The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-05-05

citizen OF the Oregon metropolis
takes the time to check up the in
justices OF the Portland press in its
dealings with this city, and the fol
lowing, from the pen OF Mr., ,Finlay
j McKercher, the we'll known secretary
OF the Equitable Savings 4 Loan
Association, and addressed to the
Portland Journed (from the columns
OF which it is taken). is straight from
the shoulder, and awakens our graft
tude The Journal had been over
doing the thing bit, as usual, and
Mr.. McKercher's sense OF fair-play
was aroused to a point that yielded
the following rebuke:
Il dislike to become conspicuous
through communications to the press,
but | can but regard your editorial OF
this date (April 2oth), in answering
the 'Astorian' as to why grain ship
ments should not be made from AS
toria, as unfair. | deem it unfair to
Astoria, TO Oregon, and to the in
land empire farmer, and so unfair to
Portland and The Journal
III is unfair to Astoria i'll that you
state as your final reason why ships
load at Portland instead Of al As
toria. because ships prefer fresh
water harbori The more than infer,
ence from this is that Astoria has
NOT fresh water harbor, and this is
in line with the literature OF both our
chamber of commerce and board Of
trade, stating that Portland has the
only fresh water harbor on the Pa
cifc coast.
Neither your inference nor these
statements square with the facts.
Ship owners and transportation men
recognize Astoria as fresh water
harbor, and if they do not the bar
nacles upon ships bottoms do.
But few years ago the chief en-
gineer OF the Vanderbilt system, in
a published pamphlet stated that
Astoria was one OF the zest five har-
bors in the United States, and the
finest fresh water harbor on the globe.
1t is unfair TO Oregon to decry this
fact and to promulgate the reverse OF
it. Another reason you gave is that
ships and railroads will always meet
as far inland as possible
The fact is that no skipper de-
sires from choice to ascend the Co
lumba river with his ship, but rather
that, while the ships meet the rail
Astoria was one OF the best five har
road at Astoria, the railroad
refuses to meet the ships there,
land for his cargo.
What does this signify Simply
this: The railroads haul wheat from
the inland empire to Tacoma, in miles
as far or farther than to Astoria at
given rate. In doing so, they haul it
up mountain grade Of about 5000
feet and down again, about seven
cars to the engine, but refuse to haul
it for the same rate to Astoria, the
same or shorter distance in miles,
water level grade and 20 to % cars
to the engne-physical conditions in
favor of Astoria which would enable
a competing line to haul to Astoria
at rate that would absolutely put
the mountain route out Of business
In other words, railroads insist upon
receiving for the shorter water level
to Portland the same rate as for the
longer mountain grade haul to Ia
come. an injustice to both Portland
and Astoria, in which they are aided
and abctted by Portland organiza-
tons and press.
Injustice is rather too tender a
word to define this condition of af-
fairs, but refrain from a stronger
one for the sake of good form, and
the feelings Of Mr. Harriman's stock
holders, who are the only ones not
defrauded by the transaction, while
the farmer, whom we all profess to
love, is the principal sufferer.
I'VE will probably see, upon the
completion of the north bank road,
the anomalous condition Of wheat
passing through Portland to Tacoma
| 80 miles longer haul than to As
toria) at the same rate as for the
Portland haul, and Astoria still re-
fused Common point advantages.
astoria should have her rights
common point rates on wheat, and
every man jack in Portland should
insist upon it, for so long as we sup
port unfairncss on the part Of rail-
roads TO Astoria, what face have we
for cursing Hartman for not devel-
oping other parts Of the state?
"No one understands Portland's
-. %i,a Aetnr;a