The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1903-09-19
products Of Be nton county farms to

VA bS A1bOb NOAhUC AuA AbAo w
San Francisco. The knowledge
that the Yaquina 20 lte might again
be invoked with i,s record of S3
per ton for TO years is an influence
and the only influence that prevents
the present So so rate by ocean or
rail from going to higher level, a
level that would shave off few
more cents on each bushel of grain
grown in the county.
MORE WATER ON BAR POSSIBLE.
Thus with the piling in the jet
ties decaying, Yaquina Bay is a
constant menace to high freight
rates, and important influence for
good for Western Oregon farmers.
peculiarly for those IN Benton coun
ty. But with the greater depth of
water, admitting ships of greater
carryil g capacity, how much great
er would be her influence. Even
depth of two or three feet more
than there is at present, would be
of vast Importance, and a fact of
absorbing interest is. that this ad-
ded depth is almost known to be
possible. It is fact that dis.
tinguished engineer of 81 years ex-
perience, who on one occasion
submitted report to the Washing
ton authorities hostile to Yaquina,
believes an extension of the jetties
would give incr, ased depth. He
knows all about the bar, and is
firmly con vinced that the situation
can be improved. The hostile re-
port that he submitted was on the
ground that the present commerce
Of the batbor would not justify the
necessary expenditure, the same
bugaboo that invariably turks in
the minds OF all engineers who sit
as boards at the meetings held at
Newport to consider the harbor, as
related to Western Oregon farmers
and congress. They see no ships
In the bay, hear no steam whistles
blow, and from that circumstance,
hurry off to Washington with the
report that the harbor should not
be given further aid.
STEAMERS SHOULD BE PUT ON.
The condition illustrates the par
amount necessity of steamer SER
vice in connection with the va
quina railroad. The lack of it is
the one thing that stands in the
way of further improvement. With
, no steamer connecting with the
railroad, the natural question that
arises is, "Why, here is line of
railroad connecting with various
river and railroad lines in the heart
of Western Oregon: if this is good
route, why is..here no steamer con-
Meeting this railroad with San
Francisco? And, if there is no
ocean service, what is the good of
improving the harbor?" What
answer can be made to that ques-
ton? There is so much in the
question that is apparently true,
that the man who attempts to an
swer on the spur of the moment, is
struck dumb. SIS the railroad line
bought off by some other line that
would be affected by a Ysquina
ocean service" is the very next
question.
EVERYBODY SHOULD HELP.
The one answer to such Questions
! the answer that would quickly and
most effectively cork the question.
ers, would be the establishment OF
an ocean service between Yaquina
and San Frsncisco. That move
would do more for Yaquina Bay
and its chances of improvement
than would 10000 meetings o
citizens and engineers held at New
port. That act would answer ev
cry criticism. It is the one thing
that every Corvallis business man
every Benton county farmer, ant
every farmer of Western Oregon
should be interested ln seeing done
They should petition for 1t, promis
patronage of it, ard in every con
ceivable way struggle to promot
the movement. No opportunit
more favorable than now will eve
, come, Grain. -four, hops, lumber
: hay and tons and tons of all othe
products cannot be moved becaus
I. tbara are No cars to move them in
f The development aud growth
, Western Oregon products have Out
! grown the means of transportation
f The Yaquina route, is, if for n
+ other reason, needed to move tt
> market the untold tons of proc
ucts now lyiag in warehouses