The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-08-21

II, NJ, Adams, general freight an,
passenger agent OF the Spokane
Portland 4 Seattle Railway and tn
Astoria & Columbia River Rail
road Companies arrived III the city ol
the noon express yesterday accom-
panied by Superintendent John Nc
CURE, OF the latter road, Mr.. Adam.
is here to look into the freight inter
ests of his companies and to NEE,
the patrons OF the lines, and others
in this behalf, while Mr. Mcclure
comes on his usual weekly inspection
"trip; there being no peculiar signih.
cance attaching to the presence OF
either official, aside from current bus
Iiness affairs. as stated,
Mr., Adams has recently made a
trip over the eastern and unfinished
end OF the 5. P. & S. line, the North
Bank" road and reports the track
now laid from Cheney to the crossing
of Cow Creek, and from Paseo to a
steel bridge, on canon 80 miles out,
which leaves a gap of IS or 40 miles
unbroached, and waiting on the COM
pletion OF a series OF steel bridges.
The Snake river branch, from the
junction rs miles above Pasco, to
Texas City. opposite Riparia, 90 miles
from Pasco, is practically finished
and will be ready for bushes this
fall; the main line to Spokane being
closed, it is hoped, early in the COM
ing spring.
Mr. Adams, in speaking OF the new
tariff sheet OF the North Bank" sys-
TEN, which has been framed up. ap-
proved, and becomes effective Septem-
Der first, says that it is compiled on a
Portland terminal basis and does not
comprehend Astoria nor the A. & c.
territory west Of the metropolis, and
affords no relief whatever to shippers
and consignees, and, Of course, does
not even tentatively, grant common
point" on grain to this port nor the
mouth of the river.
Touching upon this latter matter,
Mr.. Adams said, last night, to a re-
porter for Astorian, that whenever
the question OF the common point
grain rate to Astoria shall come up,
either upon the initiative OF the roads
at interest, or upon any sort OF an
aggressive demand put up by AS
toria and the country tributary to it,
it would involve all the trunk lines in
the Northwestern field in its conces-
sion and formulation; that the Spo-
kane, Portland & Seattle road was
not, in the larger sense, grain road
and does not traverse grain coun-
try, as do the Northern Pacific, Great
Northern and the Oregon Railway &
Navigation lines; that the extra cost
of hauling the grain the 100 miles
west OF Portland, or 90 west of Goble
would have to be borne by the com
pany originating the shipment, and
the assumption OF this cost was re-
sisted, and would be, by the COM
panies concerned, until there appear
ed far better reasons than exist at
present, for putting Astoria on the
same grain basis now enjoyed by
Seattle, Tacoma and Portland The
A. & c. grain haul from either Port
land or Goble swould create a new
bill of expense that finds no warranty
with the lines which would have to
bear it, on the common point basis,
SO long'as shipping conditions on the
Columbia remain as they are, and
these conditions, admittedly good |
likely to remain so indefinitely obvi-
ate all chance for the early realiza-
ton of the hopes Of Astoria in this |
particular. Mr. Adams said that, per-
sona1ly, he did not see the use or adj
Of the common point grain
rate being extended to Astoria, at this
time.
The new lumber rates for this ter
-itory Of the Northwest are soon to
be published as effective on October
18th, under the extension Of two
months granted by the Interstate
Commerce Commission to give the
-oads time in which to prepare the
ariff sheets.
Mr.. Adams will spend the day here
md leave this evening for an over
sunday stay at Seaside, returning to
lis Portland office on Monday morn
ng's train. MI. Mcclure leaves up
or Portland this morning.