The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-05-20
NO MONEY
EXPECTED
Washington Announcement as to
Jetty Work Not Surpris.
ing Locally.
PROJECT WILL NOT SUFFER
Balance of 5000, 900 Which Re.
mains ON Hand viii Enable
Engineers to Press Work
ON the Bsr.
PROJECT WILL NOT SUFFER

ton that none of the money carried by
the emergency rivers and harbor bill
would so to the Columbia river Great
ed no surprise locally. II was never
expected the Columbia would receive
any of this appropriation. which
amounts to only ss.oO0.oo0. and the en-.
gineers had long since planned te
prosecn'a the work with the balance OF
ss00,oe' which remains on hand.
Cereal Mackenzie. chief OF engi-
neers ee9lains that the $4,000 was
intended only for emergency repair
work. and that II can not be used for
continuing contracts already under
way. A small allotment has been made
for Coos bay, but any sum which might
be apportioned for the Columbia would
not materially aid the local projects.
While the engineers may find them-
selves pressed for funds before tho
next appropriation is available. It is
probable the work can be carried on In
a highly satisfactory manner. The
dredge will be kept constantly at work
until the storms OF the winter months
make II necessary for her to suspend
operations. Meantime the jetty extern
sion win be continued. and the belief
is expressed that the balance will be
sufficient TO permit substantial i'm,
provement. More money could be used
Of course. as Senator Fulton explained
yesterday, but with the sum on hand
excellent results can be obtained.
There is just one really regretable
feature Of the situation. The Chinook
win not be able to go on with her work
uninterruptedly, but will be laid up, no
doubt. when the stormy weather sets
in. When the dredge was brought
here 1t was the intention she should
work on the bar as much as possible
and put in her stormy days inside the
river, where she was TO dredge out the
harbor and provide deep water from
Tongue Point to the sea. The shortage
Of funds will doubtless interfere with
this work. The dredge has, however,
deepened the channel from Smith Point
to Fort Stevens. so shipping will not
suffer In consequence. The engineers
have not yet announced their plans for |
the future, but will doubtless be anx-
ous to sacrifice dreging work before
lefty work.
When Senator Fulton next goes to
he will be prepared to de-
nand and receive an appropriation for
he improvement of Astoria harbor. His
ill will make Astoria harbor a sepa-
ate improvement district. Heretofore
astoria harbor has been included In the
,eneral lower river appropriation, with
he result that no really beneficial
work has been done; at all events,
he money has been expended, as
Usual thing, at points which did not
meet the approval Of the local com,
nercial bodies. But with Astoria har-
'or in a district by itself, the wishes
+ the local bodies will be respected,
nd the harbor can then be improved
nd made the very finest on the coast.
This appropriation would go to defray
he expense Of the Chinook when she
worked here.
Generally the outlook is very bright.
Jext session the government will not
e called upon to pay s4O,0OO,00 for the
'anama canal concession or make many
ther large appropriations which we're
ecessary this year, and which neces-
itated overlooking the rivers and har-
ors. Then the Columbia will get ita (
ull share and the engineers will be in
go ahead with the work Of !
eepening the bar and the inner harbor 1
s well.