is demanding and finding lar
ger and increasingly larger ships.
J that charger may be reduced TO the
minimum and profits Increased 10 the
Maximum principle equally as potent
] in every line Of trade and manufacture
while the Oregonian. Of November l6.
gives tIdlngs Of the laying of the keels
! OF Mr.. Hil's 20.00O-rvii ships for service
on this coast. Notwithstanding that
their being built at all has been rather
nlppantly secuted by one able CORES
! pOndent.
+. Whether or not wheat 10 the United
] Kingdom viii 20 by steam and IN ships
OF from 10000 10 10000 tons until the
lsthmlan canal shall have been COM
pletQd may be an cpen question but Il
win scarcely be doubted that If Port
land Is 70 compete with the Sound and
San Francisco in the Oriental trade. she
must possess equal facilities.
As ships of the great capacity mem
toned cannot navigate the Columbia.
these facilities must be supplied at the
mouth OF the Columbia. or Portland
withdraw from the race.
One prime essential to Portland's fu-
ture growth and greatness Is. indeed.
that she keep wha. she has" not
necessarily within her corporate limits.
but rather within her control; and as
the water-level route can deliver our
wheat at Astoria cheaper than the
mountain route can at Sound ports.
why should not We a4nand that II be
done. with or without dIfferentlal upon
! all which may be loaded here.
Individuals and business firms in all
lines are adjusting themselves TO the
changing but inexorable conditions in
cident to the progress Of the age. not
10 say 10 these OF the transition per-
Iod In which we live. and he who will
not. or can not. must Of necessity de-
cline.
The question which presents itself TO
my mind Is. VIII Portland cease let
ting the dust raised by aggressive pri-
vate Interests and competing corpora
tions befog her horizon, and. facing
the facts. drop into the balance some
Of her present questionable advantages
as port-questiOnable because OF its
uncertain tenure. against a future con-
tlngency OF much greater promise
greater because II affects her present
life and comprehends her future su-
premacy?
The widest speculative dream does
not anticipate the removal Of the
metropolis to Astoria; nor does 1t con-
template that no more ships viii ascend
the Columbia when Astoria. shall have
been granted common-point rates on
wheat and lumber. but conservative
sense. as we'll as loyalty TO Oregon,
vet to Portland. too. demands that the
finest fresh-water harbor ON the globe
and one Of the five largest and best
harbors in the Tinted states. fresh or
salt, should enjoy privileges equal to
/ thosa enjoyed by the harbors on Puget
sound, and especially to those enjoyed
by ports on Grays and Willapa harbors,
In Washington.
The holding or removal Of the finan-
cial and commercial center rests with
Portland. VIII she with the prescience
Of a leader. lead. or will she. In craven
parsimony. be content to follow-and
whine?" F. M'KERCHER.