The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-10-13
Is PORTLAND \ PORT?

Whether or not Portland IS capable Of
handling the grain business ot the Co.
lumbar basin IS the question that Vi
tally concerns the people ot Astoria
those OF Portland and every o;Aer man,
wonln and child in the ,grea; valley
OF the Columbia The As;orian per-
slsts that Porthad IS no. he saa-
rort which the business ot this basin
requires. Il is not a drs;-c'ass port: Il
Is mighty poor second-class port. The
Columbian basin IS a frst-class grain
u-olucing country. Certainly {; IS en-
i,lei 70 frs:-class seaport privileges.
The oregonia7 has repeatedly TAX
en- the Astorlan to task for what il
terms the slanierous statements pub
lished in these columns. /; has alter
natsly denied the repu;ei difficulty with
which ships navigate between Portland
and Astoria and the statements made
that conditions could be vastly batterei
by utilization OF ne ocean port.
Today the As:o-tln presents two in
stances OF Portland's failure as a sea-
port. The big carrier Glenturre, IS ly-
ing at the S:xth-street pier awaiting the
balance of her cargo, She Is on an
even keel. drawing twenty-five fs2t
This statement as to the steamers
draf; IS absolutely correct. The Glen
;urra: lef, Portland on Thurs lay after
noon and occupied jus; forty-eigat
hours in making the river passage. As
IS the custom. the steamer worked the
tides" In all. she made four s-ops,
the shortes, duration OF any one ot
which was s.x hours. The Glea,urret
actually los, three days IN making the
trip 20 and from Portland. at a cost to
her owners OF more taan s2ooo
Bu the vessels troubles have not yet
ended Seventeen hundred tons Of
grain mus, be l.ghtered down the rlv-
er AMI loaded here. The amount ;hus
Eghtere5 represents small cargo. and
about ors-thlrd of the total amour: TO
be taken from the Columbia BY the
vessel This 100 IONS mus; be handled
twice. at great cost. and will result in
delaying the steamer probably six days
longer Friday is the day now fixed FOR
he vessels depar,ure). In all. then.
she will have been delayed nine days.
at an expense to the owners Of $3.50.
The cost Of handling that portion Of
the grain which must be lightered-an
expense that must be borne by the
farmers-and the lower charter rates
hat would apply - Astoria under an
equitable adjustment OF railroad tariffs
are not here considered, nor are other
incidental expenses which are neces-
sarily incurred.
II Portland is a seaport, why was not
The Glenturret loaded there? The grain
season is now at It's height yet twenty
two feet is the maximum depth at
which vessels may navigate the CO.
lumbia above Astoria. That depth is
not great enough for he needs Of the
shipping Industry, as is evident from
the Glen.urrefs experience. Is it any
wonder that shipping should be driven
from the Columbia? WHAT owner viii
send a vessel TO a port a a forced loss
Of $3.50?
Let the OregonIan put aside l.s fables
for a minute ana answer these ques-
tio1s.
The second instance 70 be cited is
even more lamen;able than the first
The French bark st. Donat.en. a ves-
sci Of only 1853 tons, Is lying at Tongue
Point IN a leaking condition. While Re
ing brought down the river, she struck
heavily, springirg several plates. 9th
er damage was also done to the ves-
sell OF course. until an inspection Is
made. the extent Of the damage will rot
be known. but it will doubtless am1unt