The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-06-10
THE NEED OF CAUTION.

THE NEED OF CAUTION.
The practical value OF the proposed
Astoria seawall is undisputed. 1t will
serve number Of important interests
and create a wide range OF public and
private conveniences; enhance the
appearance OF the city; set up sub
stantial conditions, broaden the ter
ritory OF the municipality, and give
newer values to it all.
But there is much to consider.
One of the chief things to arrange
is the share OF the A. & c. Railway in
this project. That concern is TO be
an equal beneficiary in the enterprise,
and the proposition to assess it but
one-hfth the cost is unfair to the city
and the citizen. If the idea OF the
seawall had not assumed the dimen
sions it has in the popular mind, the
railway people must, in time, have
gone about the work of rocking their
line from Tongue Point to Smiths
Point, in which event, the city would,
without doubt, have gladly assumed
one-half the expense; but since the
question is raised on our side, the
company will take due advantage OF
our spirited ambition and pay as little
as possible for the inestimable i'm
provement COMMON justice demands
that they bear their exact proportion
of the cost of solidifying the splendid
right-of-way that cost them absolute
ly NOTHING in the first instance.
Again, the issue of the normal, per-
manent grade to which this fine line
of improvement is to rise, as a datum
for the rest of the city, is one OF the
cardinal points Of popular considera-
ton. The proposition to carry it to
a point ten feet above existing levels
is an element in its forecast that will
entail extraordinary opposition from
every property owner on the north
OF Exchange street. 1t is inequitable
to them and to the railway company,
and will operate to retard, if not de-
feat, the whole scheme. Everybody
at interest admits that the grades are
not high enough as at present estab
lished that two or three feet, or five,
at most, must be added to the work
ing levels as they stand.
This could be done with safety and
to no mans particular hurt, and
would, to that extent, mimify the work
of reducing the hill levels; but the
proposal to arbitrarily set new
standard involving the raising Of the
waterfront properties ten feet, is Of a
confscatory character that will be
bitterly, and successfully fought. The
railway grade as now constituted viii
serve admirably for years to come, as
a base, and hold the cost Of revamp-
ing the present Improvements
throughout the business section with
in a range of cost that might be toll
Grated for the sake Of the immense
improvement to follow.
And, again, the scope Of the work
is worth deep consideration. The
question is becoming vital and wide
spread, as to whether it would not be
we'll to district the improvement, ant
accomplish it by sections, starting the
project, for instance, at the foot o.
Sixth street and carrying it eastward
to the line of Sixteenth, throwing ;
tangent wall back to the land line
from there, and then beginning the
fill; accomplishing the rest of the
work, every few years, as the success
of the initial improvement shall in
spire its extension. This might b.
done by district assessment as we'll as
by district progression; and would put
the coct upon the property receiving
the largest and most direct benefit
and absolving the remote property
from the burden that yields it but in
fintismal, if not altogether visionary
benefit.
This whole question is one Of far.
reaching importance and its gravity
is not to be CLOSED over at any stage
Of its treatment. It istoo huge and cost
ly to be undertaken upon any hypo