The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-09-13
ASTORIA'S POSITION.

In the communication signed by sob
server and published in this issue Of
the Morning Astorian. there is tscit
hint that Astoria is superaggressive
in the matter of its solicitude towards
railroads and transportation enter
prises generally. In sheer defense
against the possibility of such a con-
struction being assumed in the minds
Of our readers, we take the oppotun-
ity of making deliberate statement of
the actual relation borne by Astoria on
this hugely important issue; that is, as
the Morning Astorian in its position as
a public medium of popular expression
understands its duty:
Astoria, from its very situation, at
the mouth of great river; as the entire
pot of great metropolis. its contig-
uity to the broad Pacific. its own vital
necessities as a seaport and an export
ing center, is, and must be, devotedly
interested in the widest possible devel.
0pment Of the best, the quickest, the
most direct, frequent, easiest, safest
schemes of transportation possible to
be brought into the State of Oregon.
And so far as known this is the actuat-
ing principle that governs her people |
at all times, in their aspiration to be
fairly and honestly included in these
designs of the great companies forging
the transportation eertainties of the
future. This is the simplest and most
Straightforward statement that occurs
to Us in this premise, and we give it
in all sincerity.
We do not begrudge an atom of sue
cess to Portland or any other commun-
ity in the broad state, if only the right
of Astoria to decent and equitable con-
sideration in the immense deals is tax
en- into account and made something
of; but we resist, and rebel, logically
effectual and altogether beyond the pale
and honestly, against the cold-blooded
doctrine that we are small, remote, IN
of estimate in the very things that
we know we must figure in at some not
remote day in the future. We begrudge
the time lost to us, the years wasted
in the waiting for what is, by every
law Of commercial development, ours
right now if ordinary equities prevailed
and Portland was less fearful Of their
prevalence
Oregon may be grid ironed with rail-
ways until her remotest camp of in
dustry is tapped and made accessible
and resourceful; her every marine gate
way may be thrown wide open to the
largess of the world and for her con-
tributions to it, SO long as Astoria is
in the deal somewhere; SO long as she
is fairly treated in the great game. 1t
is the direct, unblushing course Of re-
pudiation imposed by the one controll-
ing influence in the state, that calls
forth our fighting propensities, and in
as they have appeared to be,
to date, we have abundant and un-
swerving confidence in their final poten-
tialities, and will prosecute them to
the end of it all, and the need of
Them shall have vanished. This city
could and would make her own way
IN the world of progress If her hands
we're not tied by the cords furnished
BY the city, of all Others that should
nurture and nourish the outlying depots
If Oregon for it's own splendid up-build-
np and success. Astoria knows all OF
is own history clearly and succinctly
Ind bides her time, realizing that her