The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-01-28
OTHER SIDE
OF THE CASE
Reply to Contentious of the
RemOnstrants.
A BUSINESS MANS VIEWS
More Roads Viii Enable Clatsop coun-
ty to Retain Money Paid Through
Fishing and LumberiuO.
A BUSINESS MANS VIEWS

llouihH nhu Lu1DIIlDU'
Much general comment was oc.
raaDned throughout the city yesterday
By the interview with Attorney
Charles II. Page on the three roads"
proposition published IN the Morning
Aslorian. Mr. Pages clear and forcl-
bic presentation OF the position taken
by the opposition TO the measure calls
forth renewed argument on the 9th sr
side, the substance Of which Is partly
embodied in an Interview obtained by
an Astorian reporter with gentleman
representing one Of the largest busl-
ness concerns IN the city. The gentle
mans name N withheld by request.
the argument, however. reflects the
views OF the petitioners generally so
that the mission Is lmmaterial. Said
he.
"A few Of our people seem to doubt
the question whether the money. which
Is to be spent upon roads in this coun-
". viii bring, even In time. an ade-
quale return 10 warrant the expense.
\ few even seem 20 doubt the necessity
Of any roads at ALL and some suggest
thar those who want roads should
build them themselves; II the farmer
wants them lel him pay for them.
while some reason 90 thus, as Is
shown by the remonstrance 10 the road
petition, II Is gratifying to note thai
the vast majority OF our people have
shown that they are willing to aid Ia
the uplifting Of our entire county, and
to secure its prosperity, not. by a pro-
cess OF artificial booming, but by
natural stimulation and growth. They
are willing to bear the expense.
To better understand the position OF
Clatsop county let me quote you an
extract from the report OF our consul
AT Geneva. He makes some startling
statements for he says IL is estimated
that since the first OF January. 1899.
W TO last November no less than
2,5OoO0O tourists have visited switzer-
land. and mat they have left in the
country an average OF 50 francs
Si5iD or a total OF S5s, 5000. Inas-
much as the population Of Swift
zerand is only 2.S2S.3oO, II is rot diff
cult &c appreciate the significance OF
these tgures. The per capita wealth
OF the country has heretofore been es-
tiuated at Sli. but the influx OF money
above referred TO suddenly brings il
up 10 SEAS. or from one Of the poorest
countries (per capita) to one OF the
richest. This at least would appear to
be the result on paper; but as matter
OF fact, the consul says, the sudden in
crease OF the country's wealth is not so |
great as the figures would indicate,
for the reason that Switzerland buys
nearly everything she sells to tourists,
including the supplies for the hotels
and ecarding-houses, and therefore. !
while a great deal Of money comes in
TO the country, large proportion OF
i has TO be paid out.
Now, our situation is much the
same. We have plenty OF money
coming in from salmon and lumber;
but too much of it goes out again I,
make here an accumulation of wea,,m.
The sluinkage in the cannery business
makes this situation palmer every day.
II in coming years income from the
source of fisheries should diminish very
much, would It not be very desirable
to have our county cultivated, and
studded with paying farms? Farm
products are everywhere and always
In demand. People must eat.
Again, consider this point. Efforts
are constantly made to bring manu-
featuring establishments here, even by
offering cash inducements. Yet, many
do not seem TO think that farms are
concerns. Who ever
heard Of Offering cash inducements for
The farmer to locate?
"But many more of such manufac-
torres might be located here, and those
here can be made more profitable. This
can be done by cash inducement, In
the share of taxes for making good
roads.
Much is said lately against trusts
AMI combines, Is it not clear that
good roads will enable us to combat
heir influence? AT least it is clear that
bad roads help the trusts. What the
failure of crops is bringing about in
the corn belt country" viz: the
nonopolzation of lands, the failure of
wagon roads is bringing about here.
The farms are abandoned, or soon
must be, and will be left only to be
gobbled up by timber spectators.
Think what this will mean as time