The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-07-07

Colonel \, W, Roessler has just com
pleted his annual report to forward I,
Washington in which some very inter
esting figures are given,
Figures are given showing that thu
river commerce In this district Ia ia,
heavier than ever before in the history
OF local shipping, The river shipments
comprised 3,5Ss,0oa tons OF products
valued at $60,7s5,6sl. This includes tn,
business taken care Of by the INLAND
| boats,
Recommendations are made that al
appropriation be granted to ppt, III,
dredge Chinook ir condition for service
at the Columbia River bar Before long
the four new ship channels found over
the bar are expected TO form into ont
great channel, making the finest pass
age for ships there has ever been at
that point. Throughout the report shows
that splendid work haa been done in
the district during the year. lts main
features follow;
Detailed expenditures on river and
halbor improvements OF the Willamette
ana Columbia below the mouth Of the
Willamette and their tributaries;
Willamette above Portland
and lamhill River, er,,...,..s 23,5n1D5
Columbia aud lower Williams
ette River below Portland 70gl6.30
Mouth Columbia River, gen.
cral improvement ,,.,..... T0a40t 90
Clatskanie River ,.,......u, ig5
Cowlitz River ...,........., l.es5.03
Lewis River .,...".-o,,. ~2,s6225
Gauging waters OF Columbia
River .......u,.,... 2G0Ol
For lock and dam OF lamhill
River NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 1856 ~
Total, .................. $50, 100 90
Money Expended.
July |, 1905, balance unex-
pended e., ...,.........,...,,S 320.03
Allotted July 10, l90G.......... 10000
lotal. .'.,,.,,, t.,.,tt..+.. ,Al iuSu,uj
For maintenance Of improvement l,Gj6l4
July !, 1907, outstanding lab. 30900
July |, 1907, bal. uneSpended 323so
July !, 1907, bal. available .... l4.s0
For maintenance OF improvement 100000
The work Of the fiscal year consisted
in dredging with the U. $. dredge W. S,
Ladd in the lower portion Of the
estuary and intermittently with the 30
inch dredge of the Port Of Portland in
the upper reaches. The Ladd removed
a total OF 5l0607 cubic yards. and the
Columbia a total Of 65s,72G cubic yards
The Port Of Portland also operated its
30inch and 20-inch drelge at its own
expense when the former was not work
ing under contract with the United
States and when the funds Mt its dis
posal were sufficient to allow OF opera
itons being carried on. The commission
reports having removed total Of 49,
s2s cubic yards.
The betierment Of the channel by
dredging is very essential, pending the
appropriation Of sufficient funds to con.
struct the permanent works provided for
in the project. The dredging Of the past
year has maintained the depths hereto
fore realized and there has been no time
during the year when a vessel could not
safely load to a draft Of "a feet
Although the drcdge Ladd is near her
end as to state Of hull and machinery,
il is believed she can be operated ad-
vantageonsIy until such time as the lew
dredge may become available.
The head Of deep sea navigation for
ships crossing the bar at the mouth OF
the Columbia is at Portland. on the
Willamette River, 10 miles above the
mouth of the Columbia From the lat
ter place light-draft river boats ascend
the Willamette River for $50 miles.
From the mouth Of the willamette, by
using the state portage road, l2 miles
in length, the Columbia and Snake Riy-
ers are nayigable for light draft river
boats at low water at point on the
Snake River about ALB miles from the
mouth of the Columbia.
The ruling depth at the end Of the
fiscal year between Portland and the
sea is about 22 feet at low water The
increase in depth since commencement Of
improvement is about eight feet over
good navigabIe width Of channel
The export commerce using this
waterway consists principally of grain
and lumber, while the imports are, in a
great measure, composed Of the products
Of the Oriental countries, also ce.Dent,
coal, lime and sulphur. The light draft