The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-08-24
THE TENTH ANNUAL REGATTA,

The Astoria 10th annual regatta opens this morn
inc To the thousands of visitors within her gates
Astoria extends most cordial welcome. These Wis
tors have attended former regattaS have been we'll
treated. and quite naturally are back again. AS
toria will make as much effort TO entertain them
this year as made in past years, and we are sat
isfed they will go away pleased with their week
euting Visitors must remember that it is difficult
in the extreme for city of $4,000 to accommodate
large crowd This is especially true in Astoria 5
ease, for the reason that she is unable to accommo-
date her own inhabitants So great has been the
growth in population during the past two years
that even the record building boom has not served to
lessen the demand for homes. If some of Astoria s
guests experience trouble in securing accommoda-
tions, they must attribute the circumstances to As
toria s unparalleled prosperity.
Eleven years ago the regatta was inaugurated.
Primarily it was intended to ''hold the fishermen.
Hundreds of fishermen left the city Immediately
upon the close of the fishing season, taking with
them many thousands of dollars earned here. This
annual exodus operated to the disadvantage of the
merchants and the suggestion that regatta be held
met with popular approval The first regatta was
purely local affair." except for the presence of
few Shoatlwater bay yachts. However the event
was advertised to some extent by generous newspa-
pers and the outside attendance was surprisingly
large. The managing committee made no particular
effort to attract large crowd to the city, but the
coming of the regatta became known elsewhere over
the state and hundreds visited the city during the
water sports.
At first, perhaps, it was not fully realized that
the regatta had filled lOng-felt want. The COM
mittee was too modest-tOo timid-to dare hope the
event would ever become of coast Importance But
when the crowds focked to the city the following
year the popularity of the regatta became apparent
and since that time it has been recognized as the most
successful event held in the Pacific northwest Every
year the attendance has been greater and with each
succeeding year the program of events has been the
more elaborate One year lack of interest resulted in
lapse of the regatta. The lesson Of that year is
still fresh in the memory of the Astoria public, and
since then there has been the most active interest in
the carnival.
The 10th regatta has been arranged by George
NJ Mcbride, Charles W. Haldernan and com
mittee of other young Astorians. These young men
have unstntedly devoted their time and energy to
the carnival and have worked hard to make it
success Only those who have been actively en-
gagged in undertakings of the kind can have proper
appreciation of the enormity of such work. 1t is
hard thankleSS task and the men who assume the re-
snonsihiltv are real natrints
The regatta is deserving of success. 1t is cacr-
lated to elevate interest in legitimate sport It con-
stutes delightful outing for interior residents
a weeks vacation that any man may well enjoy.
1t brings together the best people in the northwest
in the best city in the whole world It is not
money-making scheme but whoe-soued event Of
honest sport 1t supplies public demand for whole
some recreation, and annually brings sunshine to
the lives Of Woodworking men and women. For the
reasons here enumerated the regatta has been sue
cess, and will become more successful as the years
go by. Astoria WILL in the future, be better able
to care for her guests and in the present emergency
will do her best to accommodate them
N