The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-09-29

1
therefore. We will have plenty Of time
% develop our other resources. When
the Northern Paslhc builds down the
Nehnlem river and makes tributary 70
Portland a territory vastly rioh in nat
ural resources that should be tributary
10 ASt0ria our commercial bodies viii
pass resolutions Of regret. Therein lIes
:hs trouble We have spent our time
regretting when. n We had acted In
time we could have prevented the
cause. Every foot Of timber In the
great Nehalem valley should BE- con.
yerted into finished lumber in Astoria
beeauSe nature has given US all the nat
ufal advantages 70 accomplish thar end
'1,ei rs wiks up. shake on the moss
go on the beach and have the barna-
Giles scrhpe1 on our huls Let US be
the man with the ak and saw ins,eai
Of the boy with The hammer trying 10
mash our big sisters toe. and feli our
nelghbors TO the north and south tha,
the Columbia river IB only an irrtgatinR
ditch. Progfs1Hlye Astonans wish our
big sister all the water she can draw
We should be friendly rival 10 Port
land--not bitter enemy. We are twen-
ty.dye years behind the enterprise end
progreEsiyeness of Puget sound !n de-
yel0plng the timber rzOurces OF the
country. wha, ras caused this? Ny
answer is the pe)ple-not the railroads
nor the common point chestnut. Had
the people at the mouth Of the Colum-
hla hvsr. fifteen years ago and since
invested the profits from the great sal
mon Industry In sawmIlls and other TIM
Der industries thus creating tonnage.
freight ana business for a railroad. the
q. r. & y. would have been compelled
70 buy their right OF way. build into
Astoria ani the common point rate
problem on both exports and imports
would have been solved years ago. As
toria would lodav have been a manu-
featuring and shipping center with a
population from 5000 to 6O.OO0. What
caused US to agitAte common point
rates 50 earnestly and perslstently? Was
IL for the benefi, OF the farmer who
raises wheat or Cor the development OF
Astoria as a port OF entry and depart
ure? Ny answer Is that Il was FOR
neither. but prompted by pure selfish
ness and a desire for pecunlary gain
on the part OF real estate speculators.
who hoped thereby to create boom and
dispose Of our water lots. horizontal and
roller skate property. Should the A. &
c. r r. build 10 the mouth OF .he Ne
hnlem. and great harbors there created
t'r iesp sea ships would we not op-
pose any effort to establish rates there
In common with Astoria?
AT times think 1, would be a oless-
Ing In disguise should a tidal wave. Of
the magnitude tina; worked Galveston's
destruction. visit Astoria and sweep
away the air castles maps. charts and
plots OF the wild cat lots that have
been burden TO the community. and a
source OF endless expense TO the own
ers often hear the expression that
when Tom. Dick and Harry. the moss
backs die the town will go aheal. My
friend. you cannot destroy a thistle by
cutting Il down. You must 60 to the
roots. Those Of the greater boom. tom
mage and draft in our local affairs seem
more indlferen; 10 the welfare and
growth OF the city than the less import
ant ones. II the same enthusiasm ami
view that Is displayed In organizing our
annual regattas be displayed In develop
ing Astoria into a manufacturing town
We would get the results We pray for
hui refusa to work for
Put vour shoulders TO the wheel.
Don't be afraid to raise the wagon out
Of the rut Of non -progressiveness. Let
the wheel OF Progress land where It may.
Should II land In your nelghbor's yard
don't be spl,eful and stubborn and en-
deavor to release the brake that II NAV
run hack BY and bye a larger wagon
will be built and one of the wheels VIII
be in your own lot. There has been too
much jealousy shown In the past about
sites ana locations. Everyone wants to
sell that particular piece Of property
that will net him a profit, and to that
end he knocks everybody else. and
Intending Investors are frightened
awav. We have never made an effort
10 meet even half way the best friend
Western Oregon ever had, A. y. Ham,
mond, Last April Mr.. Hammond con-
ferrcd with the committee OF twenty
one from the Chamber OF Commerce. He
agreed to put up dollar for dollar with
Astoria to start any lumber enterprise
they wished. sawmill, shlpyari or dry
dock, What have we accomplished to
encourage Mr., Hammond and other cap
italists whom he has invited into our
country? Nothing. absolutely and con-
tinuously; nothing, Why should we ex-
pact outside capital to seek us when
we have die money in our banks and
refuse to invest It. or to give any de-
gree OF encouragement? We will sell
town lots and here we stop. In the
words Of ex.Speaker T. B. Reed, there
Is only one thing more timid than cap
ital, and that Is twice as much capt.
tai. II We show no confidence in our
own resources how can We expect to
inspire confidence in others to invest
amounts.
Lets turn our Chamber OF Com
mence into a saw-flinE room, convert
a oil NNN-