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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (July 1, 1887)
GATEWAY OF THE COLUMBIA. the East These figures represent a great volamo of business, bat aro insig nificant when compared with tho com merce which will develop here when a railroad is built and tho Columbia river is opened to tho interior. The city has a chamber of commerce, which is ener gctic in its work for the good of tho com munity. It has done much to forward the work on the improvement of tho river, both at tho bar and in the in terior, and is laboring to secure railroad connection with tho great lines now ter minating in Portland The opening of tho Columbia river and the construction of a railroad aro both vital questions with Astoria. Up on their successful solution depends much of her future growth. Tho work on the bar at tho mouth of tho river has so far progressed that it is practically no longer an obstruction to shipping. What is most necessary is to open tho river to continuous, uninterrupted navi gation from its mouth to tho lino of British Columbia, on tho main stream, and to Lewiston, on Snake river. (800 article on Cascade Locks, on page 511 for details of this queHtion). When this is done tho varied prodacts of tho interior, especially the wheat and flour, can be taken direct to Astoria almost as cheaply as to Portland, and can bo ship ped from hero much cheaper than from there, since tho expense of towing tho vessel up and down tho river will bo saved. A railroad to Portland and the Wil lamette valley would bo of vast benefit to Astoria, and, happily, tho prospect of one is very bright Until recently tho Oregon k California road held a grant of land to aid construction of a lino from Forest Grove to this city. The company did not feel able to build it, although the route was carefully sur veyed and the resources examined The grant has been forfeited, ami tho route is open to any company which may see fit to build. Tho Oregon t California has been sold to tho Southern Pacific, a company with amplo capital, and tho prospects of an early construction of a lino to this city from Forest Grovo aro now good. Tho wheat crop of tho Wil lamette valley can bo carried to this point over such a road almost as cheat,) ly as to Portland, while tho cx pernio of shipment will bo less. Tho amount saved in shipping will so far exceed tho added railroad charges, if, indeed, thero bo any, that tho great bulk of grain and Hour shipped to foreign countries from tho Willamette valley will bo loaded at this port Along tho route havo Wen discovered derails of good coal, and largo areas of tho finest fir, spruce and codar timber on tho coast would bo en etrated, making Astoria tho most favor ably situated milling and lumber ship ping point on the river. Tho bringing hero of the wheat crop would naturally lead to tho establishment of largo mill for tho conversion of a jwrtion of it into Hour. After such a linn has Wen built by tho Sjuthern Pacific, thero is little doubt that tho Northern Pacific will feel tho necessity of a lino down the river from its present point of crowing, op posite K alamo. Thero aro other railroad possibilities. A road will W built from a point on tho north bank of tho rirer to Shoalwater bay and Gray's hartar, to connect with a lino now partially con structed through the rich CVhilis re gion, from Puget sound to Gra1 bar bor. A road down tho conat te H Aide, Nehalem river and Tillamook bay i one of the projects of this nature umlrr con sideration. This road would do a largo passenger bainen in tho summer sea son, and at all times would hare a pay ing freight traffic In logn, m atrial for construction of jetties at tho mouth of the river, and products and merchan dise. A company has teen orh'w