The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-10-16
HOW TO REMOVE OBSTACLES.

We must confess that we are unable to explain
the questions which were propounded by a CORE,
spondent signing himself Subscriber in The As
torian yesterday morning, Presumably the writer
know as much about local conditions as any news
paper man.
Our correspondent complains that well-to-do
property owners invariably refuse to assist any pro-
ject calculated to better the city. He says they
'hold back" content to remain at home and clip
off interest coupons He declares, further, that they
reap the reward of the energy of others, and that
their policy is one of obstruction.
Every man who earns living in Astoria, every
man who lives here, every man who owns dollar s
worth of property here owes duty to the every
other man in the community Astoria is merely a
big corporation, cooperative company The As
torian who fails to do his duty is amenabe to civil
or moral laws, as the case may be- If resident of
this city is wealthy and persists in policy of OBJ
struction, he should be called to account AS our
correspondent suggests, this was done once before
when the famous committee of twenty-one literally
"help up" obstructing property owners and forced
contributions to the railroad subsidy. The moral
pressure brought to bear overcame the backward
spirit of the obstructive element and the railroad
was secured.
We take it from our correspondents letter that
some of the rich property holders have declined to
assist the hotel project Presuming that this con.
clusion is correct, we have two suggestions to
offer
First we recommend that the incorporation COM
mittee named at the mass meeting proceed with the
undertaking. just as if the wealthy property owners
had passed to the great beyond and their holdings
been scattered to the four corners of the globe We
must have the hotel and few mossbacks should not
and will not, stand in the way of the enterprise
There is plenty of idle money here, and the en-
couragement already received justifes the expecta
ton that the hotel scheme can easily be financed
Secondly, we suggest that Subscriber and
other of his progressive spirit get together and
prepare series of letters These letters ought tol
contain proper names, and the signatures should be
something more substantial than Subscriber -
Perhaps one of every three persons who read the
letter in yesterdays Astorian Immediately put it
down that the sentiment therein expressed emanated
from this office. Had Subscriber" signed his name
his letter would have carried much greater weight
with the public 1t is matter Of little consequence
in this respect that the correspondents name is
known to the editor The public would be ever
SO much more impressed if the name appeared.
City-building is difficult proposition, especially
in such case as that which confronts the people
Of Astoria. The town has merely outgrown us.
veloped into city. We were not prepared for the
sudden change. Just as deferred hope makes the
heart SICK so also does it cause the spirit of progress
to lag To be painfully honest, all of us should
pray to be delivered from the expansion which is
DOW on. We should endeavor to retard the growth /
of the city until the streets are wdened-he great
est municipal problem which we will have to face
We have a council that knows the need Of wider
Streets-knows the streets are totally incapable Of
accommodating the present trafic-yet it refuses to
act The problem is too big for it to wrestle with 1t
will leave the matter for some future council Mean
time, Commercial, Duane and Exchange streets will
be built up and four five years hence we will have
to move back all our buildings. We have grown be-
yond ourselves
But to revert to the subject Of the laggard, we
reiterate that he should be ignored If he does not
desire to help then let him stay at home, clip cou
pons or play solitaire as he chooses Go ahead with
out him. Surely, 100000 is very small sum ofli