The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-08-12

do, fearing this course would be mis-
understood by the merchants OF Port
land. and Il is glad that this contro-
versy has been made public. that the
people Of Portland may understand the
situation.
There has been an apparent effort on
the part Of parties interested in the
o, r. 4 \. to mlsstate and misrepre-
sent the cancellation Of these wheat
tariffs by trying to ally the community
in a clamor against us, that II may
inure 10 the benefit Of the O. r. &
~. while the action taken really does
not affect the interests Of the people
in the least.
Long ago the Northern Pacific would
have made Astoria common with Port
land in all its territory, but for the
fear this Misrepresentation which has
now been attempted on the part OF the
o. r. & n. OF discrimination on the
Part Of our company toward Portland.
might operate to our disadvantage in
connection with the routing Of oompe-
titive business, and it IS not at all un-
likely that such may yet be the re-
suit,
The true policy Of any railroad COM
pany is to offer the widest market to
its patrons; it is not the policy. in my
judgment. 20 discriminate in favor OF
any port OF export. Let all Of them
stand on an equality Of rates. and the
natural conditions of each place will
determine the proportion Of business
which each shall secure.
Portland is so we'll established, it
ought not to fear the rivalry Of city
like Astoria. With its tremendous IA
cilities for caring for business. which
Astoria has yet to supply. IT has little
10 fear for many years to come from
competition. l do not ballaye the max
ing Of Astoria a common point would
seriously afte,t for many years to
come the trade o. Portland. and it GER
tainly would remove a discrimination at
Astoria which would promote good
feeling and stop great deal Of the
contention between the two places.
From the removal Of this discrimina-
ton and the development Of that place.
Portland would receive. believe. ben
eft. as well us all the rest OF the state.
1t is poor policy TO restrict the growth
OF any place. Portland must always be
the commercial center Of the state OF
Oregon, and whatever the other cities
increase in wealth and population will
surely induce larger tribute TO this
city.
The Northern Pacific has tried for
years TO secure the right to run its own
trains into Portland over the tracks
OF the o. r. & y. 1t is still anxious
to make such an arrangement. and is
willing to pay rental commensurate
with the value Of the privilege confer
red. 1t is through no lack OF effort on
its part that the negotiations so long
protracted have reached no satisfactory
conclusion. But in every way 1t has
been forced off by the older road. and
prevented from doing business here on
any satisfactory basis. except where 1t
had It's own facilities free from any in
terference or control.
Is 1t not better that the facilities al
ready here should be utilized to their
fullest extent, as the Northern Pacific
is glad to use them If a reasonable
charge be made, rather than that busi-
ness should be driven to other ports, or
be confronted with the necessity for
duplicating an expenditure here that in
our judgment is unnecessary and un-
wise?
If the public viii only appreciate at
its true significance the action Of the
Northern Pacific in connection with the
wheat tariffs as in no way depriving
any patron Of its lines from sending
his business to Portland as freely as
ever before, and that the only effect
has been to deprive the o. r. & N. Of
the excrbitant, unreasonable and unpre-
cedented charge for a switching SER
vlce-greater than many roads make
for 150-mile haul-for handling busi-
ness between Portland and Albina, I
believe they will soon lose interest in
what is purely railroad controversy,
in which they have only become in
terested up to the present time through
gross mlsstatement Of facts.
President Mellen makes a very broad
intimation in the above statement. He
does not say that his company pro-
poses to extend common point rates to
Astoria, but the fair inference of his
language is that such is his purpose.
1t is hard 10 see how he can go back
on this plain suggestion with honor
to himself or the company he repre7
sents. The Astorian will take him at
his word. If the Northern Pacific rec
ognizes the mouth Of the Columbia
river as a common point, every other
trans continental system will have to
do so. This will be the elimination
Of Astoria's hopes for years. and will
do more for the development and best
interests of Oregon than any event that
has occurred in the states history. ex-
cept her original admission as one Of
the states of the Union.