The Dolores star., 1923-05-18

He tried In vain TO buy out the traders of the Mis-.
souri, Fur Company, just beginning extensive op-
Grafton from St Louis under the leadership of the
famous Manuel Lisa So he organized In 1909 the
American Fur Company under the laws of New
York, holding corporation. He established a sub
sidary company. the Pacific Fur Company. for
the Astoria project He furnished the capital,
100000. and assumed all financial risks. He took
In ten partners who contributed time and labor
His partners were mostly experienced traders lured
from the ranks Of the Northwest Company, Scotch
men and British subjects.
Astor made ready two parties for the mouth Of
the Columbia, to go by sea and the other to
travel overland to pick out the best sites for posts
In September, 1910, the Tonquin. under Capt
Jonathan Thorn, sailed from New York with 80
passengers including four partners: Alexander Nc
Kay. Duncan. McDougal, and David and Robert
Stuart. The Tonquin lost eight men In getting
across the Columbia bar and arrived May -. 1911.
A site was selected tools and part of the supplies
were landed. June the Tonqun sailed a trad
ing expedition to Nootka Sound. The Indians cap
tured the vessel and killed the captain Mckay
and all but five Of the crew. The survivors then
blew up the ship. The shore party under Nc
Dougal made slow progress but finally got under
shelter and began trading operations.
In the meantime the overland expedition which
had started from Montreal July G. 1910 under VIII
son Price Hunt, had been in desperate straits at
several points on the long journey by way of the
Missouri and the Grand Teton, the Snake and the
Columbia. 1t did not reach Astoria until January
10, 1872. The arrival of the supply ship Beaver
May 10. 1912. relieved the situation Trading op-
crations were undertaken an extensive scnle
Two partners of the Northwest Company brought
the news of the declaration of war in December
1912. The Pacific Fur Company partners. in
Hunts absence, terminated their partnership with
AstOr and sold out to the Northwest Company at
an absurdy low price Astor was unsuccessful In
efforts to recover his property after the war
-1a-a
post so far as Astor concerned, but 1t was the
beginning of a northwestward movement of the
American people over the Oregon Trail that gave
us two states Of the Union, Oregon and Washing
ton, and ultimately Alaska.
Modern Astoria is financially typical of hundreds
and thousands Of ambitious little cities of the coun.
try, as Is shown by the statements admitted to con
gress In connection with the proposed loan The
city, however had n construction problem peculiar
ly its own. 1t Is located 70 miles up stream from
the mouth of the Columbia on what was originally
tidal fiat, submerged to depth Of 30 feet nj
high tide. The city was first built on png from
the harbor front to the foot of the hills Then
in order to establish modern sewage system the
city built bulkhead along the water front and
filled in The street grade was fixed at nine feet
above the fll and buildings were raised to that
level. The streets were constructed on bridpework
with asphalt paving and concrete sidewalks on the
palking.
The destruction Of the burned area was there
fore practically complete Before 1t can be rebuil,
1t will be necessary to reconstruct the sewage and
water systems. build substantial retaining walls
around each of the "a burned blocks, fill In ,be
streets with material dredged from the river and
pave and lay sidewaks-all Of which will cos,
about SlO63,OOO the amount Of the loan asked
from congress Until these things are done accord
Ing to the official statement no capital cnn he oh
tained to enable the property owners to rebuild.
The city Of Astoria has issued bonds and In
Cured bonded obligations amounting to s5,553.
sooaz for schools, municipal improvements. port OF
Astoria DOCKS and county roads. The assessed
valuation Of all property prior to the fire was S11
o5S,4o9; the bonded liability was therefore 40 ne,
cent Of the assessed valuation. Because OF tb,
conditions following the fire the bonded Indebted
ness SO nearly equal to the value of all the prop
erty that the city is deprived Of the ability to sci
further bonds for reconstruction purnoses tbroua,
the ordinary investment channels