The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1903-09-16
LOCAL ESTIMATE OF YAQUI-
MA HARBOR AND THE CON-
SHERATON DUE IT.
One bid for Completing the I'm
provement was but a Fourth
of What the Harbor Saves
Western Oregon in
Freight Rates in
one Year.

engineers is not political hapdoodle.
but sincere purpose to secure
government aid for further improve
ment of the harbor. it is of utmost
importance TO Western Oregon.
After similar meeting four years
ago, an engineers b ard submitted
a report. advising against further
improvement on the ground that
the present commetce of the har-
Dor does not justify. The fact of
it's lack of commerce is not a JUS
tifable reason for congress to with
hold aid. That reason is mere po-
litica1 jugglery, accepted generally
as fact, because it has to be swal-
lowed without question, When
the United States government got
hold of the Philippines, it held to
10 the Islands, not because OF pres
ent commerce, but because poll
ticians said ''it would help trade, "
Trade follows the fag," they urg-
ed, and the Islands are held at an
enormous cost. on basis. not Of
present, but of future CONNER e.
THE COMMERCE BUGABoo.
When citizens or boards of en-
gIneers mouth the argument that
Yaquina should not be improved
because its present commerce is
meagre they fail to grasp the in
huence that harbor exerts on freight
rates of Western Oregon. They
place the harbor at an undue dis
advantage. The harbor, its i'm
portance. and its present influence
on traffic rates. if weighed by the
fact of what commerce it now has,
is wholly misunderstood. and in
somuch prevented from receiving
what is its just consideration. 1t
Is fact that the very presence of
the harbor as it now stands, an in
completed work, harbor with but
part of the. depth of water that is
believed to be possible to its en-
france, is restraining influence for
preventing a system of freig ht rates
that would be far above what they
now are.
Before the Yaquina route went
into operation. the freight rate on
wheat by Willamette river and
ocean to San Francisco, was ST and
So per ton. The figures are ca
pahle OF confirmation from records
sfrhe steamboat company at Cor
wallis. The very day that the line
via Yaquina Bay to San Francisco
was opened. the rate dropped TO
IS so per ton. The rate either by
rail or by Willamette river. and the
Pacific ocean to San Francisco
Mom Corvallis is now $3.50 per
tom What made this reduction
from the old figures of 81 and $8 to
Sd. so per ton? There were then
more steamer lines on the Pacific
between Portland and SanFrancisco
and more steamboats, on the Will
lauDette than now, and there were
then as many railroad lines over
land to San Francisco as now,
There was not even then the or
ganization among transportation
lines to keep up freight rates that
there is now, yet our farmers pay
but 81. so per ton when they form
erly paid ST and So per ton. The
question then becomes, is it not the
Yaquina harbor that compels these
ray3er rates? That harbor. even in
its present form, presents the trans
portation lines certainty that If
freight rates are made exorbitant
steamers will be put in connection
with the railroad at Yaquina, and
competing line at once go into
operation forcing even lower
freight rate on wheat, -four and all
other, products. than those now ex-
isting.
KEEPS FREIGHTS Down.
Thus measured, while in
completed Yaquina Bay, does not
present a formidable array of ship
ping and vast ebb and flow OF
commerce, its readiness at all times
10 become the route and means tor
competitive service is an influence
and the only influence that deters
transportation companies from ex-
acting rates much higher than those
now in vogue. On account of this
peculiar condition, a condition that
arises out of the geographical 10.
cation of the harbor, Of the fac'
that a railroad connects it with the
very center of the state, the only
railroad of the kind in all Oregon
south of the states northermos'
Iine-all this places Yaquina bay
in category of its own, wherein
the present commerce of the har