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-&S5?tfRIA. OREGON:
to6.4tWAo .xtretsr.
VlJislE&&XY JANUAKY 29. 1879
Wgb'& lorto?e ituilway.
Wfe'ferfe ill receipt of a copy of
the 5biil 'itftt-oduced irito the Senate
of -the United States by Senator
Mitchell on the 7th inst, and refer
red 'to the committee on railroads.
Frdm reading this :bill we find :tJhat
it will not be optional with the
company to build either upon the
state or territory side of the river,
unless a corporation organized un
der the laws of -Oregon can build
in the territory. It seems to us
that this is "Sh error. The Oregon
Steam -Navigation company al
ready own 'he land on the Oregon
side, ancl operate a railroad from
the'Balles'to Celilo. I'f this bill
'should pass, in its present form,
'the best thing that could happen
for the country would be to let the
Oregon Portage company purchase
'from the Oregon Steam Naviga
tion company the railway now in
operation, and re-invest 'the money
in a narrow gauge from Columbus,
or some other available landing on
the Columbia above Celilo, to the
mouth of the Klickitat valley,
twelve miles below The Dalles,
ihus forming at once a connection
from Walla Walla, etc., virtually
carrying out the ititeritions of the
act, and at the same time laying
the foundation ;for a sj'stem of
railways necessary to 'Klickitat and
Yakima, which could easily be
carried up lo "a connection with
the proposed Seattle and Walla
Walla road across the Cascade
range to the north. Observations
made upon a journey into that
country last summer, teaches us
that this is a system entirely feasi
ble. The worst portions of the
construction wduld be found from
?the 'lower end of Klickitat valley
to the Columbia river, through a
rocky canyon, butit is by no means
impossible, and through the Klicki
tat valley, and natural passes in
the narrow chain of mountains di
viding it from Yakima, a narrow
gauge railroad would be profitable
from the start. It would develop
a region of country more exten
sive and equally as fertile as the
Willamette 'valley. Dalles city
would not suffer any from this
system of railway the locks and
canal completed at the Cascades
'will draw to The Dalles from the
"boundless "resources of Wasco
county, sufficient to make her a
city of no mean pretensions with
out any assistance from the sur-
rounding country; but from the
-very force of circumstances the
growth and development of the
regions north of her would
greatly augment he 'wealth and
-increase her business sind popula
tion, making her in fact the Queen
City of the Mountains.
The report frequently circu
lated and recently revived that
Wilkie Collins was to finish Dick
en's story of Edwin Drood," is
denied by Mr. Collins. He was
asked to do it, but declined.
A leader of fashion in San
'Francisco has had 'her chairs and
sofas, and the cushions of her car
' riages stuffed with aromatic herbs,
in imitation of a practice preva
lent among Oriental nations. She
lives in an atmosphere of constant
perfume.
" Some
entirely disinterested
persons, says Jude virgin 'df
:j
Maine, "cannot tell the real, abso
lute truth if they try,'because they
:ave not got mind enough to com
prehend and understand, and then
he honesjy to.dout.
DiXCrlHimatioas Against American
Commerce.
Bearing upon the question of
unjust discriminations against the
commerce of America, to which
The Astorian has previously re
ferred, Capt. J. T. Woodbury, of
the ship Valley Forge now in this
port, has kindly 'consented to per
mit us to publish the following
letter, written nearly ten years age:
Cardiff, Feb. 15,4809.
Hon. Freeman H. Morse, Londen:
Dear Sib: With your kind per
mission, antl knowing the great inter
est yon take in the commerce of our
country, I beg to trouble you -with a
few remarks on some of the treaties
made by our government with foreign
powers. Last summer while I was m
New York, a treaty or convention be
tween the United States and Great
Britain was published, whereby ves
sels under the -British flag were per
mitted to arrive and enter at the cus
tom house in the United States, with
their tonnage as stated in their British
register. Our ships, on the other hand,
on entering at British custom houses,
to have their tonnage taken as per their
American register. This, on its face,
would look very fair; but its operation
with most American vessels is very un
fair. The !N orway, for instance, meas
ures in !New York 2107 tons; in Eng
land, by British measurement, 1984,
or 123 tons less than the American
measurement. Now, I am obliged to
pay my dues on the full tonnage of
2107, This puts me at a disadvantage
as compared with English vessels.
And our total dues here of every kind,
estimated on tonnage, are about 16
pence per ton, and for 123 tons would
be 8.4. Here, by an arrangement
of our own government, I am made to
pay this excess over the ordinary rates
that are demanded of other vessels.
We may be pretty sure that -"England,
in her commercial treaties, don't give,
or intend to give, more than she is to
receive. Though the wording may be
ambiguous, it is for this advantage
only. The instance of the Norway is
the rule, and not the exception. The
-ship Ne Plus Ultra, of New York,
that 1 commanded before the Norway,
measured in New York 1534 tons; in
Liverpool, 1450 tons. There are ex
ceptions, I allowbut they are so in
consequence of errors having been
made in the tonnage in the United
States. In this last case of recipriocity
we are losers, as in the first; as I
will endeavor to explain.
Many.years ago, there was a rule
-laid down -by our government that we
would enter-into treaties of reciprocity
in foreign rnsvijjation with any foreign
country that would extend to us the
same privileges. Nearly every nation
in Europe has availed itself of this
treaty. The free cities of Hamburg
and Bremen were among the first to
reciprocate, but in wording those
treaties, the flag was made to cover
the vessel. Until within a few years,
this made no difference, but within
the last ten years a great change has
taken place. Nearly every nation in
Europe allow their subjects to natural
ize any foreign bottom they may buy;
whereas the American oan only nat
uralize a vessel built in his own coun
try. A citizen of Hamburg can go to
England and buy an iron steamer,
place her under the North German
flag, and sail her between any foreign
county and the United States on re
ciprocal terms with an American ship.
The A merican, on the other hand, is
prohibited by his own laws from doing
this. Iron is now the only material of
which ocean steamers can be profitably
built, and at the present tune they
can be built much cheaper in Great
Britain than in any other country,
and the effect of our reciprocity treat
ies is to drive all foreisn trade into
the hands of foreigners. Not only is
iron the only material that sea-going
steamers can be profitably built,
but it is getting into very general use
for sailing ships; and now great ad
vantage is given to iron vessels in the
rate of insurance, so that iron sailing
ships can command os per ton over
wooden ships in Calcutta and Bombay;
and as the number of iron vessels in
creases, greater will be the difference
m freights. The excessive duties that
we have, on all the materials that
enter into ship-building, make our
wooden ships cost higher, and act as a
prohibition to the building of iron
vessels, 'whether for sail or steam, to
be used in ocean navigation; and,
naturally, foreigners with cheaper
ships can take cheaper freights, even
in our own trade. The effect is, that
the great foreign trade between.New
York ai d Europe is by steam, and in
the ham-8 of foreigners. The depre-
h ciation t f our commerce, and its pres-
uui, Hiair, li owing to tms more than
to the war. As bv the action of our
v.ur own tr ;aties we have placed for
eigners n t lis position. We-owe it to
our own su ejects to place them on the
same fot tin ;, which can only he done
by repea m.j the navigation laws, and
permittirg them to buy (and natural
ize), shijs wherever we find them
cheapest.
I don't know as I have placed all
this so you can understand it; I hope
I have. Should vou have time to
J.this subject very acuch, and wish -to
see It thoroughly ventilated. As things
go xm, ten yaurs will drive us from the
ocean" for in that time most of the
ocean navigation will be made of iron,
and propelled by steam.
With much esteem, I remain re
spectfully, J. F. Woodbury,
Ship Norway.
Circumstances and the Congress
of the United States have not very
materially altered the case since
the writing of the above letter.
Capt. "Woodbury there refers back
ten years to the hardships attend
ing the commercial fleet of America
and predicted fully what may be
seen to-day. Let us look back
over the past ten years. There
has been no perceptible improve
ment. Statistics of the mercatile marine
of the different nations have lately
been published. The following
table shows Hihe present condition
of the leading merchant navies:
8AIIJXG VESSELS.
Number. Gross Tonnage.
1ST7. 1873. 187T. ltffr.
BritislU.,...f7,765 18.394 5,526,930 5,500,018
United States 6,307 G.tW) 2.H6.731 2,075,S32
Norwegian ... 4,135 4,157 1,352.949 1,374.824
ItallanMu..tM. 4,402 3,133 1,296.683 9l!3.i25
German 3,140 3,001 875 814 914.674
French 3,300 2,972 6CG.7U7 535,9X
STEAMERS.
British fc.133 3,2t8 3,283.010 3,465,187
United Suites 542 516 G74,03.'J 603.101
French 272 275 319.179 33",216
Herman 220 220 259,785 2oJ.b77
Spanish .224 199 176.340 152,703
Dutch 110 111 112,879 116.149
The total tonnage of the sailing
vessels has decreased 5Sl,0o3 tons,
while that of steamers has increased
S7,476 tons, which leaves a net de
crease during -the year in ihe ton
nage of the world's mercantile
marine of 493,582 tons, the com
bined tonnage of steamers and
sailing vessels being 19,813,247 in
1S78, against 20,306,S29 in 1877.
The ship builders of Maine
have not done more than half the
work last year they did in either
the three years preceding. Only
eleven ships were built in the state,
and not one of these on the Pe
nobscot or to the eastward of it.
The average tonnage ofthe ninetv
six vessels constructed is about
425 tons, the total 411)60. In 1S77
the total was 76,308, in 1876 it was
73,573, and in 1875 it exceeded
75 00 tons. When the ships are
taken out the average tonnage is
less than three hundred tons. In
Bangor district, where many large
ships have been launched, they
turned out last year two vessels,
one of nine tons and the other of
203. In the York and Saco dis
tricts nothing was built. In the
Wiscasset, two schooners were
built which footed up the amazing
amount of forty-six tons. The
prospect now is that this year's
work will be less than 1878. A
Bath ship builder says";
Unless there-is a sudden and very
unexpected improvement in the
freight market, which is not at all
likely to occur, the amount of ton
nage built in Maine in 1879 will
be less than has been built in any
of the last thirty years. Although
materials and labor are so cheap,
there is no inducement to build.
At present rates of freight, vessels
are absolutely of no value, for there
is no port in -the world where suf
ficient freight can be obtained to
pay 'expenses and insurance and
leave any profit to the owner.
It is time that the press of this
country spoke out on this subject,
and turned the attention to things
than the scramble for office. In
this article may be found the
whole secret of the trouble to our
commerce. How manypoliticians
will read it. -Not one, perhaps; as
as it may not make for him votes
which is paramount, in his
mind, to the grandeur of this na
tion upon the high seas.
"Over the Hills to the Poor
house" was the the title of a new
play to be produced in Battle
Creek, Mich., by a traveling-theatre
company. The leading actor got
so drunk that he could not perform,
creditors seized the baggage, and
one of the unpaid employes actual-
go over the 'hills to-thepoQr-
.-house, '
NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.
INSURANCE COMPANY
OF CAI.1FOKRIA.
ORGANIZED IN 1863.
Tetal LesHcs Fald Since OrgRBizatlea.
$8,680,485 98.
E. C. HOLDEN, Agent.
Astoria Oregon.
GUNS, XOCKS, AXI SETTING
MACHINES IEEPAXRISB.
KEYS FITTED AND LOCKS REPAIRED,
SAWS FILED, ETC.. BY
tf. W. WASS,
Main street, next door to Geo. Ross.
riEO. IOVETT,
TAILOR,
CLEANING and REPAIRING PROMPTLY
ATTENDED TO.
Benton street, opposite Tost-office, Astoria.
C GRAY,
Manufacturer of
HARNESS, SADDLES, BRIDLES,
"WHIS, ETC.
fiS-Oars leathered, and leather for sale.
COAL LAND FOR SALE.
nr ACRES of iron and coal lands for
JLOU sale, situated near 'Columbia city,
Oregon. Trice $900 cash down.
For particulars inquire at
v7-tf The Astorian Ofilce.
I. w. case;
IMPORTER AND WHOLESALE AND RE
TAIL DEALER IX
GENERAL IERCHAMSE,
Corner Chenamus and Cass streets.
ASTORIA
- 'OREGON.
JUST OPENED
A PULL AND
COMPLETE LINE OF
GOODS, IN EVERY DEPART
MENT OE TRADE SUITABLE TO
THE "WANTS OF THE PEO
PLE ALL OF -WHICH
"WILL BE -SOLD
ESTTurchasers are requested to call and
inspect my goods before purchasing else
where, as I am confident of my ability to
please one and all.
I. "W. CASE,
Corner Chenamus and Cass Streets,
ASTORIA, OREGON.
Notice to All Concerned.
'Men awd Bovs Muct h
2 JOXISSSi I
As well as to have toys for Christmas.
Christmas is Over !
HUT
HAS NOT
1 MB
And now invites the attention of every
body to his
Fuji and Complete Stock,
Consisting in part of
af CLOTHING SOTm
Gents Furnishing Goods;
ALSO :
Large Stock of Family Groceries;
Canned Fruits, Etc.
ALSO :
Watches, Jewelry, Marine and Opera
Classes, etc?
Besides a choice lot of
TOBACCO ftND CIGARS,
Wholesale and detail. Call and see.
MAIN ST., -
- ASTORIA, OGN.
FltOM A SUPPEhp.7
i Do not fail. If bad health' von'r afmid'nf
Of knowing exactly what vonV w5 r
llliiUU oi. -. .
Nowffiwmest(tcl.y.rrcxperiencel,ve
Oh, then he careful in ItntSiJ Jc' i
what's at stake, e' you know
Iet me advise you (for TVnftW- ..
brand to tukP K snow now) what
t your grocer give you no other kfn fnr
this is guaranteed ULerKind for
Xju use Donnolly's Yeast ?ftTO,1fl ,
eood health nrn ovLt?wer and of
good health puraandlVhtbr,.
-auiv. ----wv.wr
BAKKD1G AKJD INSURANCE.
BANKING AND INSURANCE.
i. vr. case,
BROKER, BANKER, .
-AND
INSURANCE ADEN!
ASTORIA,
OREGON,
Exchange bought and sdld on all parts -of
the United States and Europe.
mJnHPF ?S-From 8 o'clock
until 4 o'clock p. v.
a. m.
COIHMERCIAt UiSTOar
ASSURANCE COMPANY
Capita! SI 2,500,000,
MATT H. SIBSON, Agent,
Astoria, Oregon
I
AGGREGATE CAPITAL
$40,000.
IMPERIAL OP IiOXBOr.
NORTHERS OF IiOXDOX,
QUEEN OF IiXVERPOOI.
FIRE AND MARINE INSUR
ANCE COMPANIES..
AGE5T.
ASTORIA, --- - OREGON.
Hie Mutual Insurance Co,
OF CALIFORNIA,
T. F. Houotiton.. ...President
Cn'AS. R. Story Secretary
Hamilton Boyd, i ac, r. nr-ar,r
Geo. L. Story, j AsellvS for 0re8on
Office Northeast corner of Stark and Firs
streets, Portland, Oregon.
'Net Cash received for Fire Prem
iums m 1877 5335.511 C-i
Assets, Jan. 1.1S7S.
.. 578,065 S
LiaWitit
Losses vnpaid S3.G38 37
Plvldcnds " 1AT7 00 5.505 .7?
Surnlus for rrooeity Holders $572,470 4t
"Losses paid In Oregon in six yearsS114,Gi6 72
I. W. CASE. Arjent.
Astoria. Oregon.
$67,000,X)00 CAPITAL.
LIVERPOOL AKD LONDON AND
GLOBE,
NOETH BRITISH AND MERCAN
TILE OF LONDON AND
EDINBURGH.
OLD CONNECTICUT OP HART
FORD, AND
COMMERCIAL OF CALIFORNIA
FIRE INSURANCE COMPANIES,
Representing a copitel of S457jOOO,M)0.
A. VAN DUSEN. Agent.
OUSETO LET. A "nice residence, new,
rnntaininssix rooni3,illle ready for
a tenant any time on short notice.
Por particulars inquire at
55tf V THIS OFFICE.
A BARE CHAHCE.
I WILL SELL ANY OR ALL OF Tin,
following described property, viz :
160 Acres, Stoc. 22, T. 8, 3f. orK. 9 vrvnL
southeast quarter.
Also, in OIneys Astoria
Itfte 1, 2, 3, and 4, in Block 79r
to 3, 4, 5, anil 6, In Block ICO;
lots 2 and 4, in Block 128; and Lot S,
in Block 132;
North lialf of Block 8,-2 1-2 acres.
DAVID INGALLS
Astoria, Oregon, Dec. 10, 1878. 85-6m
T. S. JEWETT.
B. S. KIMBAU..
Draying & Trucking.
fete.
tef fcff-.-.- .t&
ASTORIA TRUCK & DRAY CO.,
Squomucque st., between Cass and Main,
Contract"! for juraying made and satisfaction
CTiranceed. Orders left at the Occident do-
, frnpiyni i. rritTi i tt
-VirTTilXi. m 4hAJMUAJfcfc.
aIt' ihuLx. -i -.
yiM& ,-i.