The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-04-02
FACTS AND COMMENTS
ABOUT THE BAR /
THE INTERESTING DATA SET
FORTH BY AN ASToRIAN
WHO KNOWS,

vas first put in operation there the
State Of Oregon would have been
spared the humiliation last year OF
having to publish to the world that
he United States fleet could not en-
Ter the river,
According to our pilots and to
those who we're best acquainted with
the details at the time" continued
this member, "a harrow dredge was
out on the bar about Is years ago
and within a space OF 10 weeks had
deepened a channel fully eight feet
wide enough to permit the passage OF
a vessel. The Chinook was put on
and operated but short while and
that Immediately after Ii was repaired
at heavy expense in San Francisco
then it was taken off and It has not
been operated since.
@There will be a number Of battle
ships sent to visit the Worlds Fair
at Seattle next summer and II this
Chinook could be put to work at the
present time ! am confident that by
the FIRST day OF July channel at
least 80 feet deep at low water could
be made across the bar which is eight
feet deeper than the channel in the
river TO Portland. OF course 1t will
never be possible for large ships to
20 up the river as far as Portland,
not within the lifetime Of any people
now living, at least, but we will have
here in Astoria a 40-foot channel
probably within a year. The Engi-
neers' Department with Major Nc
| Indoe at the head is cooperating
with Astoria and the Chamber oi
Commerce here to the end that the
Chinook may be put to work again
on the bar within the shortest posi-
Ible time. The 10000 appropriation
for the repair and operation OF thai
dredge is now available and Majoi
lMcIndoe has said that he would pre-
pare the specifications for the repairs
necessary within a very short while
Portland is to be commended TO-
its efforts to secure channel iron
that city to Astoria as deep as th'
channel from Astoria across the ba
to the sea but | doubt its ability Il
accomplish such a commendable re
suit even with all OF the taxable prop
erty Of that municipality under 1t
control for tax raising purposes
1T is altogether likely that a teV
months more will see the wheat TO
export coming down TO Astoria to b
loaded on ships to go abroad for tn
reason that big ships must be used II
the commerce OF the Pacific AM
such can't get to Portland. Portlan
will always be a good city, however
regardless of the fact that she
about to lose her export and impor
business. In fact, she has lost mos
of it already as a comparison OF tn
imports and exports OF the Columbi
river with those OF Puget Sound Wi
show This postal card compariso
was recently made by the AstorI
Chamber OF Commerce and has eau:
ed astonishment throughout tn
Northwest 1t would seem now tina
I great convention will have to b
: called in Astoria within the very nea
. future to right this wrong. Who's
fault it is that the Columbia river ha
fbeen allowed to lose most Of its trad
lis very plainly set forth to ever
close observer throughout the NORTH
west 1t is caused by certain busines
influences at Portland, powerful
their small way, who are determine
that there shall be no deeper chann'
! from Portland to Astoria than ther
. is from Astoria to the sea. Whe
, Mr.. Wheelwright was president OF tn
Chamber of Commerce few yeaI
: ago he submitted to public intervie
in which he said that it was useless
] have 40 feet of water over the b;
and only 20 feet in the channel
the river down to Astoria. But tn
I commercial crime against the State
Oregon is being atoned for and Q
Portland is the biggest city from tt
standpoint of trade naturally most
the atonement mus be made by h
business men. Such is their shor
sightedness.
"The Astoria Chamber Of Con
merce is to be commended for ha'
3 ing brought this matter before IL
business interests Of the Northwe
in such .way that remedy is b
I ing found, The Rivers and Harbo
! Committee in Washington and espe
I tally Congressman Lorrimer WI
I made personal trip here to examil
I the lefty and to look into condition
! for himself understands the situate
Ii. eha.rr,n-n Rnrtnn Of the Rive