The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-08-03

preciate her situation with respect to
commerce and transportation foretold
by the Astorian years ago. How her
leading business lights and great news
paper used to deride the Astorian for
its earnest warnings Of the fate which
is now about to overtake her. How
often has the Astorian stated that the
chains Of commercial bondage were
being slowly but inexorably forged
about her. First she lost her Alaska
business. Then the Puget sound roads
began to divert the growing traffic OF
the Orient. until finally. .here was
no foreign commerce entering the Co
lumbia river except as ballast. for re-
turning grain cargoes. All the time
Portland had the means at hand to
maintain and even increase her COM
mercial supremacy. She still remained
the terminus-as for that matter she
does today-the junction point, of the
only down grade railroads. traversing
the entire length and breadth of the
only two productive areas Of country
in the Pacific Northwest. She had the
advantage Of location at the confluence
OF the two mightest river Of the Pacific
slope. flowing through both the same
two only productive sections Yet her
business men, and her Chamber Of
Commerce, continued under the domin-
ance Of her commercial enemies. Trade
which belonged of right to Portland.
under the immutable laws of Divine
Providence. was stolen from her-filch-
ed right under her nose-by her rivals
north and south. stin her people slept
on in blissful ignorance. sull they lis
tened to the soothing lullaby Of her
great newspaper. stin the picture was
held up to the Imagination Of her people
Of Portland as a great seaport. one
hundred miles up the crooked and
shallow channel of the Willamette riv-
er. Still the tables were periodically pa
.o5-a H., ~ ,,.a,,to,-- % t1,a ,,,L,c. d.
and transportation combination who
controlled her Chamber Of Commerce
and only newspaper showing her great
ness in comparison with other Pacific
coast ports in foreign (grain) ship
ments. The Philippine war came on,
and with it all the governments hustle
and preparation for the despatch Of
transports loaded with soldiers and
munitions Of war across the Pacific.
Portland got left She was only
grain station on one or two transccnti-
mental railway sids-tracks She had
no facilities for carrying on general
commerce-SHE HAD NO CITIZENS
ENGAGED IN THAT BUSINESS. The
government naturally went where the
urgency Of it's needs could be best sat
is6cd. Portland howled; and the inlu-
erce Of the Portland delegation in con-
gress induced the government to send a
regiment Of troops and a cargo or two Of
mules by way Of Portland Everyone
knows the consequence. How battles
were fought: soldiers killed and starved
10 death for lack Of reinforcements and
food stuck on the sand bars between
the sea and the inland town Of Port
land The experiment Of sending troops
and supplies to Manila via Portland has
not been repeated. It never will be.
The government spent from January
TO January last year over $sOOOO.OOO
in San Francisco in connection with
It's AsIatic military operations. This
was Independent Of the vast sums spent
privately by civilians and the thousands
of officers and soldiers who went 70 the
Philippines BY that route At Seattle !