The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1903-09-19
IN CORVALLIS.

TO BE OF EXERCISING IN
TEREST TO ALL LOCAL
PEOPLE.
But for Which They Apparently
Care Little-A Way iu Which
They Might Help Them
selves. and in Turn
Get Helped.
The farmers of Western Oregon
do not understand or appreciate
the importance to them of Yaquina
Bay and the railroad connecting
it with transportation lines traver-
sing Willamette valley. Before
the Yaquina railroad was built, the
freight rates on wheat, as was ,ex-
planned in late article in these
columns, from Corvallis to San
Francisco was 81 and So per ton.
With the opening Of the Yaquina
route to San Francisco, there was
an immediate drop in the rates to
81. so. which was shortly followed
BY a further decline to s. per ton.
At the latter figure, the rates re
mained throughout the time that
the route was in operation, cover
ing period of several years. A
drop of S. per ton in the freight
rate on wheat means that the freight
charge is three cents less on every
bushel. When a miller or ware
houseman fixes the price that he
is to pay for wheat, he figures out
lhe cost of shipping and among the
items is the freight. IF the freight
charge is three cents per bushel less
he pays the farmer three cents
more per bushel for wheat. So
that every cent saved on wheat
goes straight into the pockets OF
the farmer.
RAISED WHEAT TWELVE CENTS
When the newly opened Yaquina
route reduced the freight char ge
from Corvallis to San Francisco
from 81 to So per ton. it added II
cents to the price of every bushel
of wheat grown in Benton county.
To the farmer who marketed 1000
bushels Of wheat regularly, it gave
a profit OF. $24o every year. TO the
farmer who sold 5000 bushels, it
gave pretty annual profit of 5000.
During the 10 years or thereabouts
shat the line was in operation it
earned no less than $4,000 for the
farmer who sid 5000 bushels a
year. The figures are correct and
cannot be disputed or evaded. In
view of the facts, it is difficult to
understand why that there is in
Corvallis and Benton county so
liteae interest in the future of the
Yaqarfna harbor.
Why STEAMER WAS TAKEN OFF.
If no Yaquina route had been
opened, what? When would the
rates. have dropped from 81 and So
per ton on wheat to S.? The rates
are now $3.50 per ton, either by
rail or by Willamette river and
ocean to San Francisco. They went
10 "a, so right after the steamers
ceased to connect with the railroad
at Yaquina. II there had been no
Alaskan gold excitement. which
carried away every ship. steamer.
schooner and every old tub that
ccnad be made to float into the Arc
tic trade, carrying among them the
steamer that was in the service be-
tween Yaquina and San Francisco
On account of the enormous profits
the sorthern gold craze promised
it is probable that the Yaqu1ns
route would have continued in op
Grafton until now. and that the olt
rate would still be in effect. HoV
much money in lower freight rate
awou1d it have saved Benton count,
armers during the six or seve'
years that have since elapseds
Al MEMORY THAT LINGERs.
But even without a ship to sa
in over its entrance Yaqulna Ba
exerts an influence for good in be
half of Western Oregon farmers
1t was the S. per ton rate over tha
route that first broke the back (
the big toll of 81 and SS per to
that used to be in vogue betwee
Corvallis and San Francisco.
there had never been such jo
to break the spirit of high rates th
yeturn to them would be easier
and their regular maintainanc
more simple. The memory of th'
old s. per ton fingers warnlngl
with the magnates who contr'