The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-07-09
CHANGING NAME OF ASTORIA
Devised as an Advertising Scheme
Opens Up Opportunity for Many
and Peculiar Opinions-Hardly
Likely to Prevail Here.

there is far too much Of tradition, his
tory, and folklore associated with the
name Astoria" garnered in its 1903
years Of existance, to permit any dal-
lance with it in the hope OF changing
il; and the following matter is pub
lished more, with the idea OF present
ing the novelty Of the suggestion than
OF commencing it to serious consider
alton. 1t presents an extremity to
which even old Astoria has not ar
rived and which is yet too remote for
even monetary and momentous re-
Fiction:
Now that there is quite apparent
reason for believing that there will be
some lively doings in Astoria within
a very short time and assuredly with
in the coming II months, it has been
suggested by Manager Whyte of the
Chamber OF Commerce, in all SER
iousness, that Astoria and Warren
ton be consolidated and that the
name OF the consolidated city be
changed to Greater New York
"'Greater New York OF the Pa
cihc' has come to be the very A B c
Of Astoria's advertising literature. 1t
is only step further from the sug-
gestion to take the initiative and
actually change the name. There is
only one New York in the country
that is generally known and postal
guide would show but very few cities
of that name in the entire United
States. Greater New York would
be, as name for city, absolutely
unique and in class OF its own.
Suggestion is the most powerful
influence of this or any other age,
The story is very old one about
how the German students scared the
criminal to death by sticking pin
into him and allowing him to hear the
noise OF trickling water, the con-
demned man expiring under the i'm
preston that he was bleeding to
death.
Now. that we have the electric
railway proposition on sound basis
and it is as sure as anything well can
be that the road will be built; now
that the seawall proposition is well
enough along to insure that the peo
pie will have an opportunity of dis
posing OF that question; now that
the general opinion which has been
expressed for many years to the effect
that Astoria has greater potentiali-
ties for a big city than any other
spot in the world, with both Hill and
Hartman apparently getting into
readiness to accelerate the develop
ment of these potentialities; now that
a brick plant is about ready to turn
out the highest class press brick; now
that there is about to be begun
thorough test drilling for oil on both
sides Of the river; now that we eX
pect to hear every day that the Hill
terminals will be begun between War
renton and Hammond, not to mention
number OF other 'nows,' it seems
not entirely out of place to suggest
the actual change OF the name to
Greater New York,
"Of course, the Portland newspa
pers would have plenty Of fun for a
while, but whatever they would have
to say would be republished all over
the country, and whatever there is OF
value in the best of advertising, would
accrue to this city as result.
81 feel very sanguine," said Mr..
Whyte, ''that the long, looked-for be-
ginning of rapid move forward in
this old town is not only due but has
begun. The Chamber of Commerce
is succeeding in lining the people up
and getting them to work as they
have never worked before. There was
actually enough enthusiasm at the
election OF directors of the electric
railroad company this morning to be
in evidence | think the committee
which has had that matter in charge
will fnd that they will have easy sail
ing from this time on expect that
it will be possible to begin drilling
for oil on this side of the river prob
ably vet this month and the further
we 60 with our work the easier it
becomes. 1t was pretty hard getting
the brick plant financed and it was a
long lob to get the oil company in
shape. and in fact all of the details