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About Tri-weekly Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1873-1874 | View Entire Issue (July 31, 1873)
13 "THE AB'TDRIATST. THURSDAY .Juiar'-SL, 1S73 Published by -Authority. COMMERCIAL STATISTICS. JReport on the Harbor and Shipping of the port of Astoria -Foots Im portant to tJtc JPtiblic. At a meeting of tfie Astoria Cham Tx?r of Commerce, held in May last, -a committee was appointed to pre pare statistics of the harbor and ship ping of the port of Astoria, for use at the Parmer's Convention. Following is the report in full. Your committee to v3iom was referred the matter of harbor, aim .-hipping intelli gence, beg leave to offer die follewing: The water front of Abtoria, varying from a quarter of a mile te a mile in width affords over six miles of secure anchorage for the largest claw-eel vc&els, in from ix to twelve fathom of water. N o storms ha ve vet visited the liarbor that effected any damage to snr.pmg ricmig jujuiujjui m tlie bay. or rying at the wharf. Should the demands of commerce re quire, about ilve consecutive miles of dock agemay be cheaply constructed from the river bank to the edge of the channel, piling being necessary but a short dis mce at any given point. The central portion of the harbor is just twelve miles inside the Columbia river bar, on which there is twenty-four feet of water at extreme low tide, and thirty-four at ordinary high tide. Alter crossing the bar, the depth holds still greater all the way to Astoria, so that any vessel able to cross can safely venture to our docks. About six miles above Astoria, at the com mencement of Cathlament bay is the hog's " back, a bar some quarter of a milp in length, with ten feet of watei at low and -eighteen feet at high tide. This is the most dangerous point on tho river, and the most skillful pilots never attempt its pas sage in the night, either with sail or steam. Jt is formed of shifting sand-, deposited by the meeting of the tide with the annual freshets of the river, as Cathlament bay is ten miles long up and down thariver, and from seven to fouiteen in width. Thus the waters of the river arc so spread out that they loe their force, and the incoming tide washes the loose sand into irregular bars that change their position from year to year, and make dredging useless. Steamers are nearly always detained at Astoria, for tide to cross this bar, and should one arrive here, sa' at 12 m. when high water occurred at 10 o'clock a. m. he would have to wait until 11 a. m. the next day, as she could not proceed on the high tide of thenight. This bar has been known for years, but as the draft of steam ers and vessels now coming into the river is greater than formerly, the diiricuMes are becoming more and more apparent. There is the following named depths of water at the points mentioned at high tide: "Walker's Island, 10 ft.for mile below Rainier Cnrr'sWoodvard above Kalama " " K St. Helen lTftforK Mouth Wallamet" Post Office 18 Swan Island... 17 AA The channel is often crooked, and diffi cult of navigation, and the bar at the .mouth of the Willamette river is subject Ho annual deposts of sediment from back water of the Columbia. "We iind that the carrying trade of Oregon is now chiefly done by vessels of light draft and small capacity. That these are subject to a tax of $S per foot draft as pilotage; from four to ten days' delav, and 300 to 400 towage, over and aljove what they would have to pay, did they receive and take in cargo at Astoria. A lair average would be, say iix hundred tons capacity. Expenses would then be as follews: Pilotage 10 feet : :l up " down.. S 04 10 Six days deraurrago (& $00 300 Towage up 175 down 125 Total $788 Equivalent to over four cents per bushel on the cargo of 600 tons outward bound. This is but a fraction of the expense to the State growing out of present arrangement of the arrivals and depatures by sea. By careful inspection of the shipping registers, we find the average dralt of atl vessels now in use, ranging between 1,000 smd 1,200 tons, to be 20K feet, and the nverage of all larger ones but 21 feet. "While a thousand ton ship is lull larger than can reach Portland,or any point above Astoria, loaded, on account of depth of water, a vessel of 3,000 tons can always come to Astoria, whatever the stage of water. Thus, with a point higher up on ithe river, the export trade jnut forever be .carried on in small vessels, while from here the shipping of the world may com pete for freights. A ship of 3,000 tons can cany wheat from Astora to Liverpool for twenty cents a bushel less than a 1,000 ton vessel can ' do from Portland, as the following tigures fully demenstrate: A ship of 3,000 tons is worth 5120,000 Jnterest, at 10 3 cent for four months average passage) 4,000 Insurance at 12 1 cent 4,S00 depreciation at 10 "J cent 4,000 Captain, tnrce mates, srewara, unui -oii $150, 7o, $00, $50, $40, $40 month... Twentv-four seamen $25 month...- Stores for voyage, 30 men.at oUc i day., POUT CH.VRGl.S IX ASTORIA. "Pilotage and towage, Si feet $10- Stevedores' bill, 3,060 tons (a, 40c -.. Dunnage - Port stores, etc - LIVKltl'OOL CHAUGKS. Pilotage and towage, 23 feet &J510. Stovcdoro's bill, 3,000 tons 'ioc..... Ilnrhnr fntv?. fnnruifreduCS and dOCKagO lf0-'0 2,400 1,800 200 1,200 200 200 2.0 750 SCI Pert stores 2U0 Total expense $ 22,40 Contra : . nnn Ifr.3,000 tons $15 $,000 fi:.ponses deducted....; 21,4 JO Valanco.. '.....;....... ... , r,w A ship of 1,000 tons is worth .S (K),000 Interest at Hi rent., and Insurance (& 12 n cent., foirnonths.. ... -MW Depreciation rft lu r" cent Wages Y month, for Cnptajii 100, two , insitcs SL"-l,stewird SoU.aml l'iscamen at 2" each ..... Stores for li men utoUc f1 day l'ORT CH UIGKS IN ASTORIA. Pilotage and towage, IN foctL', ?10 Port stores and dunnage....... Stevedore's bill, 1,000 tons ( oUc UVKItroOL CHAUGKS. 2,000 2,540 UOO l'i'J 200 500 100 C30 100 Pilotage -and towage, hi feet 810 Stevedore's bill fea-xj, harbor dues, ton nage dues and dockage... Port stores Total expenses .S 11,7jj Contka : By 1,000 tons at Slo Sl."i,000 Expenses deducted 11,760 . Ualanco $ 3,210 Or, a dividend of 19 per cent, on cost of the larger snip as against o per ceni. on that of the smaller. Or, to reduce both to 3 per cent., the o,000 ton ship will carry wheat to Liverpool for over a third less than the 1,000 ton vessel; that is, 29 cents against 43 cents per bushel. Add to this the cost as above figured, incidental to delaj's and river expenses of 4 cents per bushel, and it gives a net gain ot 20 cents per bushel in favor of Astoria as an ex porting liarbor, and the employment of such vessels as can safely cross the bar, over the present arrangement ot jrortiana and small vessels. Twenty cents per bu-hel on the estimated crop of the State for 1S73, viz: 3,000,000 bushels, gives the snug little sum of 1,000,000 that the tann er should have lor his labor. The above ligures are all substantially correct, and tell their own story. It maybe said that several large vessels have loaded at Portland, but the Custom House records show that of the twenty vessels named below, comprising all the vessels of any size that have sailed from the river with wheat, from a fourth to over one-half of the cargo was brought down to Astoria in steamboats and here putonboaid. And yet these records are more favorable to the city of Portland than the facts justify, for the reason that in a number of instances, two or three hundred tons was cleared from the Port land Custom House as being on board when in fact it was in lighters and steam ers alongside of the ship, and towed down to Astoria before being placed on the ves sel. List of vessels exporting wheat from Oregon, showing amount ot bushels taken on at Astoria and Pertland: Crop op 1672. 1S72 Ships. r 5u July Oct. 11.. 11.. 14.. 14.. Annie 31. Smull Manilla Navigator. Eleetnu Lock Dec: Si.un Forward, (bbls of flour), lied Deer. 7,!71j42,4i;2 l."),22il 11,21 20,22 22,177 :j(i,:.")S 2,M7 8,200 215,501 7,7:54 :i,7!)l 7,17o 1,7!)S 10,177 20,0")2 11. Xov. 7. 7 11.. 21.. o0. 'Grasmerc 2.,57.i Dec. 11. Zouave Naworth ChannclLight :54 ,i)U7! 2,50.") S.4J5 fl '125 22,100 17,170 " 17.. " IS.. 1ST?,. Jan. 10..; Eeb. 1.. " .. " 17.. " 20.. March S " 10 41 14 21,7.55 Victoria Nyanza ..... Whittington. Felix Mendelsohn'"... Sarah Scott lioswell Spraguo-.... I llionc Carribou Victoria Cross 14.S00 :U,)51 :M),000 il.tiSO :J2,'58- 2 1,:2 14,SS0 ll."74 1,250 8,:U2 !,0J5 7,705 3,828 Again, deep sea vessels never like to leave the salt water. Coasters are willing to steamboat it, but largo vc-scls avoid steamboat grounds. In fact, the under writers do not allow deep sea vessels to venture from their natural clement at will. The striking of a vessel on any of the bars of tho river, even if no immediate damage is discovered, is sufficient cause to render null and void the policy of insur ance, should she take in cargo and pro ceed to sea without being put on the diy clock and having her bottom examined. Should a ship be loat under such circum stances, not a dollar of insurance could be collected on the vessel, and if the owners were responsible, the underwriters upon the cargo would hold them for the value thereof. Hence large vessels will never be induced to undertake the navigation of the bars of the Columbia above Astoria. m 8ovc as to the safety of the Columbia river. Exact data is wanting of the whole number of vessels that have crossed the bar, but from certain periods during which the data is complete, we are enabled to approximate very closely, and set the number down at an average of live hun dred a year for the last twenty-one years, or since 1S52. The following is a" com plete list ot all the looses or wrecks that have occurred on the bar since 1S52, which year may be considered the beginning of wisdom as regards the channels, currents, &c, on or about the bar. 13arks jVLendora, and Merrithew, lost January 12th? 1853, came in without pilots, wind tailed after getting in, and they drifted ashore. Jiark Oriole, lost September 19th, 1S53. Prig Detroit, lost Dec. 22, 1855, on outer spit. Going out at night. Paik Desdemona, lost Dec. 31st, 1856. Came in without a pilot, ran on sands six miles insidcu Schooner "Woodpecker lost 3Iay 10, 1S61, four miles inside. Park Induatry,lo-t3IarchlG, 1SG5, com ing in without a pilot. liark'W. P. Scranton, lost lay 5th, 18b7. Only eight vessels in twenty-one years. Eight out of 10,500. One out of 1,312, or one-thirteenth of one per cent, of the ship ping coming into the river. Of this number, four were coming in without pilots. It futher appears that near ly every loss during the time under reveiw, was the result, not of a rough bar, but of me wma iaimig aiter me vessel naa crossed thus leaving her to drift on the sands. It also seems that each loss of vessels coming in occurred when they were sailing against the tide, instead of with it. There being no tug to go to their relief, Vessels, marked thus () are known to bavo li?htored moro than the amount credited aboro. of course there could be no rescue. It is safe to say that, had there been a tug at hand, every vessel thus iar lost on the bar might havebeed saved. Since the placing of the tug Astoria upon the bar, or pilot grounds m 1869, therehasheennoloss, and with proper care on the part of tug and pilots, there need be none lor many years to come. Tkese facts warrant us in mak ing the bold assertion, thatthereis no barr ed harbor known to commerce, where the percentage of loss is so small; and few, if any, open harbors that can show so fair a record. The currents and prevailing winds are such, and the land marks so well defined, that at a time when it is un safe to cross the bar, vessels outside can readily keep off, and wait a suitable time to enter. And there is good holding grounds but a few hundred rods inside for vessels bound out to anchor, and select from the spot their own time to pass out. Less trouble' is experienced from logs at the Columbia, than either to the north or south, as they are not frequent, and are much less dense, owing, no doubt, to the presence of atrial currents, resulting from peculiar physical conlormations. llie channel is distinctly bouyed out, and lighted by a first class light-house on Cape Disappointment, where is established a life saving station br Government, with all the necessary facilities for rendering aid in case of accident on the bar. Gov ernment has also made an appropriation for a lighthouse at Point Adams, and preparations are going forward for com mencing the work at once. The commerce of Oregon has hereto fore been taxed by underwriters far above the proper and reasonable rate. 13ut, as the rate of insurance is made up from a knowledge of the actual pro rata of loss incident to a given harbor, when such data is to be had, or guessed at from gen eral impressions, in the absence of reliable information, there seems no good reason why, if the above facts are laid before the various marine underwriters of thd land, the discrimination against the Columbia river bar should not be removed, and our insurance had at a lair rate, much less than is now imposed. Another important point gained by making Astoria the exporting harbor, would he the employment of home capi tal in the river tranportation, instead of foreign, or outside, as i& now done. The question is now never raised about Sandy ilook bar, at the entrance of iNew York liarbor, being too shallow and rough for me extensive and prohtable employment of all classes of vessels, yet there is live feet more water on the Columbia river bar at high tide, than there is on Sandy Hook at a corresponding stage of water. But, to conclude, it; is evident that the class of vessels required to cany tho surplus pro ducts of Oregon to a foreign market, at a price consistent with the cost of production, must stop at the mouth of the Columbia river. Therefore, it is a simple problem of whether Oregon will build up and main tain a seaport town worthy of a great State, within her own borders, or whether such a place will be sustained on Pugut Sound, or California, at an annual cost of one-fourth the agricultural wealth of the State. The committee are under obligations to ZMr. YanDusen, jIr. Dare, Collector of Customs, and the Pilots, for valuable in formation. Respectfully submitted, J. n. D.Gray, A. S. Mekcek, "W. TV. PakivHR, Committee. Astokia, INfay 31, 1S73. Hew Stock of Goods ! CLOTHING OP THE BEST STYLES, . AND THE VERY REST QUALITY', AT REASONABLE PRICES. EVERYTHING ELSE IN. --"-1 - PROPORTION. t The Old stand of EES. TAKE NOTICE This is an extensivo stock of well selected goods, in great variety, which I am now oponing. Old Patrons, Friends and the community in general, aro invited to uall and inspect both Goods and Prices. G. SUMMERS, Chenamus street, Astoria, COLUMBIA RiVEH PILOTSI & P. JOHNSON, H. A. SNOW, P. E. FERCHEN. M. M. GILMAN, G.REED, C.S.WRIGHT, Agent. K35"0ftioe Corner of Main and Chenamus streets, Astoria, Oregon. EOR CHARTER. Tho Fast Sailing Sloop, IONE, ;fe R. CYRUS SIIIYELY Mastor. Is row in readiness to Charter for Pleasure Parties, Preight or Passengers ! Headquarters at Case's Landing. EOR CHARTER. Tho sloop HECTOR, 2b -"33 Having been purchased by tho undersigned, will hereafter bo in readiness to carry freight to any accessible point. Tho Hector has good accommodations for keeping freight diy and can carry 2U,U!)U feet of lumber. For particu lars, inquire of P. JOHNSON, Astoria. EOR CHAPTER. Tho fast sailing Sloop W.H.TWHJGHT, R M LOWE Mastor Isnow in readiness to Charter for Pleasure Parties, Freight or Passengers. Headquarter Goriior Main and JelForson streets, Astoria SUMM ASTORIA ADVERTISEMENTS. Establislietl in Astoria in 1S49.-, OTJW GOODS, CHEAP GOODS. A. VAN DUSERij. Wholesale and Retail Denlor in GENERAL MERCHANDISE, Corner of Main and Chenamus streets, ASTORIA, OREGON. P5 XOW OFFERING FOR SALE ONE OF the largest and most complete assortments of General Merchandise ever before brought to tho country, and to buyers For Cash will offer the Most Flattering Inducements' In tho lino of DRY-GOODS, CLOTHING, HATS, AND CAPS, BOOTS AND SHOES FANCY GOODS, LADIES' DRESS GOODS, GENTS' FURNISHINGS, A Complete Stoclc of Every Article, TOO NUMEROUS TO MENTION. ftGivo mo a call, and bo convinced that my goods are of tho best quality, and as cheap as can bo bought of any house in tho State. A. VAN DUSEtf. MRS. A. S. MERCER, Teacher or Prof. E. A. Bobbins1- American Metlioa for Piano Forte Alse: Harmony andThoroughbase! nag-Tho ONLY CONCISE SYSTEM which will stand Artistic Criticism,t and furnish tho material upon which every educated Teacher can baso their own peculiarities of instruction, I it presents in a. now iignt, uasou upon r atu ral Laws, tho art of Execution, and Science of Music ifcgrRooms at Residence, Astoria"ta.w Dr. Sc KBftiSEY, DRUGGIST AND APOTHECARY, Astoria, Oregon. PHYSICIANS AND FAMILY PRESCRIP tions tilled from tho PUREST DRUGS, either at day or night. A full stock of "WINES AND LIQUORS, EOR MEDICAL USE, PATENT MEDICINES, TOILET ARTICLES, OILS BRUSHES, ETC., v Orders from tho Country solicited, and carefully and promptly filled." A. J. DONALDSON. GRANVILLE REED. DONALDSON & REED, Dealers in all kinds of ERESII AND CURED MEATS, CANNED ERU1TS, VEGETABLES. FRESH BEEF, PORK, MUTTON, VEAL, HAMS, BACON AND -LARD, MESS BEEF AND PORK, v&5 Constantly on hand. fl Special attention paid to supplying ships, nolladay's wharf, Astoria. H. B. PARKER, Importer and Dealer in Wines, Liquors, Cigars TOBACCO, GROCERIES, PROVISIONS, Etc., Etc. K3T Holladay's Wharf, Main street, Astoria. J. W. CEARHART, COMMISSION MERCHANT, Chenamus street, Astoriax "Wholcsalo and Retail Dealer. in ay, uram e ? A GENERAL ASSORTMENT of Groceries, FLOUR, BACON, HAMS, SHOULDERS, LARD, BUTTER, CHEESE, EGGS, Etc. Motto" Small Prolits on Cash Sales." Con signments solicited. tf Oregon Bakery. Main St., (Holladay's Wharf,) Astoria; Oregon. CHARLES BINDER, Proprietok. . FRESH BREAD, CAKES, PIES, CRACK crs and Pilot Bread, always on hand. ?. A RESTAURANT j,- Is kept in connection "with tho Bakery, whero meals can be procured at all nours. ki" Oysters in every style in the scason.lU Astoria Bakery, Corner of Main and Cass streets, Astoria. HENRY" JACOBS Proprietor. READ, CRACKERS, PILOT BREAD. Cakos.Grocoiios and Provisions of all kinds always on hand, tfhip stores furnished. US, Connected with tho establishment is a Reading Room. Cigars and Lager Beer served. PETER H. FOX, N1SRCHANT TAILOR, Corner of Main and Jefferson streets, Astoria. nLOTIIBTG OF ALL KINDS CUT- AND Cloaning and repairing I "U inaio to erdor. .ASTORIA-yERTISEMENrrS Headquarters ! Headquarters ! I. W. CAE, TVholcsalo ami Retail Dealer in Dry Goods,, Clothing, Groceries, Provisions, Notions, And Generax Merchandise, ISIIESTp ANNOUNCE TO THEPUB- W lie that he has a very superior and well selected Stock of Goods in the above line, be sides which may bo found in great variety-, the bes.t quality of CROCKERY, GLASSWARE, HATS AND CAPS, ROOTS AND SHOES,. BLANKETS, FLANNELS, &c, "Which is being offered Cheap FOR CASH or PRODUCE ! fi5rRavinc: had years of experience I think I know tho wants of tho people, and as this stock is nearer complete, and embraces a GREATER VARIETY than any other stock in Clatsop county, I .will guarantee that you will do as well, if not better, by trading with mo than at any other establishment. tHTlIavinK reduced rav cxnensos rnfiteriallv of lato I propose to give my customers tho benefit-of the reduction, and any person who doubts whether 1 will soil as cheap as any ono FOR GASH! can be convinced by giving mo a call at Headquarters, " Case's Corner," Chena mus street, Astoria. I. "W . C. S. N. ARRICQN1, Occident Hotel Blocks Astoria-, "Wholesale and Retail Dealer in Choice Er and liquors ! The Finest in the Market CONSTANTLY ON HANDJ Which will be sold in lots to suit purchasers OCCIDENT HOTEL, S. N. AR1UG0NI Proprietor. Astoria, Oregon, THE BUST FURNISHED, MOST CONYE nient and in every respect popular hotel in Oregon. Owing to its location it is considered A Very Delightful Summer Resort. CSTMagmficent Suits of Rooms for families. Tho table is supplied with tho choicest delica cies of tho season. Wine and. Billiard Room attached to the Hotel. Baths! Baths! .OATHSjgj Hot, Gold, and Shower Baths ! AT OCCIDENT HOTEL, HAIR DRESSING SALOON. WYL UHLEXIIART pROritfETOK. 5T Special attention paid to LADIES' CHILD IlEiVS HAilt CUTTlNtt JE!" Private Entrance for Ladies" and GLOBE HOTEL. Main Street - - Astoria, Oregon. N.KOEEOED, PROPRIETOR. This House hag been refitted and nowly fur nished in tho neatest manner, and guests will lind all their comforts well attended to. Tho Tablo always supplied with tho best of tho season that tho market affords. fco Those who desire to have a good squaro meal go to tho Globe. Terms moderate. HENRY BERENDES, Fashionable m ffi i Chenamus street, Astoria, Oregon. IXQ Manufactures to order the best quality of Boots and Shoes Repairing of all kinds "t-u COME AND SEE Ml' FANCY J A J MEGLER, Chenamus street MEYEKS' BREWERY! ASTORSA HAVING ALL THE MACHINERY NEC essary for first class work, skilllul Brewers and using none but tho best quality of materi als, tho Proprietor is prepared to Manufacture LAGER BEER ! In any quantity, from a Singlo Bottlo to a BARREL, AD PUT IT UP in gwxl con dition for Shipment or Immediate use. 1 ami lies and keepers of Public Houses promptly and regularly supplied. M MEYER, i-iop'r A, Astoria Market. Chenamt?s Street Astoria. IIOBSON & WARREN, Wholesale and Retail Dealers in all kinds of Fresh and Cured Meats! Butter, Fggs, Cheese, JIams, Bacon and Lardf Canned Fruits andVegetables, Con.tantly on hand. f$W Shjps supplied at lowest rates. H. A. SHAW & SON, House, Sign and Steamboat Painters "" ' ASTOUfA, Orkgo-x. Graining,Paper-haning and Glazing Donoto Order with Neatness and Dispatch. G.LEINENWEBES.T. H.iiROWN, JPmprwtors. &W Manufacture ell kinds. of Lfch$r "tt H, Established 18&7. Hemlock-TANNEEY!