The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-01-12

pilots that the drcdgc Chinook whilc
in service for the short term OF sis
weeks upon a former occasion
dccpened the channel fully four ieeti
and that the pilots themselves i'm.
provised a harrow dredge and within
"a few weeks decpened channel
about eight feet All Of the congress.
men aud senator's from the states OF
Oregon, Washington, Idaho aud Cal.
iiornia and nearly all of the CONNER.
eial organizations Of those states are
assisting in the work OF securing the
dredge, while the 0Tegonian has
come out editorially in favor Of the
proposition,
In May the proposition Of estah'
fishing d steamship line TO Alaska
was taken up and an endeayor made
70 cooperate with Alaskan and Port
land parties to that end but Il seemed
impossible 10 accomplish this purpose
without the raising Of a large sum Of
cash money, This proposition had
practically the same purpose and end
as the one taken up in December 1907
with William II, Garland Of Portland
Il Is very certain from investiga'
ionSmade that there are products
that could be brought from Alaska
to Astoria, among which might be
mentioned coal. and that passengers
-four and groceries could be taken
from this Port to Alaska with profit
The subject deserves further eonsid-
Grafton during the coming year
AT the meeting Of May 2sth, r. L.
Evans who had been in correspond.
enee for some time with the the Pro-
motion Committee first appeared be-
fore Us to begin work IN promoting
the electric railway enterprise from
here 10 Seaside and Tiliamook, A
local corporation has since been form.
ed which has completed the survey
and is now securing righi-ot-way,
Mr. Il. z, Ferguson is president of
this corporation which Is enti,led the
Oregon Coast Railway Company,
Al this May 18th meeting a
measure for consideration at the next
legislative assembly providing that
counties may have . special tax for
and promotion work was
first brought up for discussion and
since that time this bill has been
placed in the hands Of every member
Of the legislature and a number Of
those who will be in the Salem law
making body this winter expressed
themselves favorahly upon II. This
bill was taken before the Pacific
Coast Admen's Convention held in
Portland in May and there given IA
vorable consideration
This Chamber ordered, prepared
and submitted 10 the voters al the
city election held December 9th, a
bin providing for a special tax OF ap-
proximately one and half mills for
the carrying on OF the publicity and
work for the coming year.
as the legislature could not in case il
was SO disposed, provide for county
tax for this purpose to be levied dur
ing the coming year. This measure
however was defeated by decisive
majority.
On the 10th of May the United
States battleship feet visited the
mouth Of the river according 10 ar
rangements made by the Chamber Of
Commerce, and a special ship, the
Roanoke, was chartered to take the
citizens out across the bar and alto
gether the occasion and event was a
success. The Mayor declared holi'
day and practically every man, wo-
man and child in the city were en-
abled to see the battleship feet with
ont the expense Of taking a long trip
In July this organization took up
the matter Of securing better tele-
phone service and after failure 10 Sc
cure satisfaction from the Pacific Tel
cphone & Telegraph Co, through Mr..
G. r. Waggoner secured a franchise
from the City Council for an auto
matte telephone system, and after an
attempt was made TO raise sufficient
local capital to finance the new sys-
tenn, the old telephone company be-
gan making some changes and I'M
such that the new COM
oany was not financed. 1t was shawn
however, that the old company had
about exausted the patience Of the
people Of Astoria.
During the month Of July con-
.entrated effort on the part Of the
exchanges OF the Mort
vest was made TO insure for Seattle
he next annual convention Of the
National Lumber Manufacturers As
,ociation. These efforts were sue
,essful and the next convention Of
his association will be held in Seattle
next June. We asked ali of the local
umbermen and others to write TO the
secretary Of the National Associa-
ion calling attention to the fact that
his part Of Oregon is the largest soft