The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-10-18
GIVES HIS SIDE OF
CONTROVERSY
q. G. FULTON DEFENDS ACTION or
CHAMBER or COMMERCE. PRO
MOTION COMMITTEE TN ASKING
BOND or sasp,ooo FROM WIN. REID

Editor df Astorian:
IN an editorial published In your issue
of the 10 inst. the executive committee
Of the Chamber Of Commerce was taken
70 task for their action In demanding
Of one VIM. Reid, representing an alleg-
I'd corporation called the Portland Greg.
on Seacoast Railroad Company, certain
things before the committee would, by
its action, endorse his road Adverse
criticism, both az 70 the judgment. acts,
and motives Of the Astoria Chamber of
Commerce. its members, and committees
BY certain 81 the Astoria press, has
been 80 long and industriously contfnu-
ed and acquiesced In, that perhaps the
statues OF limitation has run against
70 much as filing d protest against II.
Business men Of this city have been
importaned To support this organiza-
tion both with their time, labor, and
money, yet. no matter how much time
and labor they may have expended, no
matter how sincere their motives, the
newspaper editor, the man that knows
but seldom reasons: without so much
Oh consulting with it's members or com
mittee, proceeds to castigate both the
organization and members. and II has
now arrived at that state Of affairs
that you viii support and publish the
yauntings Of man by the name Of VIM.
Reid whose reputation, both financial.
" and otherwise ii 20 exceedingly bad.
that II smells to high heaven. against
your own fellow citizens who are doing
their best to advance the welfare Of
this city and county, and that too with
out 10 much as asking one Of the com.
mittee his version Of the transaction.
Personally 1t amounts little to me.
II yon wish TO take this man Reid into
your bosom, wish to 20 into partner
ship with him. wish to indorse his dis
honest schemes. that Is your business,
mot mine.
According TO your paper and the
statement Of VIM. Reid. you were very
energetic in interviewing Reid and did
interview him. Yet, you cared naught
to interview a citizen of your own town
whose interest in the city is surely as
great as that Of Reid. Nor did you care
70 publish Reid's record which he has
made here in Astoria. N
As to the letter written by this man
/ would not dignity either 1t or him by
answering. Nor wonld | answer your
editorial for any personal reason, but
feel as a member OF the Chamber Of
Commerce and Of its executive commit
tee, that an explanation Is necessary.
The executive committee Of the Cham
Der Of Commerce demanded Of VIM.
Reid and his corporation that they de-
post In some bank in this city sum
sufficient to assure the payment of the
laborers on his proposed road. We sug-
gested $250.000.00 but said we would
accept any reasonable sum Of collateral
security in sum sufficient to pay such
labor We did this after investigating
the Portland Oregon Seacoast Railroad
Company and the alleged bdckers. We
found that the Portland Oregon Sea-
coast Railroad Company never made
amy survey Of any line Of railroad, con
sequently 1t could not condemn land fol
railroad purposes, and that the severa
condemnation suits filed were mere
bluffs.
We found, that no matter what kini
of proposition VIM. Reid made to us
he would come back with notifications
additions, conditions, ad infnitium. w,
could not pin him down to any prop
osition.
We concluded that the Portland Greg
on Seacoast Railload Company was |
pirate road, not intended to be built
but was organized to harass and ammo.
and, if possible, prevent the construc
tion into this city Of the Pacific Rail
road and Navigation Company, know
as the Lytle Road, the permanent sur
vey Of which is now practically in tn
city
1905 this same man Reid, through
corporation called the Portland Nehalen
4 Tillamook Company, attempted t
build railroad from Hillsboro to Till
amook. By chicanrey, and fraud, abon
5 miles of grade was thrown up, bu
no money. The laborers were not pail
and the good citizens Of Hillsboro wer
compelled to entertain the said labor
ers. Subsequently, but not through tn
efforts Of Reid, these same laborer
we've paid by the Pacific Railroad an
Navigation Co., the Lytle Road Th
above is practically the history Of Reid
RAILROAD building. He fell down on tn
raod he attempted to build in thi
county, and compelled a large numbe
Of our citizens to borrow money, pledg
their credit to save our city an
Reputation. Now with this reputatio
and record facing us, and / have nett
her the time nor patience to state al
tell me why the Astoria Chamber Q
1 lCsom,nerca ahould hv nndaa vorin0 4