GATEWAY OF THE COLUMMA.
ago. The city ia lighted by electricity
supplied from the plant of J. 0. Trul
linger, at the West Shore mills.
The business portion of the city (boo
page 515) contains a number of sub
etantial brick structures, some of which
are large and ornamental in their archi
tecture, especially tho Odd Fellows' tern
pie, which cot $15,000.00. Owing to
the fact that the business portion rests
on piling, not many brick buildings
have been erected. To lay a foundation
for one it is necessary to drive piles into
tho mud, saw off tho tops even with the
surface, cap them with heavy cross
beams, and lay on this a solid founda
tion of brick. In tho future, no doubt,
tho majority of new business houses
will be of brick. Tho mt oflico and
custom house is a largo and handsotno
stone building, two stories high, stand
ing in the center of a block.
Much attention has been paid to edu
cational matters, and the public schools
are of a high order. The building seen
in tho engraving on page 5117 was erected
four years ago, at a cost of 25,000.00.
The city is divided into three districts,
each of which maintains excellent grad
ed schools. There are about four hun
dred children of school ago in tho three
districts. Various religious denomina
tions hold regular services, and the Cath
olic, Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian,
Baptist and Congregational have church
edifices. The private residences are neat
and have tasteful yards. Many new
ones are constantly being erected, tho
city spreading out along tho hill. There
are a number of largo and handwine
residences, notably that of Capt Flavel
(see pago 5.'J7), and in this respect tho
city presents quite a wetroiolitan air.
The city is incorporated, and has a
mayor, city council, treasurer, recorder,
judge, attorney, and chief of tjlico. It
is tho county seat of Clatsop county, and
has a court houe and j&iL The best
voluntocr fire department iu the state is
maintained, consisting of two steamers,
hoso carts, a hook and ladder truck ami
other appliances. This dcjiartment has
won prizes in all engine and hoso con
tests for a number of years. A largo
numler of fire hydrant, connected with
tho reservoir on Hear river, givo a high
pressure and throw a strong stream
through a hoso. Tho drainage is excel
lent, tho grado carrying everything into
tho water, and the tide purifying the
water front twice daily. Astoria is tho
outpost of American journalism. Ex
cept the pnjH-rs in Alaska, tho two in
this city are tho farthest west in tho
United States, Tho Asturinn is tho
most western daily in America, and is
well worthy to occupy its advanced po
sition. It is published by J. F. Hallo
ran, a journalint of energy and ability,
and battles manfully for the interests of
tho city. A largo weekly edition is also
issued. Tho Tnumrijt is a good week
ly, published by Kuyder Uros., ami now
in its fifth year.
Clatsop county has an area of one
thousand four hundred square miles,
chieily mountainous. It has resources
of fih, Agriculture, timber, con! ami
iron, tho first of which is tho only one
largely developed Along tho streams
aro quite extensive tract of bottom
land, ami even on tho hills, almost ev
erywhere, tho soil is excellent ami well
adapted to cultivation when c! arnL The
largest area of arable land is Clatsop
plains, a strip of fine land lying along
tho sea shore, which has been settled and
cultivat'-d for nearly forty years, Tho
chief crops aro hay, oats and Urh-y.
Much cheese and butter are made, ami
tho soil is well adapted to hoj. Other
sections aro the valley lands of tho No
halem, Iwia A Clarke's, Young's, Wal
luski, ami other streams. All of th-o
are tributary to this city, as, abto, aro
other sections farther away, iu both Ore