The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-11-13
Expose Of the 0regOnian's Action
in Slandering the Columbia
River Bar.
AN IMMENSE SUM INVOLVED
II preSen, Status Can BE Con-
tinued. Wheat Pool VIII
Benefit to Extent of
SiS,OO.OOO.

In the agitation now being conducted
sn Portland for improvement Of the
Columbia river bar well-l'S'ed nen
ahink they discern an effort On the
mar, Of the oregonian and the Whe''
AMI railroad pools represented by that
,ournal to hold down oregon and the
r,,uub,a basin for another sS or
seven wears. II the present status can
n, maintained for six years Longer :"
win mean about sl5,Coo,Oco to the Inter
ested parties-a sum worth sehen'hE
for ,t,r
E,r some weeks past the oreg'n'ah'
which had theretofore torcioly res'e'''sH
.nv raference to lack 81 water on 'he
C,,nmhla bar has been parading the
rivers deficiencies to the world II n''S
persistently pointed out that sTe'''e'
santh at the rivers mouth is necessary
=, ,,a commerce OF this basin Is to oe
Droperly haidled. and in It's franoe IL
torts to show 10 the bar In the worst
pr,periv handed and in its iranue e.
.r,,,b alleging that delay TO shipp'ns
o,~,rrs no, between Portland and As,
a,-is hut between Astoria and the sea
nav ar,er day these brazen HasFeple-
ssntatioas have been given prominence
IN the organ Of the ralroad-wneai po'~
and a, a Tine when the river Is 50 10"
even small vessels mus; lighter po'u''S
os their cargoes down the river,
For the firs, time, the oregonian mas
s,anaered the waterway Of watch 1t vas
once 50 proud hollin~ it up 10 Vhe
wur,d as totally insdquaie for the
needs Of commerce.
This action on the part OF the paper
-asn,ns.ble for the Oregon blight s
MT difficult 70 understand. FeaEiu'
tha, he Astoria road is about 70 De
acquired either by tt1e Hill-Morgan IN
ter.ts or the HarTiman-Vanderoll'
syndicate. the oregonian seeks to pre-
vent consummation OF the deal by ue-
RI png the harbor. hoping thus TO sta'e
oY decisive action until the bar NAV
be improved" This improvement wiA
raouira six OF seven years, during
which -.ms the gratters in control VIII
mulct the producers Of an addit'onal
sI5 O00. 900. A gentleman who Keeps
pretty well up with the railroad STU
alton, in discussing the matter yes'er-
day, said:
u am satisfied that the oreSonan's .
scheme is as here outlined Notw'tn- /
standing the denals made a, the time I
Of the publication in the Astor-an oi .
the offer Of the N1rJhern Pacific for the .
a & C.. I hay. It on good authority .
aha, negotiations cor sale Of tn road .
hay been on for some tiu@, II nv IN
T -ra,'7n IS correct. the deal was 20 /
bav. been cI,sei last Thursd1y, when
b74 an gone wen. the local railroad .
was to have changed hanls. There
was q hitch IN the negotiations. how
ever. and sale has been j d=ferrei.
Doubtless the UuiJn Pacific Interests
ar thoroughly acquainted with th-
situation. II the Greg 5n.an succeeds IN
creating the bsllaf that the Columbia
bar ia unfit fr navigation purposes.
and that il will remain 50 until the
general government makes an improve
ment. purchase Of the local road
and consequent utilization u the ocean
harbrr will b. DELAYED. The rail-
road-wheat pool. together with is or
gan. stands to make about s2.Jo0OoO !
yearly out OF the present situation. and
the attempted holi-up Is well worth !
the trouble. But the railroad people
know their business and !
have an idea the scherne Of the organ
Of tho pool will fall ha;.
Everyone will admit that improve
m-nt Of the bar 3 essential. but the !
has been misra1r-sented bv
the Portland mouthple-e of the graft 8
ers' ring. Ships go and CONE with as
littz difficulty az was experienced last ,
year. and the bar will acc1m1date all ,
the shipping that comes this way A.
prez-nt. The Chamber 0f Commerce Of
This city viii probably take up this mat I
ter and see 10 Il that the Oregonian's {
effort at Misrepresentation is dot sue
c-s-ful'