The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-03-12
THE RAlI.ROAn.

THE RAILROAD,
The Astoria & Columbia River rail- |
road yesterday paid their taxes
to s10l7S.So, or more than
is paid by all the transportation COM
panies in the county combined, ana
are the heaviest tax payers In the
county. One redeeming feature about
the company is they never kick about
their assessments nor their taxes, but
walk smilingly up to the captains Of
flee and settle and thank the sheriff
for taking the money. When it is con-
sideredl that the company dishurses
$4,000 each month in wages and sup
plies. aside OF what is purchased AT
the various stores, the great benefit TO
the city can be estimated. OF the $780,
600 paid to employees every year, near
ly every dollar Is spent In Astoria,
During the time the railroad has been
running. they have more than paid
back to the people of Astoria every dol
lar of subsidy subscribed with COM
pound interest. Not only this, but at
least 100000 is spent every year In
betterments, new rolling stock and i'm.
proving their service. 1t is safe to say
that every dollar earned by the COM
many. over and above the operating
EXPENSES, has been spent on improve
menrs and that the company has not
made one cent, as yet, on the invest
ment.
Such enterprise is deserving OF con-
sideration at the hands Of the public
When merchants realize that ever!
dollar paid by them to the company
for freight is paid back to the mer-
chants, directly or indirectly they are
certainly deserving of the public pat
ronage. 1t is doubtful if the people OF
Astoria realize the immense amount OF
money that is annually distributed In
Astoria by this company. Instead oi
lantagonizing them, as frequently is
done. by people not understanding the
situation, they ought to be encouraged
and every possible advantage give!
.ham There is no better railroad sys-
TEN in the United States. There is nc
lcompany that gives any better service
land il is due to the efforts Of the AS
toria & Columbia River Railroad Com
pany that the population has increased
from about 5000 when they first start
ed to nearly $4,000 at the present time
Not only that, but they have beel
the means of bringing to Astoria,
large number of men and families pos
sessed with enterprise and eastern vim
who take an active interest In ever.
project looking to the upbuilding of tn
CITY and its institutions and assisting
materially in developing the resource
f of the city and county; contributing
literally TO all enterprises and a ralu
able ambition TO Astoria society. Ha
il not been for the parsimonious pol
icy of the chamber of commerce, Nj
Hammond would have built $50O,OO
saw mill at Astoria instead Of go
i ing to Eureka. Had it not been fo
the obstacles thrown in the way, an
{ the selfish spirit Of that now defunC
{ organization, Mr.. Hammond woul
u have probably spent $L000,0O0 in de
; veloplng the resources Of Clatso
J. county, instead of there being aboL
= $4,000 population, Astoria today woul
have been a live, bustling city OF
i least $4,000. There is no doubt bI
the chamber Of commerce drove NJ
" Hammond away from Astoria, with n
e assistance A of some of the individui
, members. When our Heavenly Fatht
In his infinite wisdom can see His wa
- clear to remove from this vale OF teal
ID a few of the members Of this obscul
10 organization it is believed that NJ
" Hammond will again return TO Ast'
i' ria and take up the work OF developer
y the resources Of the county-as ne col
~ templated doing when he constructt
e the railroad. He has several times e.
&c pressed desire so to do but when ]
II thinks Of the chamber Of commerc
~ he takes another trip to Eureka in o
- der to forget the past.