The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-04-30
Keep the Logs
In Astoria
w. W. whipple says There Is Dan.
ser In Taxing Timber
Too High.

y do not agree with a recent edi-
torlal In The AstorIan which advocat-
ed % high assessed valuation of Clat-
sop county timber" said W. W. whip.
pie. the man who has distinction for
his enterprise and push. II own con.
siderable timberland here and I am per
feetly willing to pay taxes on yalu.
alton of say $3.50 an acre. or even
s16 on the best Of II The prevent
assessment Of So or 81 Ii too low. But
II valuations are raised above si2 80
just now the effect may be far more
eiHastrous than the present low assess-
lneDt. On u very largeaereage OF clat-
pep county the standing timber COM
i,flsea the real value Of the land. When
the timber Is gone what remains is
and viii be for long time yaluelosx
and unproductive. OF course. this re-
feiE 10 the hills back from the water
ways. where the untouched forest re-
mains In all Its virgin beauty and ma.
jestie grandeur. and where there Is a
larger area Of marketable timber than
exists tributary to any other city.
NOV the placeto mill this timber
is In Astoria. We do not want these
trees felled and their magnificent
trunks towed past our doors to find
mills TO reduce them to lumber. Talk
about ships going TO Portiand-bctter
let them go. by far, than 10 allow our
timber 10 be dragged hundred miles
against the current Of the Columbia
In search OF saws.
"And yet that will be the result Of
putting tax on timber land which
Its holders cannot afford TO pay. As
between present high prices for logs
and promised high taxes for timber, the
former will prevail, and the timber will
seek a log market as fast as modern
equipment can put II into the water.
Where. then, viii Astoria come In
We clnim 20 have the greatest nat
ural saw-mill site In the world, and
yet last year we cut less than one
eightieth u the lumber manufactured
In our own state. Shall we encourage
the destruction OF our noble forests be-
fore Ae are In position to utilize
their product ourselves? Such folly
would be- fatal 10 our own interests:
Astoria needs and can well support a
large number OF new mills and no time
should be lost in their construction.
Every foot OF timber tributaryto this
city should be finished to the last turn |
before II is started toward its market.
THE local men who are now taking UP |
a sawmill project win be we'll pleased
with their venture when the results
begin TO come In. They areon the right
track. There used to be no trouble In
getting men to cooperate in the cam
ming industry here. and thereIis far less
reason for hesitancy in taking up a
sawmlll proposition now.
THE FIRST thing for Astoria to do !s
get her waterfront boundary lines and
titles arranged so we can tell what we
have inthe way OF sites, what we want
for them, or what inducement we have
% Offer to intending capital, As 1t Is
now we have the reputation OF not be.
Ing able to deliver the goods when we
have an opportunity.
"These problems viii not solve them
selves. To shift the responsibility and
et matters rest means to rust and rot
while outside enterprise gathers our
harvest and keeps the change"