The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-02-07
JtITY NOT OUT OF JOINT
READY FOR RESUMPTION
OF OPERATIONS.
Some Glaring Misstatements Or
iginating From an .Irre-
sp0nsible Source.

river bar continues to be the principal
and all-absorbing topic Of conversa-
ton In this city. The ignorance OF tn.
general public and, indeed, OF many per
sons who should be familiar with the
matter is really surprising. Promis-
cuous airing OF Incorrect views has o
tendency TO knock" matters to no In.
considerable extent, and IT is whisper
ed around that some Of the knocking
IN not borne of ignorance.
The most surprising display Of NAL
iciousness yet appearing Is contained In
the Oregonlan OF yesterday. That pa
per prints more than column on tn
subject. with an alleged drawing o.
the mouth OF the river that must have
been prepared by some school BOY. Ac-
cording TO the Oregonian. It will be
long time before work can he commenc-
ed on the jetty, for the reason that, af-
ter the contract Is approved. the con
tractor viii be introduced to plant
that is decidedly run down and out of
joint. II will take a large part of the
present season to repair the railroad or
the present jetty." continues the Ore
gonian, go as to serve for hauling
stone for the extension. Much OF the
trestle that yet stands must be renew
ed and a considerable stretch of the
outer end has been swept away entire
ly." II will, the oregonian AYERS. be
lmpracticable to drive plling through
the stone Of the jetty, so restoration
OF the railroad track will involve the
driving OF piles on the sides of the
jetty beyond the stone.
with the exception OF the statement
that the outer end of the jetty has been
washed away. the above comments OF
the Portland paper are entirely at var
lance with the facts. 1t will be recall
led that an appropriation of s25O,e00 for
preliminary work was made some years
ago. One would be led TO believe
from the oregonian's discussion of the
matter that the engineers had stolen
this money. However, II has been
expended, and that, too, In an entirely
satisfactory manner. AS q conse-
quence of this expenditure, the con-
tractor will not go against plant de-
cidedly run down and out of joint, but
he will find that everything is in readi-
ness for the dumping Of stone. The
s250,000 appropriation has been used to
restore the piling out to the end of the
old jetty. and that piling is now in
place, with the exception of the 500
feet that washed out last winter. In
deed, $1,000 tons of rock Ia compare
lively small quantity has been dump
ed at the jetty. and the railroad track
is In shape for the resumption OF op-
erations.
The only delay that will result will
be that necessary for approval OF the
plans aud the bonds of the successful
contractor. Indeed. The Astorian has
1t on the very highest authority that,
counting the delay incident to award
ing of the contract, the ietty can be
restored fully as far out as the cad Of
the old jetty, ana perhaps half mile
beyond, by the beginning of fall. The
preliminary work already done has
caused the increased depth on the bar,
which Is attributed by some persons
to nature. The work can progress SO
far during the coming summer that by
fall there will be fully 80 feet Of water
on the bar. These facts could easily
have been learned by the oregonian
had II taken the trouble to send man
down the street 10 the office of the
engineers, where reports of the work
are on file. The opinion was freely ex-
pressed that the misstatements were
actuated by some malicious motive, es-
pecially in view of the Portland pa
per's persistent claims that the recom~
mendations of the board, while not
what they should be, are nevertheless
regarded as better than nothing,
Wen posted people say that the
boards recommendations are not only
practicable, but the only feasible sug-
gestions that could be offered, The
south jetty will act as a lead for the
water, and. the natural channel being
on the south side, the flow OF water will
be attracted In that direction. BY d.
verting the entire volume of the river
to the south, channel will' soon be
cut through the bar, which will not be
forced farther out, as many suppose. 1t
is interesting in this connection TO note
that the bar has never been forced out,
despite contrary statements frequently
appearing, but that it is in identically
the same position that it was in 1859,
when the first soundings and blue
printlngs were made, and where ev-
cry succeeding examination has shown
1t 10 be.
Little faith is expressed in the OUT
come of the dredging operations.
Work on the south jetty viii be far
enough along by fall to deepen the
channel to 80 feet, and when this con-
dition is brought about the accomp-
lishment will be attributed to the work
of the dredge. The dredge, however.
will merely work in the natural chan
mel, and at the very best its benefits
will be temporary Extension Of the
south jetty ought to give the desired