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Ai-TOHIA. OKF.GOS
JAN'TAKY 1 iss
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MflUTOAY
ASTORIA.
The Seaport of Oregon.
Pacts ami Figures Iielathe lo Our
Count'.
Probably no seetion of the ruloii has
a better fiduic as-ured lo it thin this
nnliie northwest const, l.ich in all that
niaKes an empire great, possessing in
exhtutsiible lesourees, havintr natural
attractions of more than ordinal y meiit.
mlmbUed by a thiifty hardworking peo-
le and oceup) ing luieoualcd geograph
cal advantages, it is but a .pieslion of
Mine a to when this favoied poition if
our national domain vi!iie in wealth
and impoitanee with the older commu
nities ot the Atlantic coast and "di-s-i-aippi
valley.
it i- however, the province of this ar
ticle to give a brief outline of our own
city and county, and in accordance with
that design we begin by i efei ence lo our
POSITION'.
The count) of Clatsop occupies a rec
tangulai piece of lei ntor) comprising
about l,iou square mile- in the extreme
northwestern part of our state; 1 ing in
general, in latitude 4(1 S longitude 123
we-t. Its surface i-diveisilied. and, at
prc-cnt, but a very Miiall part of it is
under cultivation. Magnificent forests
of hemlock and fir cover nine-tenths of
the area of the county, and in this lie-,
one of its many soui ccs ol w calth. An
other ultimate benefit in it-, jio-ition is
the number of natural waterway?, there
being several naigable livers in the
emtnty along the panks of which the
principal settlements are loaded. On
the western line, .stietching along Oat
op plain- is the olde-l lcgulai seltle
ment in thccnuntv.n legion on which
much effort has been expended, and one
n the most promising .sections of the
slate. On the Columbia river or noi th
em line, the salmon and logging indus
tries have cieated a number ot settlement-
up from Astoria to the east v. aid
confines of the count v. Jn the central
and southern parts the lack of proper
eommunication has pi evented settlers
from being al'iaeled by the valuable
lands in that section, though there are
several-llouii-liing settlements within a
few hour- tide of this city.
SOU. AM) IT.IMVTK.
In our oniee as we wiite arc wheat,
corn, bat ley, oats and timothy of more
than average jield, all the product of
Clal-op count. But wheat and com
cannot be reckoned among our production--.
Oats, grass hay and bailey can
be raised, and in great abundance. We
can never expect to be a gieat agiicul-j
uinu eomiuuiiuy, oui, ior tiaiiy prouucis
and the raising of lie .-tock few locali
ties piescnt superior inducements than
Clatsop county. The soil varies in
dilTetent places. On Clatsop plains 'tis
light and -and) ; along the Columbia it
is clajey. while farther to the south it is
of heavier quality and better adapted to
the raising of ceicals. The climate is
the healthiest in the world. Thcpnre.
air from the ocean, tempered b) sufli
cient distance to take otr its salt harsh
ness is like velvet to the check; there is
no day m the year too cold for a man to
hoput ot doors, nor too warm to lender
him uncomfortable. Dining the sum
mer months there is, comparatively
speaking, but little rain: fiom .Novem
ber to Ma the rain fall is always abund
ant, rcndci ing unnecessary any attempts
at irrigation so costly and annoying in
less favored localities. To a man who
wishes lo make a home for himself and
family and earn a li ing, Clatsop coun
ty oilers plenty of land, plenty work to
keep emplojed while he is perfecting
his title and improving his tract, a good
market at cash rates for whatever he
raises, and a sure reward for his toil.
There Is very little to be gained heie by
anything occpt hard werk: idlers and
drones aic shoved aside; there is no
attention paid to what an) one has
achieved; the question is what he is
now; what he can do, and, if willing to
woik, any healthy man can acquire a
competence and make himself comfort
able. The principal industries of the
county are ranching, logging and fish
ing. Tew ol the population depend
witollv upon ranching for a living,
whiV in the summer time the great sal
mon fisheries furnish employment to a
good many transient men of whom,
every) ear, nunc and moieieinain. A
good man) men aic employed in log
ging, gent i any taking up a quaner sec
lion and in time ucijulnug a patent lo
It. There i- a large amount of what is
known as '-tide land"' in the count),
which, when dyked and reclaimed is
found lo be valuable. There are also
several valleys as )et unoccupied which
are fully as good in point of soil, timber,
etc.. as tho-e already taken. Their re
moteness from lines of tiavel is the
principal drawback to their speedy set
tlement, but as every season our county
roads reach out farther and farther, this
difficulty will, in time, be overcome.
RKSoritcns.
dal, lion and lumber aieconsideied
the three gicat factors in the ultimate
prosperity of a commercial community.
Possessing these throo, in connectioii
with the unequaled location at the gate
way of the Columbia, should, w hen de
veloped, give Clatsop county preemi
nence. Ot the vast extent of limber that
this county contain-, the fame has al
leady gone abroad. That there are de
posits of coal is an assured fact: it only
l cumins for a railroad lo cut through
from the intciior to demonstrate the
fact that once transportation is assuted
the output will steadily grow from year
oyear. indications point to lhe ei-
teuce of iron ore in two or tluee jiarts
of the county, but of this nothing is as
yet sufficiently known to jtistif) more
than passing mention. Prominent
among our county's lesourccs is thu
fishing interest. Indeed it is this that
has given Astoria its start, and promises,
gation to be the chief factor in her pros -
perilv for )cars to come.
-irn (irnnnr nr in T In. m-ntnr 1 umin
atteroi propa-
Tlin SALMON IXDl'sTHV.
It need but be said thai il gives ditect
employment lo G.0UD men in the summer
time, and over 2,000 the year round, and
brings a large amount of trade to As
toria where the cannery business is con
centrated. It was in 18li that Win.
Hume, Uapgood, Hodgkins and some
others, commenced to pack Columbia
river salmon, and the business began
steadily growing year by ) car, till in
1831 there were packed 550,009 cases of
four dozen one pound tins each. Dur
ing the season of 1&S2 there were packed
.13,n31 cases, the average value per case
being 65.25, aggregating a cash value,
on the river of 552,855,112 75. The tail
ing off frotthc preceding year is partly
accon,
b) the fact that the sal -
in to run till about the
close season beginning
juso asserted mat me
ial scheme of nrtifi
causing a diminu
Ir rtf colmnn nrnnifiir i
lis the history of all
itaut lis lung anu neg-
uiii numa-njLMn.uuiJXjiL ,nm. .jwhiji
I
loct to provide fi futinv suppl) will
I surely entail exhaustion Further sl-'ti-tic-.
go to show t!iat rivers entirely
j depleted of fish have l.cn successful! v
stocked, wad a mm1 run of flsh Hceured.
;nml this Ukj bv mean a once simple
' ani incxiejii'.-c- Prudence would sug-
1 ge such action on the part of tho-e
, most interested in the matter on the
; Columbia, rnfortunatelv this vcrv
question of who 's'lhcino-t interested,"
i the state or the cauuerymeu iheuiseJic-.
I constitute a subject of discussion that
op to the present time ha- not been sat
isfactorily determine!.
Last season lhcie wore Ihntv-seven
I canneries on the liver: wi season
I there will be thu tv -nine, as follows
Washington Territory -ide .'
lter-
decn Packing Co. Jlwace: John West.
Huugrv Harbor; Jo-. IIunie.Kuappton;
1'il'ar liork Tacking Co.: J. (J. Meglcr.
Hrookfiehl; Columbia Canning Co..
Fisheiton. (this com pan is now put
ling una eanncr) at Astoria, having sold
their risherton canncn to Jackson it
Mjeisof JJainicr); Ocean Canning Co.,
lay View; F. M. Warren, Caihlamet;
Ilapgood A: Co., Watcrford; llureka
Packing Co.. liurcka; Win. Hume,
Kagie ClilL Oregon iide Jas. Wil
liams. Tanzy Point; Seaside Packing
Co.; Washington Packing (V, a new
company the V. P. Co., Cutting Pack
ing Company (moved to Aitoria from
Eureka j: Sam I'hnnre; The Astoria
Packing Co.. I he large-l cannery in
the world t; J. W. Hume. George iluine.
John A. leviin. I. X. L. Co- a new
companv, 1'acihc Tnion Packing Co
Occident Packing Co- Columbia Can
ning (o.. of A-tii.i a new companv
Wt-t Coa-l Packing Co.. A. l!ot!f A;
Co.. ItadoIIett A Co- Point Vdanis Pack
ing Co.. another new oomnan P.
Tim mi lis A to.. Fi-lK'i iiian'.s Packing
Co., J. O. Hanlhorn & Co.. X I). Adair,
Anglo-Aineiican Packing Co.. i T.
Thomcs. .Scandinavian Packing ( ., J.
V. A: Y. Cmik ol Chiton. Ja-. (Juinn,
just above, and Jack-on A: M)ers ean
ncr) ai Hanuer. which A. W. Uerry will
run thisM'asoii. Thcbit-iiKssof thee
canneries fs coiiduc!ft at Asteria: the
salmon is nearl) all caught in Ibis vi
cinity, and ship'H.'d from here. '1 lie bulk
of it" goes to England, a goml jieil of it
is taken to ban Frauci-co on a line of
slcamcif. and there sent to-vaiious Krs
tern point-. Astoria loaded with sal
mon several large c el- during the
season of 2. One ol them the Eng
lish ship Wallaccton Jshand master,
left hei eon the 2JKh of August for Liv
erpool with a cargo of salmon and Hour
loaded at Astoria, worth -.2W.112. This
is the most valuable caigo that ever left
any Pacific coast port in a sailing vcel
bound for a lorcign jMrt. Other ships
have al-o loaded very large cat goes at
i A-toiia this past sea-on.
The disbursing oj near!) 5--2.uou.ooo
for wage- and siiiplics during the fish
ing season makes Astoria unusually
Iivelv while it lat-. The bu-iness i
concentraling at thi- jilace ntoie and
more even j car, and ir measures now
on tool lead to the establishment of a
hatcher), lhe salmon fisheries of the
Columbia ma) be looked ujmii as a per
manent iudii-trv of Astoria. Olhcrvvi-e,
otheivvi-e. At pr.-cnt the rule is lo
catch all ou can and can all von catch.
The mode of catching the iish has
been pubh-leM tv Tin: A-toui.vx m
piev ion- reviews, and icuiaiiis the saute
as in foimer oar-. In the pnn'css of
net mal.tng. canning Hie ltsh and ut
ting it on the maiket new and improved
methods arc being introduced every sea
son. Time was when the boats used in
fishing were marl) all made in ban Fran
cisco. Aim- lliey are made here almost
ex'clusivelv. and such is the reputation
of our A-tonaboat builders that they
have oiders ahead (Mi nig the entire
season. The Jifeof a boat is from six
to ten-vears according to the usage it
gets, a good boat co-t- ."si", and made
at A-loiia of Port Orford cedar and oak,
witu copper fastenings, ought to last ten
years. last season there weie HKM)
Otiat.s on tlK' lower Columbia dining the
fishing sea-on. Xer Ia) there will be
about 1,4.HU, as the Astoria boat shops
will turn out :rhi new boats this winter.
The nets aic made of -tout twine, and
repicscnt an eMeiisivc oil tin v. With
twine at a dollai a oiind.a net is worth,
icadyfor use. between ) and 0.
A net ought to la-t one season, and is
not lo be depended upon tor a longer
period. The fish begin running fiom
the nth to the 20ih of Apiil.and by the
middle of Ma) come in Iivelv. The price
paid the fishermen has vaiied greatly
in different veais. Last sca-on sixty
cents per fish were paid. The men earn
all they can gel. "Tisahard lite, and a
dangeious one. The average earnings
arc about 5-100 a month, though nothing
positive can be stated, it being some
times good luck and other linn's good
management that re-ults in a pros
perous haul, lhe men that do the fish
ing arc mostly hardv seafaiers; among
them may be found nearl) ever) na
tionality, the Scandinavians lacing the
liCst ami the mo-t nuinerou-. This jwr
tion of the h-hcrmen iii'dudiug the
Sweden, Xorvvcgmiis and Dim- are
a stead) prospetous people. The) bring
their w ivcs and families here, buy prop
eity. build home.-, form societies, sup
port schools and churches and add to
the general wealth of :u coniuiunit).
A new fcatuie which was intioduccd
two years ago and grows laiger every
season, is the building ol canneries on
the co-operative system, the company
being coinnosed of stockholders who
arc themselves fishermen and who do
all the work and share the profits or
losses as the case mav be. The market
for Columbia river salmon is unlimited,
and where ever it goe- it creates b
reason of its superior quality, such a
demand that it can hardly be Mipplicd.
tith i.rMnr.nixf. nu-ii:s-.
The lumber of Oregon is famous the
world over, ranking high in value. For
the la-t thirtv )ear- there have been
sawmills at various point- along the
river bid the Uiicluating character of the
marled tended lo keep bncic any per-
I ".anent ucvciopnicnt 01 tne industry, as
".m ......uvi --...iv-.. " ,0im ,- V.'T
Cisco would oftl'me- bring less in that
pml than it had cost to get it out o
log. This, of cour-e, had a disas
f tho
astrous
effect on the business and it was not till
within the last decide of car.s that the
I lumber busine - on the Columbia. was
J?0011,"'" .as a,;ney-maKms occupa-
"; .r,?"'"s- J'--'
1 wit, thm ". . TJlc enormoiw amount of
' ,'-oal budding, the rapid growth of
our state and increased facilities for
transportation gave a new impetus to
the business, until to-day, lhe demand
is far ahead of the supply. Here, as on
the bound, the best part of the timber
body has never been touched. Along
the river the banks have been denuded
to a great extent, but in a few miles
from the Columbia, on each side is some
magnificent limbpr. In this county es
pecially is one of the finest sections of
timber in North America. Giant firs
and hemlocks stand tall and straight
every one fit for lite mainmast of a
1.500 ton ship. The advent of a railroad
will place this timber on the market
and will cause it to be one of our priuci
pal souices of revenue. For lack of
these facilities the timber industries of
, Clatsop County are not very active. We
, have two nulls 111 Astoria that during the
! year that closed last night cut eighteen
million icet or lumber, every toot 01
which was contracted for ami used in
building light here. Across the river
the Kuapptou mills have cuit over a mil
lion and a half a month, loading
thirty-eignt cargoes for California
rraeoi
where Oregon lumber meets read) sale, j Pacific and Wahkiakum comities are!bcena'boonrin Astotia. nor has there
There exists n- adequate reason w by j brought nearer io us by increased facil-. ever been an) icver-e. Propel tj has
lumber Iiouhl rM institute cne of A-t-i lies of communication than certain i---1 steadih apprecia!ei in value, and is
toria"' e-pouj-, cet one on which we lated poi lions of our own comity ami , to-day ncll at what somedCMU a very
ate to lx cwgraturaleil, hi that the. help us in a variety if vujs by nnr ; 'iigh figure, but i none too high when
domestic demand i- so great that the chase and traffic. lhe pieaent st,tu of the cit) and its
utmost capaeit) of the mills cannot; Travel between ibis cily and San future prosP'-cKaie. taken into consid
keep up with the order-from builder?. Franeieo has now aumed the regu-! eratioii. ! t- jms;tiou and resources arc
It is a common .sav iug among contract-. Jarity of railtoad or ferry trip. Four jsiiftleieut indication-that it Is destined
ors and builder-'I f lean on!) get my
lumber oul I can fuu-h my coidract
without an) trouble. Work has been
postponed this season for that reason,
and it is probable from present appear
ance that the same state of affairs will
obtain, though we arc authentically in
formed that among the new entcnri-es
of ca sav.-iuill at Upper A-toiia holds
nrominent nlacc. Thu method of get-.
tiiiff out timber i-rather nriinitivo. The .
liius nre eat and sttakiHl lo the water
where they are bunched in a raft and 1
towed to the mill, vvlience iiicy emerge
as lumlter rcadv tortt-e. From .V0 to
-5G0 a thou-and feet has Iteeii the pre-,
to concentrate the bit-iuess in the hands
vailing price uuringiue pa-i -ksmi. a inuu uniMipiniu-js uini .hi ic:ii.iiTs;irei.!,Ka 11,010 singular appearance ton
figure which is in evess.of anything : to unload Astoria freight upon arriving granger than do-s ours. The greater
previously known in t lie logging lm-.- here. I his is a., a.-eeptnble improve-! letll t is built on massive piles driven
liecsnn the Columbia. The tendciicv i- . meat upon tiKsy-teui aUtitt v,heh v.e '. t.jf u. i nml iimrnl Hint linnc t!ii
of afcwand"frec7cout the small oper- i:a 1 1.1:0 u imzorauimtiks.
?i?H-- Pr!! UnCJuT! m lF "nilSSS ' T,u --iect of i-ailroad-.- nor a profrt
tracls are ow 1 ed In ban I .."icimo . b, n f t ft Asr.,ria. iriUvt.
parlies. Toe. I'fn-st-c ass :,,.!.1 the A-toria land uninf has cl.tid.il
leqiures an "Utlaj. "rij MW.0W. ,. (.t, to j , ( , , w- ,
and tew care to risk so much un !..- ... ,. , , 1 o-Minwi-.ji.
theiliirenottive issiirance that thev 1 ,,1B,,n ' iiiiief,a.i nojU-oi gerungr.iii
tJK) "Ppo'tiiu assiiraitci .' .V..v road rommun nil on i.t Foiust (-rove
cm 1 HVL inciii.l lus .imi .iisjiw-v o .m-i
M-.wl li.mlu'r r..'ni litems of eomblti.t- I
Iin-
or sub-idi7cd inaction.
commkuck. j
dispensation of providence that great
A-.a. .... ..... .- ...-...... . - -
r.vcrs .dways (lowed b) large cities
would. 111 the eour-e oi the nel few
years, have reason to p'-int to Astoria
as lurther complication of hi- theory
The location ot our city is adufnabl)
adapted b) natuie for 11k -ile of a great
commercial port; whether its po Utili
ties are to be made in.inif.st in our da
and generation is a que-lion largclv for
ourselves to an-vver. tnm Ibis subject
there is considerable diversity of opin
ion, borne hold that Asloiia will one
day bear the same relation lo Portland
anil the intciior of Oregon that ban
Francisco doi (. bacrainenlo and the
interior of California. Othei- sa) that
the net work of railioads now centering
at our si-ter city and her present im
portance as a wealthy and enterprising
metropolis will prevent any eifoif at
rivalry on the part of Astoria, and dis
allow "any great growth on the part of
our cit). Others of a more pessimistic
turn of mind sav that Astoria will
never be anything but a fishing town.'
Jn speaking of facts as they are, facts
that would exist whether publicly di
cussed or not. we are impelled to -a)
that oft times more depends upon the
cit7cns of a place than upon any nat
ural or acquired advantages that the
place itseir may po-sc-s. We might
write editorials from June to January
about the nccessitv of improving the
Columbia river bar: we might call at
tention repeatedly to the fact that by the
laws of trade wheat afloat at Astoria
should be wortu jttst as much as wheat
afloat at San Franci-co. and such state
ments be received as highly proper and
within the bounds of sober reason, and
et one direct purchase of wheat, one
ilirect carriage of grain from where it
is raised to the ship I) ing at the dock
here, lo be loaded at and shipped from
Astoria, would be more available ihan
all the figures of speech or of facts that
we coulu put on paper ior twenty ) cars,
bo long as Portland capitalists control
the wheal market and charter ships to
load at Portland so long will Astoria
play second fiddle as at present The
clearing away of obstructions at the
bar of the Columbia is not going to be
the signal for Astoria s preeminence
as a shipping point. It will be but its
inception. a rehouses owned by men
prepared to buy wheat by the thousand
bushels with power to the wheat grower
to draw on sight for its value, would be
Astoria's .signal advantage. A flouring
mill where the wheat could be put in
more concentrated form for shipment to
England would be of kindred value. A
sawmill that could load vessels now
compelled to go in ballast would be of
almost equal importance. These are
among the nece-silics if we would wi-h
to see our city take preeminence. As to
the "improvement of the bar" about
w Inch -o much has been said, we hold
as ever that whenever it I- demonstrat
ed that we are of sufficient importance
as a commercial people here 111 Oregon
and Washington Teirilory, the Colum
bia river bar will be improved so that
ships drawing twenty-six feet ol water
may at all times safely enter and depart
Uut a stmrt time ago the commerce of
lhe Columbia was comparatively trit
uig; now it is of sufficient importance
to justify the request we of A-toria
have been maKing. and which
the -visiting board of engineers has
recom in ended in its iccently published
lepoil. Let us print a few figures. A
compilation of statistics from our com
mercial column shows that during 1SS0
-i.ly-three ve-sels cleared from A-toria
for loreign ierts: these vessels carried
our cargoes aggiegating in value, M,-lMjC-Ti.
In 1881, one hundred and twenty-six
vessels cleared for foreign ports,
carrying cargoes across the sea aggre
gating in value, $7.4U.5lf. During the
twelvemonths that ended last night one
hundred and thirty-six vessels cleared
from here for foreign ports canning
cargoes that represent a cash aggregate
of .?10,3,G'7. These figures are of them
selves sufficiently eloquent to require
but little reinforcement. They alford
ample justification for Astoria's de
mand mat tne uar nc improved, cur
ing the twelve inonl lis from January 1.
18S2, to last night there went to sea
from Astoria 5,.i7.fi.'i2 cases of canned
salmon, worth $:t,112,5i:'. The ship
ments of wheat for the same period
fiom Astoria and Portland aggregated
4:!5.oj bushels, worth $5,201,527;
:y.ViU barrels of flour, worth S2.54I'.-
570; of lumber from the Columbia 20,
7,000 feet, worth $25.1S7. Thus we
find that there went across the Co
lumbia bar, outward bound exports
during 52 in weight :w,7;t tons, and
in cash value, cJlSWKL This demon
strates the importanee and the necessity
of the work. We publish these figures
to illustrate our position.
During the present season the Port
laud piess has conceded the impera
tive necessity of bar improvement
and we trust will aid us in making man
ifest to the general government the dis
abilities under which the commerce of
the northwest at present labors.
The local trade of Astoria has greatly
improved in the last twelve months.
There is a large coast liue of countrv,
extending from Tillamook bav to Gravs
Harbor that is of itself an empire, and
will be when filled up by immigration
one of the wealthiest portions of the
Union. This region is natutallvtt Uni
tary to Astoria as a base of supplies,
and the lines of travel inaugurated dur
ing the year by the llvvaco Steam Xavi-
gation Company, the Shoalwatcr Bay
Transportation Companv and other en
terprises are In direct support of such
tendency. The S. U. T. Co. for iustanee,
now carry passengers to Shoalwatcr
Cay, points on Gra)'s harbor, and on
the Chehalis river, earning nassp.ii.rprc
and U. S. mail from Astoria to Olympia
in sixty hours. Enterprises of a kindred
nature arc in progress now in Seattle
looking to railroad connection from the
Sound to Grajs harbor and the sur
rounding country. Our neighbors of
ii inn n i in i nni.i.i.'..n ili ,u 1 1 ! i .1 1 ,miu
magnificent stczimers ply net ween the
1 two jort, leaving Astoria every j
Wednesday and Saturday and ai living
even Monday and Friday Un this
1 subject it is in place to observe thar in
lhe opinion of Astoiians the time ha 1
arrived for some lavorable discrimina-j
lion on the part of the -leanishin com-
ianv j)ruprieiors in regard to Ireights j
and fare.-. At nr
re-jnt one pin- ;?20
whether to Astoria or Portland, ircight
chaigis being on tin saute -cai,.. TIk
fa-t if Astoria's being twelve hour -
nejiierau r ranet-co sihhiiii nav e .-imc 1
bearing on this matter. We are m-'
foi tm-d tltat onlcrs have been ri reived.
have hitherto complained
t, , i.pll .. ,h.r.rri.it f.l'.
m ,K ',.l ili " rU. 'l '"''.
liills are now
It f..r tit.. v.....f.. .....I ttii.cLt. ili,..r
f ,,. . ,, ,-,V .', '..! i i .' n..,,,..'
Central I'ailroad coitiimuv la dtvlnrtil
i.i...iii..ji.i ii, i.ai, t-i.-i...i ... , 1
ing au thing done in the matter, during '
this .session
ion at Iea.-t. V.e lusve licre'o-
fore commented iijmiii thi- matter ati
n.i t,.,...tt. .....1 ji.,..ui t... .i. :..!
......
Justice of it as it -taml.-. and -hail ,,.,
more than direct attention to the fact' ---- .-.uuus vxtlHl t lu.ui:
that in this coiinu aie :lKusi.iid- ail1!"-'" '"-tancc of seven mi es. along.
acres of valuable grazing, farntleg and
limber Sands that would lcof imntii-e
value were there hut couimtimrMion
with Astoria. A b tn-r which we ic
ceiit!) received from a gentleman vvho-e
po-iiion gives weight to his won!- tells
Us that il is probable w hen the prc-ent
railroad work now in nrngre-sia-t of
the mountains is finished, lhe ai;-:itioii
of the Villard combMiatioii will Ik
turned towards the road of which ..!
siH'ak from Forest Grove to Astoria
In regard to Astoria's relation to lhe
stupendous .scheme nhH: this year will
see full) realized, that of completing
the Northern Pacific railway and plac
ing Oregon and Washington Territory
in railroad communication with the
.Mississippi valley and the Atlantic
csast.it is to be said that the subject is
one of transcendent importance. It is
the beginning of a new era. The com
pletion of the road will send a swarm of
people here from the east; bu-incv- of
all kinds will be brisk till overdone bj
competition, and for the first few yars
there will be a .settling of values and an
adjustment of the new conditions made
inevitable by lhe advent of a large im
migration, "fn the main this will be a
benefit, not a wholly unmixed one h nv
cver. With the advance guard of evi rv
new railroad comes a crowd vhi are
not on any legitimate biisin. --. and
who-e good in a communil) i- be-t n-re-entcd
by a negative quanta .
The building of a branch read iroin
Portland to Kalauin will be m ,f the
events or tltevear. Iths the app-nent
intention of the railroad m trigger- to
transfer all grain from iv-tlaud. via
ICalaina to the Sound, there in load for
F.urope. This is with that company
but an experiment. They scent : cii
tertain the idea that b; hu'ldins U Ka
lama all trouble yd-tcjat'on "U lie
matter t shoals atbl Ixirsvviil be obvi
ated. This idea is ba-.Ml hikiI: an as
sumption of a stace of affair- that does
not exist, it 1- i.) lc.iefihat the re
sult of thi- will le the exteu-ioii of lhe
railroad Uom the present prospective
terminus opposite Kahuna to Astoria.
This is uut said w tth anv idea of the
wi-h being father to the thought; it i-
simply in the line of analogy and 1
what lias been done time and again 111
similar instances. The Oregon bhort
Line, which is but another name torthe
northwestern extension of the Union
Pacific railway is - eking a tidewater
outlet Capital has uosympatnv ; witii
its controllers it is a uuutt r or tempor
ary expedieney or peimauent profit;
and it is for tins icasoii that we -think
the Yill.rd system will extend its line
of railroad to Astoria, simply its a mat
ter of self-defence and aggrandizement
At present flint combination -eniisto
ignore the existence of anv .such place.
Its maps leave out all mention of As
toria, while Kalama ami Ycntuor,
w Inch place-could be pat-kid avay in
one corner of upper town without' Us
ing noticed are given all the pioutiueitcc
ol capital letters on their meretricious
i)iibHcatinns,but any indication ofwitcht
on the part of the manager- of the Ote-
gon biioit l.iue to lie-ad mi- va. Would
tutt the O. It A: . Co" graders at work
etween here and Kalama in ihirt)
davs. It is unnccc ary, however, to
disciiss imaginary circuin-tance-.
What would mo-t redound to our profit
as imuvitiuaisami our commercial sit-
premecy as a community would Ik1
the building of the scvcntv -five miles of
railroad that would afford "oiumuiiica-
tion between here ami Washington
county, especially if the road vvi re com
menced at Astoria, hi A-tonaiis with
Astoria capital, aud huiit from Astoria,
to the soum and east. tiu: opening out
a valuable portion 01 our countrv now
locked up, ami rendering us independ
ent of the schemes or unchiiialious of
those vvho-e interests are inunic'il to
ours.
Tilt". CITY OK ASTOr.l.Y
Occupies in many respects a unique
situation. L)ing in -hi dcg., 12 nun.
Xor. Lat, and 12.'t dcg- Wi min., West
Lou., it is the farthest west of anv in
corporated city in the United States, it
is at the gatevyi'y of the greatest water
course in America, the Columbia, which
descending from its lofty Ibn-kj Moan
tain source thousands of miles awav
cleaves through three lauges in if
statclv flow to the sea rising and tailing
with the breathings ot the Pacific under
Astoria's fir-built streets It is the old
est permanent settlement in the pres
ent limits of Oregon and Washington
Territory, occupyiug the site of lhe old
Fort George, when where we now write
was held as British soil. For many
years Astoria was an outpost, the far
thest on the westward march of civili
zation, and here among us still dwell
pioneers who tell of the das when
Doiled wheat and salt silmon were var
ied only by salt salmon and boiled
wheat, and when the arrival of a vessel
was a wonderful and memorable occur
rence. Even as late as 1870 there were
not over 500 people in lhe place. Little
trade was carried on, and the suriotmd
ing countr) was a -ort of a terra in
cognita as far as its topography was
concerned. About that )ear matters be
gan to improve in ever)- respect. More
people came 111, property enhanced in
value, communication became swifter
and surer and in 187. lhe place began lo
assume the apcarance of a town. The
influx of business aud the general distri
bution of money occasioned by the salm
on fisheries were the impulses that gave
it life, and dunug the last nine )ears it
has grown slowlj but steadi!) . In 187U
the city of Astoria wsv incorporated bv
act of the Legislature aud Improvements
of a permanent character have been de
veloping since then. There never has
est cities on the
American centiiicut
fake haste
slowly" has ttecn the motto of Astorians
tnronj;iiiiit, and ihat it is a safe one to
govern the growth of a municipality is
iHu-trated bv Uk -tcadv and prosner
outgrowth of oui cit) and the collapsed
ietiitifn of other ldaccs who like the
ng n the table strove to equar the ox
lit io ami intrst in the vam attempt.
Yet. on the o'herhand it may be said,
iImI ihere t.s .1 limit to wise conscrva-
?lt - M. ami witcre opportunity indicates
a w rciurit ior ouiiny me occasion
-l:nM bo embraced.
ir.brtblv no citv in the Union pre
north shoie of the peninsula made by
the Columbia and Young's rivers. Be
neath the strt els is the surge of the tide,
and above are the sheltering liills, the
site being one that combines the Useful
and the ornamental in an eminent de
gree. In Astoria there are atlhis writ
ing, a'.wtat niie hundred and fifty houses,
a large percentage of which were ercct-
ed Sa-t -ca-on, the value of -town lots
and improvements is on the assessor's
Imoks M,l..fiuo. Last June there were
i.i voh cast, which according to the
.
"'u,u V!P.'tY'm ',
indicate a popuia-
'"" VJ "y. '" "-"-J
is growing both
v.iv- and in the course of time it is not
.. --...?,. .........
onisitie die iimiis 01 nrouauuuv to sav
tat there wil U-a cinitinuoiis lino of
which g.wl anchorage mav be found
for e---ii-; when that period of pros
lerit) m the shipping interests has been
reached, tho-e j.rcen crowned hills to
the .south will he cut away, to fill iu
where now the tide rises and falls, and
the entire corporate limits or the city to
Yofings river will be covered with more
siib-tantinl structures than the present.
Though as wo before stated Astoria is
lhe -farthest west of any city in the
.wuiTH-nii l nion yet sue is not neuiuu
her sister cities in the possession of
claims to evidence ot social culture and
progressive civilization. Her churches,
schools, benevolent societies, etc- well
excniplifv this fact. Of the former the
Pre-bvlerran congregation have just
finished a very neat house of worship
on .Main street, comparing favorably
with any edifice of like dimensions in
the state; thy Methodist Episcopal so-
un ot ucuctcrs iiiiisjieu a oeauiuui
church during the year and dedicated it
to the worship of God; the Episcopal
congregat.on have a neat gothic church
which though unpretentious without, is
a model of good taste within ; the lto-
man uaiuniics nave a line, welt built
church on a prominent noint in the citv
and a large lollowing of believers; the
Congregational form of faith is nreached
iu another aud, we believe, the largest
church in the city; the Baptists also
have a church of good seating eapacitv,
though at present there is no resident
Minister 01 that faith located here. In
Huuiuiui to 1 11c uuue inure is aiso oeiuei
-ervjecson board ships in the harbor
for the benefit of those to whom the
word of God must needs be carried In
accordance with the command of the
Divine Master. Jn school facilities As
toria is full) up to the general average
Ihroughout the state. The buildings
are not all tnat could be wished, but
early ihi season a new school building
will Ihi begun by tin directors of school
di-trict No. 1 which will be a credit to
the city, its contemplated, cost will be
over 1.",UK). Iu our judgment the
can-e of education iu Astoria would be
hist served by a consolidation of the
two districts and the building of a union
school house, w here a graded granunar
school could be maintained for ten
mouths iu the vear. At nresent there
arc about uo childienof school age in
A-t'.ria.
In secret aud benevolent societies our
city makes as good a proportionate
show ing as anv in the Union; Among
them may be reckoned Temple Lodge
Xo. 7, F. and A. 31.. Beaver Lodge iNo.
.".". 1. 0. O. F., Ocean Fneampment No.
1:5. of the same order, Astor Lodge Xo.
i. K. of P., Astoria Lodge No. 40, 1. O.
V.. T.. Sea bide Lodge No. 12, A. O. U.
W.. Council No. 5KJG, A. L.O. II., a lodge
of rhe order of Cho-en Friends, and one
or two minor organizations.
The Astoria Fire Department is con-
fe-svdl) tiietie-t 1101 ih of San Francis
co. omiM-cd of the business men of
tie place, well officered, thoroughly
.i-u.pped. with -plendid engines well
housed and tended, our citizens are
ju-llv proud or the department. It has
taken plcnt) of energy and coin lohave
it attain its prc-ent high degree of de
velopment ami is 111 a prosperous condi
turn. 1 he A-tona Lngine Co. No. 1,
ICe-cuc. No.'j, and Alert II. and L. Co.
No. l.cou-titute the present list; there
win ul- iiioiiii-i loiiipatt) urbanized dur
ing the coming season for additional
protection of property in the eastern
part of the cit).
In writing a hurreied article for a
dail) paper, it is impossible to do jus
tice to tne many topics tnat present
incm-cives to our mind. ve would
like to -peak at length of our Astoria
Chamber of Commerce, of Uie work it
has done, of our public and private en-terpn-e-.
of our own effort to make a
daily paper the faithest west of any
dailv newspaper 111 the United States
of the new buildings erected during the
year and the manifold improvements
evident on even hand, but time and
space forbid. Yet we cannot ignore
mention of some of the work of '82 that
.-how- a commendable degree of pros
perity It ha- been mentioned iu a sort
of reproaehful tone that Astoria hasn't
a fine building iu its limits, and the re
mark up to thepresent) ear has been a
true one. Situated as we are we pay
more attention to utility than elegance;
as in all new communities the
rough hlacksuuthr) of life the hard
heavy swinging of the sledge hammer
must be done while the iron is hot."
and afterward comes the delicate touch
and the moulding into forms of shape
and beauty where tho useful and the
ornament.1 are combined. During the
past )ear there have leen several public
and private edifices projected, some of
which are nearly completed. Of the
former class we cite the new Presbvte-
! rian church, on Main street, the Pythian
ensue, on bnuemoqua street, and the
Odd Fellows Temple on the corner op
positc our office, This last building
especially marks a new era in the his
tory of our city. With the exception of
the Custom house, this building is the
onlv, one built on piles that is not of
timber construction, and is the first
brick building built in the city of As
toria. Its cost, w hen completed will be
between "-"0.000 aud SoO.OOO, and ufrom
turret to 1 ".nidation stone"' it will be a
substantial structure, adding to the ap
pearance 01 tin city, actingns an endur
ing monument to the thrift and enter
prise of the lol members of Beaver
Lodge No. S3. 1. 0. 0. F and serving as
an example to others to "go and do like
w isc."
During 1SSJ wc are promised a Good
deal in the way of growth and substan
tial imprevements: we hear of a cood
deal of which it will be time enough to
to Ik? imk" f the hit:
discourse when the talk." ceases and
the coin comes in sight ; but tv. 0 projects
arc in active inception and are assured 1
facts. One is the Columbia water com-'
pnny, which guarantees to give theciti-.
zens an abundant supply ot pure water.
and proposes to have the work in sue-!
ccs-sTiil operation by the first of next.
August: the other is the Astoria gaslight 1
company which states its intention to
jiavecvcryiiiiugau rciui) 10 iimu illi
cit)' with gas by the first ot next April.
For this relief much thanks.'
To speak of the Astoria of the future
would be but to create an atmosphere
in winch to llap the wings 01 fancy. The
Astoria of82 was different from the
Astoria of 81: there has been a great
progress in wealth and material benefit ;
We biTieve that the leeord of the next
twelve months will show a still greater
degree of permanent improvement and
abiding prosperity. This much may be
safely said: 'that honest industry and
fathful work arc sure of their reward in
our little city, and the man who toils!
earnestly anil steadily, whether it be at'
the forge, or Bench, or desk will sec the
result of his efforts in the increased
happiness of himself and those whom
he holds dear; and that all dishonest
work and .schemes that are based on in
justice to others with a -view solely of
personal gain will not succeed, even
when judged by the false and fleeting
standards of temporary judgment. The
clock is on the stroke of twelve, and so,
wishing our readers a happy new
yeak we close our labor for '82.
1883.
Happy 2ew Year.
Good resolutions are in order.
2vow ia the time to begin keeping
a diary.
The Stato of
this morning.
California is due
D. C. Ireland came
yesterday afternoon to spend
Years among his old friends in
down
Now
Asto-
A watch service was held at the
jM. E. churcli last night, anil a large
assemblage saw "the old year out and
the new vear in."
We are requested to announce
that Rescue No. 2, keep open house
to-day. Thomas and Jeremiah will
be iu attendance.
The Rosetta has been renamed
the "Brazec," since being sold to
Portland men, and now runs "between
Portland and "Alftccnah.'
The maaked ball to be given by
the Rescue Jubilee Troupe, this even
ing, will be worth attending, whether
as an active participant or a spectator.
A private dispatch sant by Con
gressman M. C George from Well
ington vra3 received in this city yester
day, saying that the Modoc war bill
had at last passed congress This biil
appropriates money to reimburso the
state of Oregon for expenses incurred
during the Modoc war- Orerjonian,
Stet-
Several more captains were made
happy yesterday by being given an
opportunity to eat their New Year's
dinner at eoi. Tho Empire, Stono
wall Jackson, Jvylemore, Fritz, Lake
Ontari'j and Zoila crossed out; the
barkenline Webfoot wenttoaei als 1.
The rest of the Sand island fleet will
probably go out to-day. The Wm.
H. Starbuck is readv for sea.
An Editorial on the Bar.
The Fritz Ls among the vessels fnat
went to sea yesterday afternoon. She
is a German ship that lay heie from
lhe 8th of December till the 31st, ultimo.
She draws, when fully loaded, twenty
six feet She could not go out in safet)
drawing more than twenty-two. She
sailed for Queciistovvn with a cargo
800 tons less than her carrying capacty.
Tugs will not remedy the difficulty.
The most powerful boats, the most skill
ful pilots are unavailing to take a vessel
out unless the bar be smooth, a state of
atfairs that seldom occurs during the
very season of the year that the wheat
fleet desires to cross to sea.
Lord Byron, in reference to a beau
tiful lady, wrote to a friend "Lady
has been dangerously ill, but now
she is dangerously well again." Amer
ican belles, when atticked by any of
the ills that flesh is heir to, may be
kept killing, and avoid being killed by
ttking Dr. It. Y. Pierce's "Fav. rite
Prescription," which banishes femi
nine weaknesses, and restores the
bloom of health. By all druggists.
Xcw Year's Ore;roniaii.
Any one desirous of procuring the
New Year's number of the Oregonian
containing the most elaborate review of
all the notable events which have, oc
curred in Oregon during the past year.
as well as the most complete commercial
statistics showing the increase of all
branches of our home industries, can
obtain copies by applying to
E. C. IIolpex,
Agent
The maskers will enter the rink
this evening by the private stage en
trance on the side street. A sidewalk
has been constructed for this special
occasion.
Ttemembcr that S"0 in four elegant
prizes to be given to the best dressed
and best sustained characters at the
ball to-night.
For the comfort of their patrons whe
attend the mask ball of the Jubilee
Troupe this evening, they have placed
three large stoves in the rink, and will
have the entire building warm and
comfortable. There will be arm chairs
for the spectators on raised platforms,
and every convenience ior ladies and
gentlemen in private dressing rooms.
Physicians' presoriptfons carefully
compounded day or night at J. ".
Conn's drug store, opposite Occident
Hotel.
A v cry complete assortment of blank
books, all sizes, styles and prices at the
City book store.
Marriage Licenses Is3Tied by the
Clerk ol Clatsop County for
thypiriflfl?
u-s ieariot)4
Jan. 2. 15. F. Sievens and Fannie
21. Taylor.
t o n w
Jau' 1J' '' '
Burn3deand Laura
K. Jjamley.
Jan. 10". Thos. F. Squires and
Nellie Sloan.
Feb. 1. Hobert Miller and Libbic
M. Kanoudc.
Feb. -I. Carl Adlor and Laura
Ilirsch.
Fob. 7. W. M. Kyle and Christina
Bodaing.
Fyb. 13. Henry Benson and Emma
Jnmetson.
Feb. 21. 0. Pv. Sorensen and
Frankie C. Elliott.
March 10. Adolph Baker and
Elizabeth Lewis.
March 20. Olye Hansen and Mary
O'Gara.
March 20. .John Wiuchell and
Henrietta Butts.
March 24. William W'ahlgren and .
Signandina Ammindson.
March 24. Charles Anderson and
1 Francisca Ammindson.
March 29. John Petterson and
Marie Larsen.
May 5. Robert Sinclair and Anna
Obeikich.
May G. O. P. Graham and Nellie
l'oiing.
May2o-r. W.Eaton and Maria
Shea.
May 23. M. D. Staples and Emily
J. Arrigoni.
June G. Andrew PetersonJand'Erila
Nordlaud.
Juno 9. Lewis Abercombie and
Marj' Martin.
Juno 10. John A. Montgomery
and Emm 1 T. Morris.
Juim 21. Jas. E. Ferguson and
Fannie Crosby.
June 23. Jno. Wilson and Johanna
Mattson.
July 3. F. W. Cushing and V. F.
West.
July 10. John Grannel and Ida
Grannencn.
July 24. Eugene Sanguinetti and
Nellie Harrington.
July 27. Jos. Cole and Alice Van
Scliiack.
July 27 Wm. Nelson and Maggio
Cook.
Aug. ' 4 Severin Hansted and
Nora Araundson.
Aug 7 Martin Johns n and Annia
Wilmi.
Aug. 7 Otto Peterson and Fred
rica Olseu.
Aug. 12 Martin Carlsen and Eda
Ekland.
Aug. 12 Thos. F. Squires and
Nellie Sloan.
Aug. 2G Jas. F. Kindred and La
vina Dean.
Aug. 29 Cha. Gelles and Annie
Miller.
Aug. 31 F. W. Jaentach and
Lctitia Fabre.
Sept. 1 Gabriel Canvonen and
Sara Hovmi.
Sept. 12 -C. B. Martin and
Florence E. Brown.
Sept. 12 Anthony McFarland and
Mary Brady.
Sept. 1"5 Jon Tokala and Tina
Juntilla.
Sept. 21 Andrew Anderson and
Sophia Haupeat.
Sept. 1G W. H. Herren and Mary
I. Welch.
Sept. 21 Gust. Saigau and Beed
Routijo.
Sept. 2G J. C. Ross and Sarah J.
Hall.
Sept. 28 Tollef Helgesen and
Jennie Johnson.
Oct. 3-0. B. Wird and Lizzie
Jones .
Oct. 9- John Hendricksou and Ida
Walker.
Oct. 18 D. A. Mcintosh and
Mary A. Van Dusen.
Oct. 19 Jacob Moore and Eliza
beth Potsalainen .
Oct. 20 William Thompson and
CastelJa Marten.
Oct. 24 -E. Munson and Hilda
Hartman.
Oct. 24 -A. M. McKay and
Barbara Sutherland.
Nov. 19 Jos De Pesquala and
ElizibcthDe Ange3.
Nov. 15 N. A. Forsbergand
Charlotte Ltndgren .
Nov. 20 J W. Naies and Sarah
Briody.
Nov. 21 Richard Welcome and
Theresa. Mister.
Dec. 2 Thaddeus S. Barr and
Pheba A. Major.
Dec. 15 P. O. Ham and Jennie
Siferte.
Dec. 1G Edward Griggs and Bar
bara Young.
Dec. 22-G. W. Lounsberry and
Laura M. Sherman.
Dec. 20 Leander Anderson and
Tilda Kienno.
For fine Havana, anil domestic Cf- '
gars, such as the "Commercial.' "Flori
de Cuba Delicious.' and the- celebrated
"Calcutta" cigar, call at J. E. Thomas"!
7
Drugstore.
rT
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