The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-01-28
HARRnR lMrRoyEMnNr

No river and harhcr bin viii b,
passsd by this congress- but Senator,
Mitchell and FULTON. OF Oregon, nm
that the Columbia river can probahl,
stnl be kept open, There IL an un'
lexpenaea balance Of siaOoOco for IN,
bar nt tts mouth, and sioO,OeO 10 keel
the river open from Portland to ths
see, rhe engineers recommended ST.
lgeN,oee fcr this purpose but the war
idepartmen, eat it down 10 sSee,ooO,
because no more than that could be
expended in one year. and because that
sum ought To serve until . rlvsg and
harhor bill could provide something
more liberal. In addition to this.
sl2SOoo Is hoped Gcr for dredging.
though the senators arr not sure they
can set this into the sundry civil bill
Another sleo0oo, for improvements at
The palles the senator's hope TO hc
able 10 set. though an uneSpeuded ap-
psoprlatlon OF sS0oeoQ stands in their
way and makes the prospect rather
lilscoura~ing II Is costing pretty
figure to defeat the Intentions OF nature
50 tar as to make the Columbia river
nayigable for sea- going vessels as far
as Portland, IL will continue to be
costly while the world stands II con-
rress permits II, II one-half the
amount appropriated cach year for this
purpose were voted as bounty to pay
freight from Portland TO Tacoma, more
would be accomplished by II for ali
concerned. except the unfortunately
located city OF Portland, Tacoma
Ledger.
This Is far-fetched knocking aud I'M
worthy OF the Ledger which has us
ually been rational in dealing with
river and harbor improS cmcnt mat
ters. II Is not plain that Portland Is
unfortunately located, The Oregon
metropolis is located i2o miles from
the ocean. yet there is q 2s-toot chan"
mel leading TO Il, and in the past Il has
through railroad combinations been
enabled TO handle exports on large
scale. The city has expended millions
Of dollars ON the inland channel which
is more than Tacoma or Seattle has
ever done for Itself The people OF
Portland are entitled to consideration
al the hands Of congress, and II Is poor
policy for some nearby city to under
take 10 knock an expected approprsa-
ton,
We desire az this time to call espe-
eial attention TO the fact that II Is the
duty OF the government TO defeat the
Intentions OF nature whenever and
wherever nature has placed an impede
ment in the way OF a community's pro-
gress. Let us consider for a moment
the loeal situation. Portland, Tacoma
and Seattle are on the same basis so
iar as exports are concerned Through
railway combination. the producers.
some hundreds of thousands Of deserv-
ing people are being held up by the
carriers Toy such rates as the con'bina-
tios secs at 10 exact The peoffe have
no rslrrss il they do rot Ike the
llasti5f jaty a isths4Y vfaiH 70,
IN the gclJ. A, this iuuctare uucte
sam steps IN to say be win cause ~
waterways to he SO improved that ~
nroiuocrs may send out their pro'hloe
hy boat. eylnpesitlon Is thm yreatei
that win give the produesrs an cysn
break
The ISsiEer might, with equal fan
ness. have argued that the government
is doing WRONG in appropria,ing mouey
for improvement OF the Columbia river
bar. The mouth of the Columbia has
already cost the government about
four millions Of dollars ana half as
much again win probably be neces-
sary 10 completion Of the work under
taken there, Astoria is city of hut
1900 or l40oa people, and Il might b.
said the government has been unusual
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