The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-06-21
HAMMOND.

toria the name of A. B. Hammond
lies very close to the popular inter-
est, and means much in a commercial
and industrial sense, Mr.. Hammond
has returned to Astoria and closed a
big deal for local properties, which,
without definite figures for authori-
tative use, must have ranged up in
the hundreds Of thousands OF dol
lars. This is is very signihcan, for
this successful man is not making
wild Investments over the country,
and, despite the claim of many, that
he never invests anywhere until
things are at Zero" indicates his
confidence in the site and aptitude
of the place and port for big busi-
ness, and is also indicative OF certain
Eaction from the dubious level Of
zero" since he comes at ALL
AT all events he is here, with, per-
haps the biggest plant in all this
country on his hands, and an infinite
and valuable assortment of specific
knowledge Of the business and how
to run it. Taking the great plant
of his company at Eureka, with its
1000 or 1900 people on the pay-rolls;
its vast property, its company homes,
boarding houses, chapel, school, Ii
brary, baths, docks, yards, ware
houses fleets of sailing and steam
craft, and one has an faint idea of
what Mr. Hammond and his asso-
ciates intend to make of this fine
system at Tongue Point, provided,
that Astoria and her people do their
share in meeting the situation, and
sparing him, and it, the onus of con-
travening and impeding policies, pub
lie and private; not that he is asking
anything in particular, but his renew
ed interests in the city and section,
calls for the expression of purposes
and plans that shall dovetail with the
developments he shall want to make.
The fact that he represents thou
sands of acres Of the finest timber
lands in this country; that it must
be gotten out, hauled here, and made
marketable, and then despatched to
all corners Of the country and the
the globe, is part and parcel Of that
scheme Of development; and the
logic Of it talks much more to this
particular point, than he himself will
talk. In fact he is not ready to talk
for publication and says so frankly
He and his people have every con-
cievable resource and facility at
their command to make Astoria one
Of the leading lumber ports Of the
world, and such an end is worth play
ing up TO- They must be met half
way, at least, and no barriers set up
thai are needless or senseless.
Astoria must play her hand in the
game of up-lift as we'll as those who
come in here to do things on the
scale Mr.. Hammond generally does
them; it is poor wisdom to disparage
and obstruct, and the quint-essence
Of sound business judgment to aid,
contribute, meet and smooth things
out, for all concerned. And if this
big company has come in here at the
zero houf, then the cue for the new
progress is aptly at hand and it were
follv to overlook it. So Astoria can
be square and friendly and helpful in
this venture, without sacrificing a
scintilla of her right and prestige in
any direction; and its dollars to dog
tracks" that the Hammond interests
will respond in kind, and give new
and permanent lead along the lines
that shall make for mutual and
manifest destiny.
In this same relation, it should
not be forgotten that Astoria owes
a debt Of no small proportions to the |
Hume interests that are now closed
here: for years they have maintained
these great mills through all .of's
Of discouraging conditions, as well as
under more equitable circumstanccs}
and at all times have stood for the
port and done as much (and often