The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-05-17
What Portage
Road Means
Views Of Railroad Nan On Inter.
sstins Transportation Prob.
lem Affecting Astoria.

The Dailes portage railway project
about which so much IL printed IN the
various Oregon papers az present b
not well understood In It's probable
effects by all, A gentleman who is well
up in northwest transportation affairs,
and especially those relating TO the In
tcrcsts Of Astoria. has this 10 say Of
the plan:
'The efforts OF the corporate interests
Of Oregon 10 defeat the portage rail-
way appropriation made at the last res
sion OF the legislature. through the me-
tiium Of the referendum. are watched
with much interest in this city. W. g.
Cowgirl. formerly OF Astoria, Is the
principal agitator In the scheme 10 de-
feat the Legislative act. The furor that
his campaign has caused has had the
effect of placing him before the public
In anything but nm enviable light and
II develops that Mr.. Cowgirl does not
cut much Ice In Baker City. where he
now resides, aE result.
THE portage road appropriation is
the most important Legislative fund
that has ever been set aside, II Will
create opposition for the present grain.
carrying lines down the Columbia river.
aftording water competition with them
The present rates are 80 high that the
portage road will effect by force very
material reduction and n is this facS
which has aroused the railroads 10 ac-
tion. II the road is built the producers
II vast territory will be released
from their present bondage.
Construction OF this road promises d
so TO have decided effect on Astoria
harbor. II the road Is bpilt, rates viii
come down with n gratifying thud.
Now. lower railroad rates on grain
mean that the sound roads win be un-
able to compete with the Columbia riv-
CT road--the o. II. g. ", branch Of the
Hartman system. Ergo. the sound
roads must find an outlet at the Colum-
bia rivers mouth. In anticipation OF
the construction OF the portage road.
the Northern Pacific. with characteris-
tic enterprise. has prepared for the ex-
tension OF Its line down the north bank
OF the Columbia. 20 the rivers mouth.
where ample harbor facilities are avail
able. when the Northern comes 10 the
columbia's mouth. the Hartman line
must do likewise, To use good. plain
English. whenever the Northern comes
down the north fork OF the Columbia
or the south bank. either. for that mat
ter the Hartman system will Of neces-
sity come TO Astoria.
II, vii be seen that the portage road
win have far-reaching effect on trans
portatIon conditions in the northwest.
Al present the three northwestern
railroads are enjoying the blessings of
high rates. but the combination could
not be maintained with water competi-
tion from the dalles OF the Columbia
river TO the sea. This competition
would be compelled 10 meet the reduc.
tlon. This reduction would make II i'm
possible for the sound roads TO haul
grain at anything but dead loss over
their heavy grades into Seattle and Ia
coma, and they would be compelled to
seek a Columbia outlet.
ANY Astorian who would attach his
signature TO Cowgilfs petition would be
traitor of the FIRST water, The port
age road appropriation was made for
the benefit Of the producers who have
long submitted to extortion, and Its de-
feat would be public calamity.
at Is interesting In this connection
to note that the toll exacted for carry
Ing grain TO Portland, Seattle and Ia
coma from the wheat fields exceeds
the charge on grain from Chicago TO
Liverpool. For this reason the three
northwestern roads, while owned by
hostile interest, are content with the
present divisional arrangement,