The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-01-26
TELEPHONE RATES ARE
SATISFACTORY
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AL
SO CONSIDERS DEEPENING
OF COLUMBIA BAR.

AT the meeting Of the Chamber Of
Commerce last night the question Of
the telephone rates came up for dis
cuSsion, and the matter ended by the
Chamber unanimously endorsing the
rates established by the company for
It's proposed new service. AS a mat
ter Of fact there has been little com
plant heard Of the rates among pco-
pie generally, and at the meeting last
night the objections voiced we're
mainly against the old party lines in
stead Of against the fees to be charg-
cd for the new system. The com
pany was represented by the local
manager, Mr.. BrunoId, and a repre-
sentative from the Portland Office.
The action Of the Chamber Of Com
merce in endorsing the charges for
the new service viii probably definite
" set at rest any further discussion
Of the matter, and It was brought out
at the meeting that the rates are the
same as charged in other cities Of the
approximate size Of Astoria.
Mayor Smith was present and
stated that il there had been any ser
ious complaint made he would have
taken the matter up for the city in a
formal manner, as the company's
franchise provides that its rates here
shall be the same as charged in other
cities of like or approximate size in
Oregon and Washington.
Another matter Of importance that
arose for consideration at the ses-
sion last night was the question Of
deepening the bar. A resolution was
made-in furtherance Of a report
made by Mr., Whyte-that conven-
tion be called in this city for the pur-
pose Of seriously taking up the mat
ter. Il Is presumably desired that all
cities in the northwest which would
be directly or more remotely interest
ed in the deepening Of the bar be in
vited to participate in this Astoria
convention. A committee of four
gentlemen was appointed on the CON
vention--Judge Taylor, Mayor Smith
and Messrs, Finlayson and Evans. 1t
was also voted that the state legisla-
ture be asked to memorialize Con-
gress to the end that a dredge be i'm
mediately sent here to work on the
bar.
In a speech that thoroughly cover
ed the whole ground Judge Taylor
reviewed the efforts that have been
made to deepen the bar, and the atti-
tude that Portland has always taken
in the matter. He and others pointed
out that if the bar be deepened, great
vessel can enter the port Of Astoria;
but Portland has always insisted that
if the bar be deepened that the river
between this city and the metropolis
be also deepened.
Considering herself alone, Astoria
does not care whether the river be
deepened or not, as long as the bar is
put in shape for the big vessels.
But Portland does not apparently
want the bar deepened unless the
river be made deeper at the same
time.
The old arguments, pro and con,
that have been threshed over a hun.
dred times in the Chamber of Com
merce and on the streets were touch
ed upon, and the supposed hatred
that Portland also bears to this city
was also reviewed. AT all events
committee has been appointed to
work on the question OF calling
convention, with the ultimate purpose
in view of trying to secure $l0,000,000
from the government for the deepen
ing of the bar.
The memorial to the state legisla-
ture, asking it to memorialize the
federal congress, also will ask that an
appropriation be made to provide for
a survey for the proposed north
jetty.