The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-09-02
WRITES OF RAILWAY
TO NEHALEM VALLEY
Long Beach, Wash, Aug 80, 1908.
10 the Editor OF The Astorian.

On my way from Los Angeles al
the end OF last month, | was much
surprised to learn that many small
capitalists In Astoria were buying wild
fruit lands In Southern Oregon al
fancy prices. Knowing that country
since 1874, and the Nehalem Valley
before II was FIRST settled, and watch
ed its slow development simply for
lack OF railroads concluded before
] reached Portland to re.inyestigate
Southern Oregon. Passing through II
overland by stage seven. times to San
Francisco since 1874, II IL true that
since Southern Orcgon's development
with rail connection TO Portland and
10 California has been great through
fruit raising but II is true also that
its wild lands, well suited as they are
for growing fruit contrasted with
those Of the Nehalcm are far too high,
while Nchalcm lands again cost today
(outside the timber ACREAGE, one
tenth OF the prices asked for similar
lands unproductive In Southern Ore
gon with what greater advantages you
aski None | can see. On the con-
trary ! predict that ten years hence
the value OF his orchard and profits
annually 10 accrue 10 the proprietor
Of Nehalcm orchard IL set of In
fruit trees in the years OF 1909 and
1910 will be five times greater than in
Southern Oregon for the following
reasons; First. the cost price OF the
naked fruit lands to begin with Is a
tenth OF the price charged in Southern
Oregon today for the same lands.
Second, the cost Of real transportation
to Astoria, an average distance Of IS
20 70 miles will be only fifth OF what
Ia now charged by the Southern Pa
ei6c (South Oregon), distance Of
Ns miles, either to San Francisco or
Portland, that is II the fruit raised in
the Nehalem Is all consumed either
at Astoria or Portland, although to
the latter city will be (local rates. I
inean), high because the average rail
haul from Nehalcm will be to Port.
land, 6S miles as against 38 to AS
toria And while on this point may
add this discrepancy applies on lum-
Der, dairy produce. coal and iron from
the Nehalem in favor OF Astoria In
local rates and will always exist;
while in transcontinental rates the
ireights will be the same at either
Astoria or Portland in commodities
going into the Nehalem or shipped
thercirom Has Astoria this adyant-
agc today and can il without rail
way from the Nehalcm ever be a
trading center or shipping point by
ocean, Even for the produce, fruits,
hay, etc, TO BE RAISED HERE
AFTER IN ASTORIA'S OWN
COUNTY (CLATSOP)1 Why then
do the people Of Astoria allow certain
OF lis resident land owners, to impede
and postpone construction OF law ,
suits and opposition to rights of way |
desired through the courts by the
Portland Oregon Seacoast Railway {
Company3 Would il not be more ad Z
vantageous for Astoria's interests that /
its people get together Gas the people I
OF the seaside have already done. in
giving that company rights OF way
for four miles into Seaside, subject i
only to the condition that the mayor s
OF that Town holds ALL the rights I
of way undeivered to the railroad a
company, until Its line is actually a
built Nothing could be more adyant- II
ageous to both Astoria and the r. o. il
X s. r. X. And that course had been &
accepted by committee of the AS Il
toria chamber year ago, instead OF Z
adding further condition that the b
of the railway company
should give the City Of Astoria surety '
bonds Of bank or guarantee COM s,
pany for 100000 that the road should ii
reach the Nehalem river before the Fl
end OF next year Gan unprecedented e
condition in American railroad con- II
struction) when the state circuit court Is
at Astoria for condemnation proceed v
iugs was open to the p, O. & S, Ry. On
Co. without any bond and under the r
law It had FIVE years to complete con- "
through the lands condemn til
ed in court, where now rest under Vi
frivolous demurers to the railway suits N
rom land owners either made pur- de
poseiy to gain time or exorbitant m
lamages, we don't know which. But ae
am diverting from the object OF this az
etter, namely the development Of 10
ruit-growng in the Nehalem and Dc
hall proceed. m
Third reason, when an orchard has Of
Az f.,,,ke ! NJ