The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-06-23
Devoted Oregon Citizen Expresses
His Convictions
COLUMBIA BAR MEANS OREGON
He Pleads For the Deepening of the
Commercial Channels for the Good
Of the Whole State, Whatever
Nay Be Employed.

The following communication has been
received and i. an follows:
Among the many schemes proposed
10 advance the commercial interests and
enhance the traffic Importance of the
State Of Oregon, 1 consider the most
imperative 10 be the deepening OF the
channel Of the Columbia river bar.
"Many Of those who have employed
their energies and brains in solving this
problem, have passed away and are
almost forgotten. Their ideas on the
great subject varied broadly, perhaps,
and many times their motives were i'm.
pugned and their opinions scoffed at a.
being selfish, or as II they we're but
too willing to do anything or talk for
anything, that might advance the in.
terests, Of their particular city, or
locality, IA far as the present writer IL
concerned, however, he il willing, and
anxious, TO do, or say anything that
will rebound TO the credit and interest
Of the whole state.
The improvement of the bar Of the
Columbia river was supposed to be
finished in 1896; the United States en-
gineer returned the unexpended balance
Of the appropriation then on hand back
to the federal treasury; the depth OF
the channel water then on the bar was,
! say 30 feet at low tide; in couple Of
Years IL was 2G feet at low tide. and the
depth now available is variously esti.
, mated from .cant 81 TO an easy "a
feet, and the neyer-e ending controversy
on this vital subject, as between the bar
pilots and the federal engineers has been
agog ever since and still wages.
"Now We do not care whittier there
are y feet, or % feet, little less, or
little more, on the Columbia bar; or
whether the tide gauge at Fort Stevens
and the tide guage at the end Of the
jetty agree, or not, nor as TO any differ
ence in their readings, etc. etc; but
what we do know, and care, about, is
that there is not enough water on the
bar, at present, at any stage of the
tide. to accommodate the class of ship.
ping that should, and would, come to
the Columbia ii only the available depth
was there; the tendency being to build
larger, and deeper draft vessels.
I'VE should as 0regonians. see to it
that there is channel water enough on
that bar to allow these new bottoms
and all Others of greater draft, to get
into the waters of the State of Oregon:
Asto where they 90 after that, We do
not care, whether they load here, or 20
on to Vancouver, or to Portland, and dis
charge, and load, their cargoes, but we
do care to have them dock for all pur-
poses on the Oregon side of the river, if
it is possible to do So.
"The remedies proposed. other than
the south jettv, are, the employment of
the dredge Chinook, or a better one if
il is to be had. putting her in full
charge of competent, honest master
who would lay course on the bar and
keeps dredging on that course and not
change it; another proposed remedy is
a northshore jetty, couple of miles
in length projected from Cape Hancock
in a southwesterly direction, which
would narrow the river entrance and
make a permanent and deep channel,
If this north ietty is not built, it is
claimed that the bar channel viii shift
round, from north to south, and back
again, as the storms and ocean currents
may happen to force it, thereby making
it q very uncertain quantity as to-
course and depth
''Whatever il best for the bar, dredge
jetty, or whatsoever it shall be let
us have it, and achieve the prime es
sential of 0regon's commerce, where
soever it may be received. or despatched.
Imprimis, the bart
"If this brief letter shall have the
effect of arousing the attention and in
terest OF men who know more of this
grave and vital subject than presume
to know, It will not have been written
in vain. SUBSCRIBER"