The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-11-16
THE REAL SEAPORT.
Mr.. seeley Proves Beyond Dispute AS
torias Right by Natural Ad-
yantages 70 That Position.

BOhILAND. NOV, B.-(TO the Edi-
tori )-In reply 10 the article Of Mr.. FL
IFS @. Hughes. which was published IN
Sundays Oregonlan. November II.
Will limit myself 70 that part Of his
letter IN which he refers 70 "Portland's
sins Of commission. etc, among which
are TO be noted the breaking Of the
Joint leagc Of the o. Il. & ". co. 10 the
Union and Northern Pacific. which
would have given Portland undisputed
control Of the Pacific northwest as well
az the Oriental trade and left the
Sound without Tacoma and probably
without a Seattle. And the throwing
10 Seattle Of the Alaska trade. which
has become the life and is about the
sole support O. that city"
The inference TO be drawn is. that
Hughes believes the development and
prosperity OF these two fine and thriv-
Ing clties on Puget sound was at the
expense Of Portland. because Portland
did not prevent them getting railroad
at the time he thinks she could. Is
Portland going 70 say to the world or
admit that the only way she could hold
her national prestige" was to keep
the other seaDorts handicapped by not
allowing them any rail connections. and
~ they succeeded in getting the rail-
roads, then II sne could prevent It, not
allow them comm0n-point rates? II
Portland cannot command the com
merce Of the Pacific northwest in hon
est and fair competition with any or
all Of the other ports north. south or
west Of her. then Is not the problem
solved. and is she the Columbia river
seaport or the gateway to the Orient
or Alaska?
Is there a single fair-mlnded man.
either merchant. manufacturer or pro-
ducer. in Oregon. Washington or Idaho.
who believes either his or the coun-
try's interests are best served by hold
Ing bach any seaport. or In the dis
couraging OF railroads to them. or af-
ter the roads are built. by ignoring and
discriminating against them. in order
to force business 20 some other port less
favorably situated? What the producer
wants and win have is the easiest and
cheapest way to market. II It is easier
and cheaper to haul a car Of wheat
down grade by the water level route to
the mouth OF the Columbia river. in
stead OF over the mountains to Puget
sound. tIsn why not extend the same
rates 10 the mouth OF the Columbia
river as the Sound has7 II It is easier
and cheaper 10 load vessels right at the
ocean. then is that not the place TO do
so. and not continue 10 drag them up
and down stream and burden the pro-
ducer with this unnecessary towage ex-
pense?
All the seapOrts in the state Of Wash
ington that have railroad connections
have a commOn-point rate. none discri-
minated against, no matter whether
they are located along the coast or the
shores Of Puget sound. or the banks of
the Columbia. This policy seems to
have been successful. as Washington
has more miles OF railroads and larger
population than Oregon.
The time has come to recognize and
utilize the unexcelled fresh-wster har-
Dor at the mouth Of the Columbia river.
II has none OF the objections that can
be urged against the other ports. and
the great advantage over them all OF
being right at the sea. only six miles
from the open ocean-the exact coun-
terpart in situation to the mouth Of the
Hudson. the gateway on the Atlantic
seaboard to all Europe.
The Columbia river is natures high
way to and from the ocean. and the
harbor at its mouth. the natural gate
way on the Pacific seaboard to the ORR
ent, Portland. you hold the keys; open
up oregon's ideal seaport. then your
errors Of omission and commission" will
be largely. .sirly and honestly neutral
lied. and your proud position Of the
Queen City OF the Columbia" and
financial center Of the Pacific northwest
be forever assured you.
San Francisco Is now the recognized
terminus OF the Union Pacific railroad
for all traps-Pacific trade. Tacoma has
the Northern Pacific. Seattle has the
Great Northern and Vancouver. B. c..
the Canadian Pacific. All these ports
have drydocks and coal bunkers. steam
ship connections with Alaska and are
doing an immense trade. Portland has
no Alaska steamers and is the largest
shipping point In the world without a
drydock, while most ports Of her vol
ume of business have several OF them.
Now. let's shake hands like brothers,
pull together like men-like Seattle
OF whining over errors
Of commission" that some now imagine
would have held back Puget sound.
but it would not. Nothing on Gods |
green earth could do that or ever will.
But who wants the Sound held back?
Who wants the harbor at the mouth |
Of the Columbia river "strangled"? |
Let him come to the front now and |
state his reasons or get out of the |
way of king Progress" and forever |
hold his peace.
Mr.. Ellis G. Hughes offered the reso-
ution to the Portland Chamber Of Com
merce indorsing the Astoria railroad. |
He has done many good things for the |
of Oregon, but time will |
show none better than this.