The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-10-04

Portland at the present time, and tor
gres, many years past has posed as
he seaport u oregon. No one viii
lenv that the efTor, to hold The shipping
business was commendable on the par,
q the people Of the metropolis, whc
were doubtless actua,ed by a desire q
add to their clty's interests bu, the
eieS: has been rulnous. no. only to the
jobbers ot Portl1nd-who are slaught-
cred FOR the Seneft of the whea, pool
and triple railway aiHAnce--but 10 the
entire state ot Oregon, and the whole
Of she Inland Empire Oregon Is a
frss-elass state. a verItable garden spot,
but Portland Is not nor can she ever
be, a firs,-class seaport. It is as utterly
impossible to secure and maintain a So
foot depth from Portland TO the sea As
I, is 70 construct a railroad to Mars"
The expenditure OF $iOO,OoO.eoO would not
accomplish this object. Portland has
always contended that a depth OF 80
feet could be maintained. ou, the au-
thors OF this contention know ruA wen
tha; It Is false, Even the presen, depth
Of slightly more than % fee Is not
permanent Dredges are kept CONSTANT
ly at work on The shoals, and. as the
Telegram thoroughly understands. large
vessels. such as the oceana and Glen
morglnshire. work the tides" in max
ing the river trip; that is, await ex,reme
high water before attempting to cross
the shoals. This Is a plain statemen;
Of fact. which cannot truthfully be de-
MED. Portland IS not a first-class sea-
port. and consequently IS not fitted to
handle the business OF a hrs,-class
state. This condition. which should be
aoparsnt TO the government engineers,
has no: influenced them in their recon-
and at almost every session
% congress a large sum is appropriated
for the purpose Of improving the cham
mel below Portland" This money is no,
only ;hroEn away by the government
rs there is absolutely no reason in the
world why the shipping business should
be done at Portland-but II is used as
a club with which 20 beat the life out
u the farmers OF the Inland Empire and
the iobbers OF Portland The latter. Il
viii be remembered, recently gave un-
nlsiakable evidence Of their conviction
hat their Interests were suffering on
his account It is no; the purpose OF
rhe As.orian to reopen the common |
,oint discussion at this time. but the
ustice OF Astoria's demand for equal
ates on grain cannot be denied. Were |
ha; demand granted by the railroads.
OF vas. sums on the Port
and channel would be entirely unnec-
ssary: the money could be used where
is needed-at the rivers mouth. I'm
rovemen, OF the bar Is absolutely nee
ssary. while improvement OF the river
not-nor is It practicable. In point
1g out the difficulty with which large
essels navigate between Portland AMI
he sea. The Astorian has sought only
D call attention In forcible way TO a
'an.on waste Of funds. that has been
Ding on for years. to the detriment Of
he entire state and the great Column
ian basin. Portland papers would nave
he world believe that the money ex-
ended each year adds to the depth Of
he channel. when, as a matter OF fact.
he dapth, remains the same. all the
lonev available being required to keep
he river open for vessels OF % feet
raft. Because this false view Of the
.tua;ion is presented and accepted by
be people Of the state-and sad 70 re-
lte, by the farmers, who are most in
needless expenditure OF
1nds continues. while the bar. I'M
rovement Of which Is essential. and the
u;y Of the government, Is neglected.
he Astorlan has been trying for years
D correct this abuse, thus far without
uccess, though there has been
larked change Of sentiment OF late.
telling the truth about conditions
nat exist; II fighting for the best in
srests Of the people OF the great basin
{ the Columbia: II an honest effort TO
smoye the barrier which has hereto
re stood insurmountable in the way
the progress Of this state. 70 the ad-
Of the state OF Washington
t the expense Of Oregon, her people
nd her industris-if these things con- +
ltute SANDER. then The Astorian