The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-01-10
LOWER RATES GIN AN
OPEN RIVER
SOME INTERESTING FACTS SHOW.
ING THE EFFECT OF WATER
TRANSPORTATION VERSUS RAIL
AAUlS IN EASTERN OREGON.

Superintendent Frank J, Smith oi
the open River Transportation Com
rnny reporting 70 his officers aud di.
tCctors for 1905. has the following very
| rertlpent facts TO show In favor Of
the water haul and everything that
contributes 10 It's expansion and main
GRANGE, II Is Il revelation, pure and
simple. and must have its weight In
| tte minds OF all thinking Oregonians
with whom such matters are OF any
=" oment at all:
| During the present season OF the
! rnll Of 1906, the Open River Trans
| | ortation Company handled consider
stlr grain NJ rate ranging from
thirty to forty cents per ton less than
rates in effect on rail line.
Merchandise was transported 10 riv-
q towns and also to interior points
| that were reached by wagon haul Thu
Consignccs nj river points received
| trcir shipments at a saving Of from
| thirty to fifty per cent below rail
| rates to the same point. Interior towns
/ ave used the water haul for over
20 miles and hauled by team 20 mites
inland At saving over rail rates.
The farmer and merchant on the
banks of the river have received large
berefits. It has enabled them to n.
cr,y market their produce locally but
to procure supplies promptly and at
reasonable prices, Unused land thar
has been in pasturagc for years isl
row being farmed since the boats have
given the purchaser means Of transpor-
tdtion, \ number Of new towns have
Teen started along the banks of the
F,ver at points where wagon roads
reach out TO the farm lands OF the
!.stttIoi' 'AH Ap"lS tNdt nave lftlb-
eraded since the early steamboat days
fave been inspired with a new lease OF
rfe.
Electric lines from the Interior
teaching to the Columbia ana Snak" |
Rivers have been Hganized and in
many cases much " the right Of way
tas been freely given,
The open river movement has been
directly responsible for these projects
thc names and locations Of roads are
=. follows:
Spokane Inland Railway from Sp1-
kane to the Snake River,
''Walla Walla and Columbia Electric
Railway from Dayton. to Wallula. on
the Columbia.
"Bickelton and Northern Railway ,
from a point near Mount Adams 10
Alderdale on the Columbia.
The Columbia and Northern Rail-
way has surveyed line from Hard
man through Gillian and Morrow
Counties TO Blalock and some right Of
way secured.
"A line has also been surveyed from
Frosser, on the Yakima River, through
the noted Horse Haven wheat belt.
-eaching the Columbia at Patterson,
pposite IrrigOn
After the Portage Railway was bull'
ard just before steamers were placed
7 operation reduction Of forty cents
)er ton was made on wheat from Ar
irgton. Wheat was secured from
points by rail line, de-
pita the fact that the river tariff
vas twenty-five cents per ton less
han that published by rail, and
rossing charge Of fifty cents per ton
:, other words a seventy five cent per
On differential was met.
"Condon, As miles in the interior, on
he Arlington Condor branch took up
he matter Of shipping by river to
rlington and by the use Of teams
ecure their shipments at a lesser
ate. Following a visit Of repre-
entative Of the river line to that city
a April Of this year, a reduction was
9ade by the rail line Of from one to
hree dollars per ton.
During the present year grain thai