The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1902-01-18
NO TRUTH IN II
SAYS THE AGENT
0. r. & n. Co. Will Not Reduce
Rates Between Portland and
North Shore Points.
RUMOR OFFICIALLY DENIED
Company Would Hurt Its own
Interests by, AntagoniZlng
Astoria Merchants, De-
clnrcn Lounsbcrry.

According TO statements made yesier-
day by o Il 4 y of1cills there iS
nothing In the report that the com
pany would put on u steamer between
Astoria and nearby points AMI reduce
rates so tnnt The local merchants
would b. prevented from getting their
share af the business The reported
action ~ the company MAS N" cause
NJ much concern among Astoria 0usi.
nee, men. and nfiGnl denial ~ the
story viii be- welcomed with delight
q W. Louusbcrry. local agent Of
the - a. 6N GO. Nus seen v"Aicr-
day by AN Apprlan representative ana
.skrd whether or not be- hal received
any information with reference Co the
prnrusrd hostility ~ his company Toe
ward Astoria merchants NJ louns
b,rr, placed himself ln communication
with " T.. Campbell NJ Portland
general frrlsh, agent ~ thr company
and tina. ofnrlal d,ol,l mat ,h" com.
pany had amy mention NJ operating
lan,ih.r steamer or n 7vdu. 'ns ir'iEtt
rate, so that mrrenhnliso ,auld hv
brought from Portland 90 Chinook nnd
other Nurlh sh.rr polu'- for pracuc-
Ialiy the Same price that ls charged
between Portland and Astoria Mr.
Campbell stated further that the com
rnr, haa hc,n figuring nn running a
Inca, to chinook ia opposition 10 the
Steamer Miller but that definite con
cluslou had not been reached regard
ing the matter
The report WAS somewhat rialcu.
LOUIS" said Mr. Luunshrrry last nish.
n ,,r rlurrI on am opposition steam
rr and reduced rates -n low 'ha' The
Astoria merchants would be prevented
from getting the husinrS, NJ 'h. Nor.h
sh,r, points Nc would certainly un-
agonizc the business interests 't 'h ,
city This would result In % loss ~
Astoria freight tina, We could u't pos.
slny hope TO make up from 'h" wash
mEion points in uuc7 ION ami such
a move would. ~ course, uc a very
lame, one from q business standpoint
We could not anod O. annsoni1
lccal merchants for the little business
that might hr secured between Port.
Hand anl North Shore points
MIR Campbell assures me that he
has never entertained the notion of rc-
duclng freight rates t'or some time
he has had under consideration d pro-
posaI to change the schedule of h.
Nahcnltp. so that the steamer would
touch at Chinook. hut when ] called
! him up this afternoon he infor ned me
that he had not yet decided upon this
change. As To the statement that the
steamer Candy would be put on the
route February T. he branded the
story as untrue II is possible the
company may arrange 10 have the
Nahcotta touch at Chinook, hut u this
Is done the departure viii not In any
wise AFFECT Portland rates.
Mr.. Lounsbcrry sai1 further that h.
thought publication of III, report hal
tendency to hurt his company s. In
tcrcsis, and was anxious that the false
impression created should b, corrected.
The story originated at North Shore
towns Merchants doing business
there recently stated to Captain Bah
hldgr Of the Miller that c, - over
haugh was holding out Inducements TO
! them To handle their trade. and the
belief became general that the q. r.
IN y would reduce rates between
Portland and the North shore towns.
| The reduction. II was said. would be
great enough to give Portland mer-
chants all the business ot The terri
tory That Captain Bahbldgc implic-
Iitly believed the story Is manifest
from his suggestion that a merchants
steamer line be maintained Local
agents of other transportation lines
doing business between Portland and
Astoria believed the story and spccu-
lation was rife as to whether or not
the present agreement as to Portland
Astoria rates would be broken, How
ever, the official denial Of any inten-
tlon to reduce rates puts a Quietus
on the rumor, and conveys the assur-
anCc to Astoria merchants that their
trade will not be lnterfered WITH II
~" q. II. & n. seeks to cut into the
business Of the steamer Miller. that is
another matter The Miller has per-
mitted the company to enjoy all the
trade of Ilwaco, and should the o. r.
4 N. assume a hostile attitude toward
Captain Babbldge the latter can retail
late by touching at Ilwaco.