The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-10-15
\ Subscriber" Complains That
Well.to-do Citizens Fail TO
Do Their Share.
POOR MEN TO BUILD HOTEL
Says Hotel Would Increase VAL
uatiOnS, but That Owners of
Valuable Property win
DO Nothing.

Editor Morning Astorian--Dear Sir;
WIN you kindly inform the writer wh,
1t is that whenever new and neces.
sary enterprise is launched in the cit,
the substantial property owners
never take any interest In such enter
prise? The writer's experience has
been that the merchants, wage earners
and some of the property holders,
who are mostly property poor are the
ones to whom 1t is left to develop the
city and finance any undertaking which
Is for the benefit of the city. and more
particularly to the prosperous prop
erty holders.
This has plainly shown it.
self at the present time. when
everybody is interested In get
ting a flrst-class hotel. OF
which this city stands badly In need
and which viii be paying investment.
Why do they hold back? Is It their
maxim to have the merchants, who are
working and worrying, do the work,
and in this way raise the valuation
Of properties held by few substantial
men who sit at home to pass the time,
clipping off interest coupons. and reap
the harvest Of other peoples labor and
energy and financial outlay? The
writer has once before undertaken to
assist an institution in this city which
was financially bankrupt. He called on
one Of the substantial property own
ers and asked for assistance. but was
plainly told that they would not do
until times should be better
and bring up valuations of property;
hat is to say. until someone should
come along and put up the money to
.aise the valuations. This same en-
erprise is now paying investment.
Or is 1t because some of the sub
,tantial property owners are directly
,r indirectly connected with the hotel
,r boarding house business. and are
afraid that the new enterprise will
become a detriment? If so. they are
dead" wrong. The new hotel will
ring people enough to town to give
hem all their share; but 1t will have
good effect, so that the public will
et its moneys worth. would like
0 ask the questionable the opera
lon of the railroad, for which the COM
nittee OF twenty-one worked faith
ully, put the steamboats, out OF
usiness? On the contrary. business
as increased and none OF the trans
companies has any kick
oming.
If every hostelry in this town is kept
. its standard, and the public is treat
d right, they will all make living,
nd competition will bring this forth.
would further like to ask the editor
he questionable the Vanderbilts,
Ioulds, ,Huntingtons and other men
olding large estates lay idle and wait
,r someone to come to boom their
oldings? Not by long sight! They
ave worked and improved every inch
their holdings, so that these natur-
ly increased in valuation and doubled
nd trebled the income of the own
IS.
Wake up, property holder, and do
for yourself and your es-
tie will double it's valuation, and your
come will likewise increase Think
the future and don't let the town.
, to decay, and drive the people away.
Ivite them by your public spirit and
lterprise, and you will obtain the end
III all have been waiting for. Get
town worth mention, and other peo-
e will direct their eyes toward this
lint. You can not expect to secure |
is by holding back and waiting until
is too late. SUBSCRIBER.
Astoria, Oct. II, 1904.