Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1915)
STRIDES MADE IN CHANNEL WORK AT ENTRANCE OF COLUMBIA -i . , .... . . , zyc3 ar?y S?0?J AfcrZS? tJ&Zty 7orr? Gsn: JKTTr construction nd dredging re mastering condition at the en trance to the Columbia River, yet not to the extent of opposing nature, and the result Is a channel leadin to tlie southwest, wide and well defined, where more than 30 feet of water is found at low tide that is more than a quarter of a mile ilk width. Changes have been gradual but con tinuous for the past few years, and with the completion of the south Jetty there, the present channel cut through has probably shown the greatest Improvement during the past year. Meanwhile the north jetty has been extended seaward from Its base at 'ape Disappointment, and'that is cred ited with having an Influence already. A the Columbia River has found a natural outlet toward the southwest it has brought about a scouring, with out artificial aid other than the jetties, that is widening and deepening the new route, so for 3S00 feet from the outer end of the south Jetty there is no less than 24 feet of water. For 3300 feet from the Jetty no less than 26 feet of water has been found by careful survey completed by iovernmcnt eu Klneers early in December. Data ob tained from FoundiDgs made then and compared with the September survey clearly point to a pronounced move ment to the northwest, so that the 26 foot contour has been cut away fully 000 feet by the constantly moving sands. Steamers fully laden with grain, lum ler and general cargo for offshore des tinations have been piloted from the river during all seasons without diffi culty, and some -without regard to tides. Also night navigation has been generally adopted. " so that conditions thathave been regarded In some quar ters as a barrier In years gone by have vanished, and there are no vessels ply ing to Pacitic Coast f orts that cannot be " accommodated m the Columbia Kiver. avlaaluB Aids Complete. Co-operation between the Government 'engineers, directing the improvement there, and the Bureau of Lighthouses has increased the number ami effi ciency of nai'igation aids until today It is sa Id there is no harbor In the Big Gain Made in Portland's Water Shipments Since Opening of Panama Canal Ocean Traffic of Columbia River District Shows Increase of 3000 to 9000 Tons a Month Large Steamship Companies Establish Agencies Here. PROM an average of not more than 3000 tons a month in 1913, ship ments received at Portland from New York via the Panama Canal since its opening have more than doubled, cargo receipts in September being 7863 tons, in October 6214 tons and Novem ber 867 tons, while the December re ceipts are equally as large as for No vember. The regular eastbound move ment to New Tork was considerably less than westbound shipments In 1913, but with the canal being thrown open to traffic 143 tons went that way in September, 2142 tons In October and 2765 tons In November, with Decem ber's total showing an encouraging In crease over the preceding month. Such gains, made - In the face of heavy commercial obstacles that were productive of the European war. have proven more encouraging than any strides made in maritime business, be cause they prove the value of the ca nal In the development of Pacific Coast trade and are taken as conclusive evi dence that estimates of tremendous ad vantages to be reaped by virtue of the construction of the. great waterway were not wrong, and armply did not materialize through the Intervention of war. But even the most pessimistic have been compelled to face tha fact that without any European business worth mentioning, as compared with tha vol ume that must be carried via that route, the project has been justified if nothing more was produced than the advantage to shippers and consumers alike iu the American field. Caaal Trade Crewa. In advance of the opening of the ca nal authorities were quoted as having selected Portland fas a Pacific Coast harbor that would benefit the most from the trade that would accrue. It was not assumed from the forecast that this port would reap greater returns in the number of tens discharged or loaded on Its docks, or that tha finan cial gains would be In excess of those at harbors to the north anal south, but that the percentage of advancement and development would lead. - In a measure the flattering situa tion is rapidly forming. At Portland and along the river are obtainable many commodities the canal trade de mands. Not alone .tnrough calls from tlia Atlantic Coast of the United States, but from abroad as well, and In car goes dispatched for New Tork numer ous shipments have' been so routed as ;hu best "means of geting them across the Atlantic to England, France, Hol land and other countries. Oregon apples, salmon from Alaska and the Columbia River, tallow, hides, aops, prunes, onions and alltnanner of diblea and manufacturing necessities in binallrr quantities have moved: also lumber and fltur. The absence of a direct line from Portland to European United States more prominently marked for day and night navigation than the entrance to the mighty stream. As in creased shipping, changes in thebar channel and experience of masters warrants the installation of other and more modern equipment for the guid ance "of navigators, no delays are ex perienced in their establishment. So in every way the mouth of the Colum bia has advanced until there Is no longer a question as to the mainten ance of a safe, and adequate chan ports, due to the withdrawal of Brit ish and German Interests from the field during the war, has made it necessary to route cargo via American ports when parcel consignments only were to move, except certain products sent on liners by way of Oriental ports to London and other cities, and full loads on tramp steamers. From Portland the American-Hawaiian Steamship Company has maintained a five-day service most of the time fol lowing the restoration of Its schedule when the canal was ready, and at pres ent it has been Ixtended to a 10-day service, the" same as to other North west cities, because certain vessels are to be diverted so as to load sugar car goes In the Hawaiian Islands for. New York, crossing to that group from Los Angeles and San Francisco and return ing through the canal. Portland is placed in touch with New York, Bos ton, Philadelphia and Charleston di rect and liners of that flag sent here already Include the Oregonian, Wash ingtonian, Ohioan. Georgian, Montanan, Nebraskan. Kentuckian, Honolulan, Iowan, Panaman, Isthmian and Penn sylvantan. The company Inaugurated fruit shipments under refrigeration from Portland December 10, with the sailing of the Ohioan, and hereafter that will be a regular service, though not as frequent as for general cargo. In the fleet of W. R. Grace & Com pany, in tha Intracoast trade, the liners Santa Catalina, Santa, Cecilia, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz are operated on regular schedule, with several steamers chartered for special cargoes or to make limited voyages so as to elimi nate congestion'. All ply through the canal and each of the liners discharges an average of about 2000 tons of cargo here every trip. The company has plans under consideration for increas ing the number of carriers engaged In the Atlantic-Pacific line and some steps may be taken in that direction this year. The Boston-Pacific fleet, with the steamers Atlantic, Pacific and Corozal. has invaded the Portland field and. while a new venture, is backed by sub stantial Boston capital that will aug ment transportation facilities during the year so there will be several steam ers plying over the route permanently. Indirectly. Portland receives cargo handled by the Luckenbach fleet, the Arrow line and that of Sudden & Chris tenson, consignments being trans shipped at San Francisco, In addition to which is freight delivered on inde pendent vessels. Cereal Exports Big. At present the bulk of the tonnage from this city going through the Canal Is wheat, flour, oats and barley, destined for England and the Conti nent. The war demand has caused cereal exports to assume unprecedent ed proportions in that direction and more grain has been sold at tidewater than there was tonnage In sight to transport it. Grain and flour that formerly went to the Orient will fol low; the Canal route this season. Over 40 full cargoes have already moved to Europe and more than 50 additional shipments will be s:nt by the time the cereal year ends. For a time, owing SUMS' I : H" y I nel for all commercial requirements. There will be 40 feet or water there. That is the aim of all concerned in the big task of turning the waters where they will produce the greatest results. By next season it is probable that dredging operations will be confined to the south channel. Instead of dig ging being carried on to the north ward, as the movement of shifting sand In that direction is steadily working to ward the north Jetty. With a suitable dredge operated in the south road, it is felt that a channel 3000 to 4000 feet wide and at least 85 feet deep could be realized In less time than a suit able road could be dredged leading di to the war. freights went up. due to the withdrawal and loss of numerous ships and the fact conditions at sea, where belligerent naval vessels held forth, prompted owners to hold mer chant ships safely in port. But with the elimination of reason for such fears about the Pacific and Atlantic, more ships were sent to sea and when owners proved to their satisfaction that the Canal made it possible for steamers to complete voyages between Europe and the Pacific in haif the time and at much less expense, the desire for engagements and availability of more tonnage naturally lowered rates, a condition that had been foreseen by students of Canal problems. In yet another direction Portland's trade is growing fast along the west coast of South America, as well as In Central America. W. R. Grace & Com pany have the steamers Cacique, Co lusa and Cuzco in regular trade, be tween Portland and ports as far south as Valparaiso and Antofogasta, with several under charter In handling lum ber cargoes to the Canal zone and to various west coast ports. The com pany also maintains a fleet between New York and the west coast of South America, and In the , future a system is looked for that will permit Oregon products to reach any South American coast city. European cargo being moved here at present is handled on steamers of the Harrison line. Maple Leaf line, East Asiatic fleet and the Royal Mail, also in a few sailing vessels. The Harri son line steamers load at London, Glas gow and Liverpool regularly, touching at other British ports when Induce ments offer. The East Asiatic vessels load at Copenhagen. Gothenburg and Christiania, while the Royal Mail loads principally at London and plys via Oriental ports, the other lines using, the Canal. The Royal Mail plans the operation of another fleet direct from Europe through the Canal to the Coast, but as with several other British cor porations, the war has temporarily de terred placing them in effect. The Maple Leaf vessels steam to the Coast from Avonmouth and Swansea through the Canal and touching at - Santa Rosalia. Coast Fleet Increased. In the coast trade one of the prin cipal departures during the past year was the operation of the steamers Thomas L. Wand. J. B. Stetson and Quinault in the Alaskan trade, from which Portland -reaped many benefits and it is intended to resume this year with larger carriers. Backers" of the undertaking are sanguine that it has become a permanent adjunct to the maritime advantages of this harbor. In the Oregon-California trade the early operation of the new liners Great Northern and Northern Pacific, of the North Bank line, will add a finishing touch to a passenger fleet that com pares with any on the Coast. - Regu lar and independent vessels are so dispatched from Portland that the average departures are close to one each day. The movement of freight, which has grown steadily for the past few years, is. believed to have reached its high the point. That is particularly true in gr.iin. as - approximately 6,500.000 bushels of wheat and 500,000 barrels . rectly westward from the river, a route that earlier operations favored. Year's Development Big. The consideration on which is based vast developments undertaken by mu nicipalities, corporations and Individ uals, especially along the Lower Co lumbia River, Is the successful mani festation on the part of the United States authorities to improve and maintain conditions insuring safe nav igation oyer the bar. Since the completion of the south Jetty during the Summer of 191,3, a de cided increase in the iepth of the channel over the bar has prevailed, but of flour are drawn annually from Portland by California cities and the exchange of other products is -regular, though activity looked for this year will no doubt draw more heavily on the lumber output of Oregon than during the period Just closed. Manufactured articles are in greater demand, due to the establishment of more industries to some extent, also a heavier patron age of water lines. Portland's .Future Roseate. Few In touch with the marts of the ,7 . - T V LTthe I , - ---- ----- - the Canal during 1914. Foundations were laid for new steamship fleets with the, expectation that the project would be finished so that certain ves- sels could use it during the late Sum- mS wasesetyas a- mark when It Slirht be indfeated whtt strength the 5n- bfnedndiforeefgnWandStAm!ricanhe SZ. would assume. To some extent that has been changed, but a prolongation of the European combat will not force a complete abandonment of steamship enterprises and w.ll not hold back many longer, as a readjustment of 0O,n,ditn?,r3 'f raDldl,y manifesting it- self. There is a spirit prevalent among sieamsnip operators t n ,t l me uniLeu States is not dependent to such an extent on European tonnage and cap- ital as might be supposed because of the temporary effects of the war, and there Is a determination to lend every effort this year to enhance the value and lmnortance of the Coast-toCoast trade, at the same time expand in foreign commerce with American-built ships and those of foreign construction that have been given American reg- lstry during the past few months. Portland holds a key position In been completed and rails have been laid that connection, for centered about It over a greater part of the distance, are timber, grain and other Interests This line is approximately 25 miles which are sought alike for domestic long. It passes through a rich and pro purposes and not the least of advan- ductive territory and taps a wealthy tages here is the fact a vessel can farming district that heretofore has load a general cargo to contain the been without rail connection, principal products without leaving the This project .originally was launched river until ready to proceed on her journey. DOMESTIC GOODS SHIPPED FEOM PORTLAND BY WATER. With the exception of wheat, lumber, oats and barley, material gains were made In nearly all Important Items of domestic shipments from Portland during the past year. Among the largest gains were the ship ments of canned fruit, dried fruit, canned salmon, condensed milk, flour, hardware, hops. Iron and steel, paper, potatoes, rice and general merchan dise. Commodities and amounts In tons dispatched from Portland dur ing the past five years are shown as follows: 1914. Barley, bushels Canned fruit, cases. . . Canned Salmon, cases Coal, tons Condensed milk, cases Pried fruit, cases.... Flour, barrels Grain bags, bales..... Hardware, tons Hay. Ifiis Hides, tons.. . - Hops, bales Iron and steel, tons... 41,958 80,788 ' 131.066 1,328 65,939 182,052 485,264 1,178 11.115 1,353 392 3.246 2,393 5,610 Liquor, packages. Lumber, feet-.... Machinery, tons.'. Merchandise, tons.... Miilfeed. tons Oats, bushels ......... Paper, tons. ... .... Potatoes, sacks Rice, sacks Shingles, bundles Staved & Snooks, tons Wheat, bushels W'ool, bales . 47,494 19,193 551,807 19,094 43,172 10,040 8.472 2,125 5,081.1 25 739 permanent results are expected upon the completion of the north Jetty, the construction of which is under way imd is being continued during the Winter. Preliminary preparations for north jetty work, such as the laying out of tracks, the installation of water sup ply, the erection of buildings and the assembly of plant, were begun early in the year of 912, while construction of the south Jetty was in progress, and carried to such a stage of. completion that buildings and track facilities were ready to receive the plant made avail able by the completion of the south Jetty the Fall of 1913. The transfer of the plant consisting of piledrivers, locomotives, cars, shop equipment, material of all kinds and even buildings between the site of the completed work at Fort Stevens and the proposed work at Fort Canby, was carried on from the time rock receipts were discontinued on the south Jetty until Its resumption on the north Jetty. Barges- with towboats furnished the transportation of .this plant and equip ment across the mouth of the river. During' the five months In which this moving was In progress over 60 large barge loads were handled, meaning that a barge was loaded on the south side of the river, towed across, and unloaded .on the north side of the river approx imately every two days while this por tion of the work was in progress. Construction' of the trestle, from which rock is placed In the jetty, was commenced at Fort Canby in Septem ber, 1913, and carried to a point about 1000 feet out to sea by December the same year, when extension of the tres tle was discontinued for the Winter. It was necessary to place about 5000 tons of rock at the point where the trestle crosses the ocean beach to prevent the Portland's Interurban Lines Aggregate 360 Miles Three Separate Systems Operated by Southern Pacific, North Bank and Portland Railway, Light At Power Company Rapid Development in Districts Served Is Noted New Lines Are Planned. nftTLAlTO Is the radiating center fvuKiui.w i i , , m, ror more u u " niv trie Interurban railways. Only three or four cities in the United States directly tributary man nas ruiuauu. Three separate and distinct mterur Vstems are operating out of this "itvThev are the Oregon Electric and Jln . , " h- respective Vf the North Bank and allied steara rad3; Portland' Eugene & Eastern, which Is a subsidiary of the Southern Pacific, and the electric lines of the Portland Railway, Light & Power company. Tne Oregon Electric operates 146.6 mUes Qf rallway the United Railways Portland. Eugene & East- j 100 a and th9 pr"faPPdr Portland iuway. lgnt r-o w -' r ' i Within the Present year approxi- mately 40 miles of additional electric ''"dIl': tion a nd bring much additional Uibu tary te"0JJZtb cation and connection with the city, Hew Work Under Way. The Portland Railway, Light & Power Company ,1s prosecuting with vigor its construction work on the Willamette Valley Southern line between Oregon City and Mount AngeL Grading has as an independent enterprise, uui re w k Dnriiind Ttn llwft v Interests i , ... i - -, . .... ii 1913. 1912 600,522 18,428 80,454 59i54i 66,595 364,549 isii. rjiv. 2.104 '7i!m 19,267 848,409 68,769 34,822 1,310 60,050 163,965 431,788 339,673 ' '298 280,439 . 'i'.iii ; 'uiii 8.954 1,306 1,266 704 1.879 3,895 1,086 1,472 314 1,866 808 3,240 106 2.069 . 2.001 ,133 2,122 4,223 198 933'20 228.997,117 169,453.612 126,168,187 80,561,485 569 495 624 66 ..278 30.567 23,038 S6.295 13.824 23,715 24.269 733,103 17,769 12,990 8.504 15,140 2,247 7,141,169 2.132 15,014 342.333 16,271 17,093 1,950 17,963 1.564 4.822,382 6,383 3,136 112.492 10,782 3,888 100 173,793 15,717 12,073 115 , 9 Sfifi 1,370 3,143,'763 3,668,484 ' 5,963 ST7Y 60OfTTZOsV6 unusual scour of that year from loos ening the bottoms of the piling in that portion of the trestle. North Jetty Pushed. On February 2, 1914, dally rock de liveries were begun and extensions to the trestle were made during the Spring as weather permitted. Facili ties for the handling and transporta tion of rock were gradually improved and perfected as the Spring advanced so that by June, 1914, an average daily delivery of 4800 tons of rock was being received and placed In the Jetty. This is about 800 tons greater average dally delivery than had been reached during the construction of the south Jetty. During this period the trestle had been carried 6600 feet out to sea. although only a portion of the rock required to complete this length of Jetty had been plac&l. On July 10, 1914, the daily rock de livery was reduced to about 2800 tons and on August 10 the receipt of rock was discontinued on account of the lack of funds. . The passage of the rivers and harbors bill enabled the resumption of work October 12, and since then a daily rock delivery of about 4000 tons has been received and placed In the Jetty. This rate of work is at present in progress. Since the resumption of work in Octo ber the trestle has been extended 600 feet, or to a point 6200 feet out to sea from the high water line. The north Jetty now contains over 750,000 tons of rock, practically all of which was placed in 1914. The camp or base from which the north Jetty construction is carried on Is located at Fort Canby and Is com pletely equipped for the work In hand. arranged to guarantee the bonds and adeauate finances were procured to complete it. The new road and the ,. p,nw will have common rmlnal. at Oregon City and will Inter- eventually through service between Portland and Mount Angel will be Inaugurated. Negottattons also are under w ay be- ?.r f dependent tat.rt.Tlin. Into the familjr. 6t PT'i'.FfLtX? serve to give Portland close "jocla- tlo- wUh th. aaj. f JomreemeE1eending It. trackage mtb McMinnville. Surveys have been completed and terminals have been se- cured. Actual construction work has been postponed, but may be taken up with the present year. Present plans provide for a connection with existing trackaee at Tualatin. The proposed line Is about 2o miles long. tween Portland and Oregon City, a din The Portland. Eugene & Eastern now tance o( 16 mnes. giving it a network is operating over the first unit of its o( eiectTt0 interurban properties that system. This service was Inaugurated ara a material factor In the develop within the year Just closed. Train menj 0f tne territory surrounding tlio service Is in effect over two routes clty Vancouver, Wash., also Is j-erved between Portland and McMinnville. Dy tn)a company. One route is via Hillsboro and Forest G . vep wnat originally was known ag thg ..-pggt side" lines, while the other r0Ut8 is via Oswego, Sherwood and Newberg, commonly called the Jet- ferson-street line. Both routes nave terial form as soon as financial cotidl a common terminal in Portland over tions make expenditures possible. Fourth street The electric trains en ter the Union Depot In this city. P, E. A E. Plans Big. The Southern Pacific, which owns the Portland, .Eugene & Eastern property. has its steam service on mat part ci the'svstem now electrified. Official 0f the steam road, however, retain jurisdiction over the electric lines. Well-prepared plans provide lor further extensive construction work and development by the Portland. Eu tend the electric service to Eugene and gene eastern, it is ropoeea ig to build a new main electric una on the east bank of the river Between "New Era and Salem. A bridge is to be built at New Era, connecting with the present eleatrio line operating through Oswego. Further plans pro vide for the electrification of virtually all the Southern Pacific branch Unas between Portland and Eugene, except ing the main line used for California traffic. The company acquired, a lew years ago, the property of the Salem, Falls City & Western Railway, operat- ne between Salem, Dallas and tiiaca rock. However, pending adjustment of petltor, but an actual al.l and atlmu financial conditions, this work will not hint to the btialneaa .f the .team a- be attempted. When it is) completed, though, it will bring about 200 addi tional miles of trackage into electric conection with Portland. The Oregon Electric is the pioneer of the electric carriers in the Willam ette Valley. It first built its lines south into Salem and southwest into Hillsboro and Forest Grove. Later it tended its Salem line into Albany ex and Eugene. It now operates success fully over all this trackage. Its Portland-Eugene distance is 122 miles. Be tween Portland and Forest Grove the distance is 27.4 miles, but for 8.2 miles , between Portland and Garden Home Large docks have ben built on Bakers Bay to receive the rock to b used in the Jetty. On these dorks are 11 derricks, each with a working ra pacity of about 600 tons of roik prr day of eight hours. The nerexsirv power plant to furnish (team for thfi-a derricks, as well as the necessary trackage to handle cars at each der rick, has bem provided. In addition to this, coal bunkers of 830 tons capacity, have been built on the dork approach to supply coal to the locomotives en gaged in the transportation of roik from the docks to the Jetty. Rock In the slues and qnantltlra specified by the United (States Is quar rled at Fishers LandlnK and delivered at the Fort Canby docks on lar barges. This rock is transferred from the barges to cars, welshed, hauled out on the trestle and placed In the Jetty by tha Government. The camp establishment la an Inde pendent construction unit, having Its own water supply, aewase disposal, a light, heat and .power plant, machine, car and blacksmith shops, roundhouses, mesa and bunkhouses. office buildlns, hospital, storehouses and various othor buildings necessary to utlllsa the plunt required In the execution of the work. Ten miles of narrow aauga track la maintained and In uae. A portion of the equipment In dally use Is 11 loco motives. 215 dump cara, 14 flat vara, double-track revolving piledrivers. 1 double track tender car, a locomotive., crane, and several derricks, skid pile drivers and hoisting engines. Progress of the north Jetty construc tion satisfactory to all concerned csn be expected during the year, provided that Congress sees fit to appropriate the necessary funds for carrying on the work. the Eugene and the I trains operate over a co Forest Giovi mmon set u( tracks. ..-.--.- i a .. . wn,d and trols the Oregon Electric. This roud nneratea betweun Portland and Wilkes- Doro jjg nilles west of the city. It Is ,ntended eventually to be extended to Bay City and Tillamook, but plan, for n- fe.w " not ,nclutl th" Th Portland Railway. Light Towrr Company wnlch ouorate. the city lines 1" tn into' vVrlou.'neluh" "rmg "w "d hamlet" The " ' lown ,",." t' line extends to Cazadero on the Clackamas River. 3. mtl? soutne.t of Portland. It taps a Hch aKrlcuUurfcl ., timber aectlon. 0 h branches extend to Hull Run. II mlieB, and to Troutdale. 10.5 miles, ' -- 'h.. . u.. Numerous minor Independent Inlcr- urban nrotecta have been oropoaad In various parts of the state within thu iaBt few years, and It Is probaMe thai several of them will develop Into rna- Completion of the interstate brings between Portland and Vancouver, Wash., will bring the Houthwenlern part of Washington Into connection with this city. That rart of Waohinn ton naturally Is tributary to 1'oitlaml, but inadequate transportation facili ties have proverla barrier aualnat Ilia development of tit I a trade. Tentative arrangements already have li.en mad for through car service between l oi t land and Vancouver following comple tion of the bridge. A number of Im portant districts in riouihweauw n Washington are awaiting development. and electric railway proJui-U aru fro- iu-u With the certain extension of cilIkI- ing lines and the construf-titm of new ones, the poaitiou of Portland a tliH electric hub of the Northwest will be come more secure. It is predicted that many steam road now In operation eventually will be transformed Into electric carrier or .that they will build electric aiixiliai tea. The opposition of the steam linea to their electric competitors long has been overcome, i'or It 1ih bneii proved that the electric is not a com- terns. The electrics build up liie t ritory that they aerve. Ihey como Into direct and ulmost rcrsonul contact with the people. The trade that has been developed In this manner In the Tortland Ulxlrlct In the hint few yeara Is enorninua. Ilail road officiula eatimate that the beiiotit thut accrues to a city throuh devcl- opinent of electric lines Is worth many stfurtion of a transcontinental line. Portland bualneaa men iwntnr them selves extremely fcrtmiHiw liat.'-a they have the aUvautugo of. so mu.U electric, mileage.