The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-11-17
TINE FOR ACTION

We are pleased 70 see the in,eres, the
business men and oliireas os Astoria
have shown IN the subject q taking
concerted action n The projec; Of
bringing to the notice Of our deisga-
tioa in congress the impor:anca " re
moving the Cello obstruction to the
navigation OF the Columbia river. This
in our opiniaa, Is the question Of most
vital importance to the STATE a; this
tims
The commerce ~ the Pacific coas, Is
Jus; IN It's Infancy The next decade
viii witness almost unprecedented
growth N the volume Of shipping from
this side o. the continent and those
ports which Offer the best and oheapes,
facilities for bringing the inland and
hreign transportation companies To-
gether will receive the BENEFITS cf hat
increase.
The first in Importance Is Of course.
the question ot delivering the prrducts
Of export to the plaoe OF trans-ship-
ment. OF so vital import IS this branch
Of the question thar. without being able
to place products at the SIDES q OCEAN
going vessels at a minimum cost from
the producer to the exporter. no port.
however great its other and natural
advantages may be, can reasonably ex-
pect TO hold its own in the struggle
for supremacy.
There are but three places on the Pa
cifc coast where nature has provided
natural harbors-the mouth Of the Co
lumbia river Puget Sound and san
Francisco Bay. Gauged BY the acces-
si6ilitv to both foreign and inland com
merce. the harbor at the mouth Of the
Columbia river stands pre-eminent.
Nature has done her part and It only
remains for the people ot the great en-
pire drained by the Columbia 70 use
the natural advantages thus provided
TO build ~ at lis one supsrb aarb5r
the sea a2ort metropolis Il the Pacific
coast This cannot be done without
proper action On the part Of tn people
in The territory drained by this mighty
river which nature aas DESIGNED as a
great commercial highway. It cannot
b. done by the construction Of rail-
roads OF tn effort to perform the i'm
possible, such as taking the Columbia
harbor 100 miles inland. Railroads have
way OF pooling their interests and
making rates to given points 80 as TO
equalizs Advantages. and experience
has demonstrated the flllacy Of trying
to maintain a thiriy-foot channel from
Portland to the sea. Every month. IN
deed, every day furnishes evidence that
Portland Is not securing. and cannot
secure. a very large share Of the new
commerce resulting from the opening
OF greater trade relations with our Pa
cifc ISLAND possessions and the Orient.
These new shipping enterprises are
going to Seattle and San Francisco, and
it is time the producing population OF
the Columbia basin should call halt
on this dog-in-the-manger Dolicy Of
Portland and demand that the effor: to
open :he Columbia river to navigation
be directed toward the removal Of the
one obstruction 20 such navigatlon-the
Cello rapids.
BY reference to the estimates made
by the engineers for the improvement
Of this great river we finl that S325.OOO
is recommended for The purpose Of I'M
proving the river from Astoria 70 |
Portland. This, too, when It has been
thoroughly dem onstr4ted that every /
dollar expended in this pet hobby Of /
a few grain buyers and foreign ship !
owners is practically thrown away. II 1
these engineers have included any
for the Improvement
Of the upper Columbia the amounts are
50 small they are not included IN the
reports. Thesa estimates
by the engineers are used os a basis
by congress in making its 2p3rJpra-
tons for these improvements, and
Unless the matter IS properly placed
before the Rivers and Hlrbors commit
tee by our delegation another session
Of congress will have come and gone
and absolutely nothing will be accJm-
plished toward the opening Of the upper
Columbia, while S325.OOO Of public funds
will be squandered upon the falldcy u