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