Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 1876)
February. THE WEST SHORE. 11 OUR ILLUSTRATION'S. The Three Sisters of the Cascade range of mountains, capped with perpetual snows, as viewed from the forks of the Mackenzie River, near Eugene City, present a most picturesque appearance. A good view of them can also be obtained from the third story of the University building at Eugene City. They are nearly equal in size and have an exact pyramidal form. Their sides are finely zoned with a broad belt of forest, which mounts to an altitude of six thousand feet. The angles of The Sisters are less acute than those of other snow peaks in this State, and consequently there are fewer slides, and the peaks are always covered with the glistening folds. The clouds rest almost continually upon the peaks, adding their contributions of vapor to be turned into tiny snowflakes; and of mornings, oft-times, the haze wraps them round in mazy folds, producing vague, fantastic images. When there are rain storms in the air, and clouds of vapor ride through the upper world, they are attracted by the bold outlines of these peaks, and, settling on them, are changed into varied forms, sometimes appearing like a knight's helmet, with crest and feather backward streaming; sometimes wreathing and twist ing like volumes'of smoke from a great conflagration; sometimes pushing out cir cular cloudlets, like the bubbles of a mill race. The Indians have a tradition that these three peaks were three female giants who had been wives of Manitou, and hav ing rebelled against him, were turned into ftone. The Narrows of the Columbia. Who would suppose that the broad and majestic Columbia, which in places is eight and nine miles wide, should narrow down to 105 feet? Yet such is the case a short distance above the Dalles. The rise and fall of the river at this point is immense, there being a difference of 100 feet be tween high and low water. This is a favorite fishing point for the Indians in that vicinity. The Rapids or the Columbia above Tumwaler Falls is the wildest looking river we have ever seen. It is a pity that so few travelers have an opportunity to view these rapids, as they generally whirl past them in the O. S. N. Co.'s cars at the rate of 20 miles an hour. St. Paul's Church, located in the thriv ing town of Walla Walla, W. T., is a neat structure, and in fact much better than we should expect to find in a town claiming only 3,000 inhabitants, and having five or six other churches. It is certainly a credit to the town. " Let Clans," etc., and " No Wo.vder," etc These two pictures will bear close examination to x it. They were first printed in London in 1820, and were kindly furnished us by Mr, li. L. Stone, of this city, who owns the originals from which these copies were made. Live kor Something. Thousands of men and women breathe, move, and live pass off the stage of life, and are heard of no more. Why ? None were blessed by them ; none could point to them as (heir means of redemption; not a line they wrote, not a word they spoke, could be recalled, and so they perished ; their light went out in darkness, and they were not remembered more than the insects of yesterday. Will you thus live and die ? 0 man, live for something ! Do good, and leave behind you a monument of vir tue that the storms of time can never destroy. Dr.- Chalmtrt. We have read astory of a little boy who. when he wanted a new suit of clothes, hegged his mother to ask his father if he might have it. The mother suggested that the boy might ask (or himself. "I would,'' said the boy, "but I don't feel well enough acquainted with him." Many a lather keeps his children so at a distance from him that they never feel confidentially acquainted with him. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. THE CULTURE OF FLOWERS. is usual to direct that great caution be used in the application of water, especially in the winter. The result is, that frequently the opposite extreme is fallen into, to the great injur)' of the plants. From the mo ment that the soil becomes so far dried that the fibres of the roots cannot absorb moisture from it, the plant begins to suffer. Some plants can bear this loss of water with more impunity than others; some, again, and the Erica family among the rest, are in this way soon destroyed, The object of watering should be to prevent this stage of dryness being reached, at least during the time the plant is growing, and at all times in the case of those of vcty rigid structure; at the same time, that excess which would sodden the soil and gorge the plant is also avoided. Within these limits the most inexperienced person may follow sound directions for the appli cation of water with safely; but when even water is given to pot plants, enough should be given to wet the soil thoroughly, and the difference between plants that require more or less water should be made by watering more or less frequently, and not by giving grealer or less quantities at one time. Debt. Living beyond their income is the ruin of many. They can hardly afford 10 keep a rabbit, and they must need to drive a iony and chaise. We are afraid extravagance is the common disease of the lime, and many professing Christians have caught it, to their shame and sorrow. Good cotton and stuff gowns are not good enough now-a-days; girls must have silk and satins, and there's a bill at the 'i dressmaker's as long as a winter's MM night, and quite as dismal. Show JMand style and smartness run away f M with a man's means and keep the S family poor. Frogs try to look as M big as bulls, nnd burst themselves, jrftr Men burn the candle at IkhIi ends, " and then say that they are very un fortunate. Why don't they put the saddle on the right horse, and say they are extrav agant? Economy is half the bottle in life. It is not so hard to earn money as to sjiend it well. Hundreds would not have known want if hey had not first known waste. If all ioor men's wives knew how to cook, how far a little might go. Love. The love that survives the tomb is the noblest attribute of the soul. If it has woes, it has likewise its delights; and when the overwhelming burst of grief is lulled into the gentle tear of recollection, then the sudden anguish and convulsive agony over the present ruins of all we most loved are softened away into the pensive meditation of all that it was in the days of its loveliness. Who would root such a sorrow from the heart ? Though it may sometimes throw a assing cloud over the bright hour of gaycty, or spread a dcccr sadness over the hours of gloom, yet who would exchange it for the song of pleasure or the burst of revelry? No; there is a voice from the tonib sweeter than song; there is a remembrance of the dead to w hich we turn even from the charm of the living. WAM tn. A good scrvanl-girl, to whom the highest wages will he paid. Having had great difficulty in procuring good help, on account of the misfortune of having seven small children, we will poison, drown, or otherwise make nw.iy with four of them, if required, on application of a first-claw scrvanl-girl. Apply at this office. A New Orleans pacr thus discourses : " If men are the salt of the earth, women arc the stiirar. Salt is a necessity; sugar a luxury. Vicious men are the salttietrc; hard, stem men the rock-salt; nice family men the table salt; pretty girls the fine pul verized white sugar ; old maids are the brown sugar; good-natured matrons the loaf-sug.tr, and young men are loafers." A bi inu mendicant in Paris wears this pointed insertion around his neck: "Don't be ashamed to give only a sou. I can't see." A. D. R., Fairmount, Missouri. The prices we give forelands generally mean coin, unless otherwise stated. You'll have no trouble to get currency changed for coin. A. D., Logan, Iowa. Nearly all varie ties of fruits do well here, and for apples, plums and cherries, we challenge the world to produce superior qualities, or even our equal. J. M. M, Seaforlh, Ontario. A good millwright and engine fitter will have no trouble not only to make a living but to make money. Board and lodging can be obtained for $5 a week and upwards. A. E. W, Waveland, Missouri. Our list of farms will answer your first. If you are sober and industrious you will find this State a good countiy. An Oregon farmer can get more out of the ground, with less work, than a farmer in any other part of the world. Y.G., Danville, Indiana. The Willam ette River is navigable to Eugene City, 1 24 miles from Portland. Steamboats can, by passing through the locks at Oregon City, go down to Astoria, at the mouth of the Columbia River, 234 miles from Eugene. The Willamette was frozen over in 1875, and perhaps once or twice before that; it is a very rare occurrence. T. L., Allen's Grove, Iowa. The fare from San Francisco to Coos Bay by steamer is $20, and about $10 by sailing vessel. A large number of fast schooners ply between the two places in the lumbering and coal trade, of which Coos county is a heavy ex porter. Coos Bay must eventually become the ship-yard of the Pacific; even now ship-building is carried on there exten sively. S. H., Madelia, Minnesota. You can purchase a through ticket to Portland, and from here you will find ample facilities to travel to different parts of the State. There are no dangerous Indians anywhere in Oregon. You will find many of your countrymen here, and in fact our people generally will do all they can to assist you in selecting suitable lands for colony pur poses. On your arrival call at this office. W. 0. W., Silver Creek, Michigan The Falls at Oregon City could furnish 1,000,- 000 horse power. Should you conclude to utilize part of it, you would find the people there accommodating and ready to assist you all in their power. Albany also has a very fine water power, and so have many other parts of this State. Millers receive from $75 to $150 per month; there are some few receiving as high as $200 and $250 per month. C. W., Jefferson City, Missouri. Oregon is settling up veiy rapidly, but the great tide of immigration will flow here when ever we have "all rail" to the Eastern States. Washington Territory is also set tling up, and whatever may help Oregon will also help our neighlior Washington. Portland is the metropolis of the Pacific northwest, and will always remain so, al though Astoria is fast becoming a commer cial town of considerable note. Seattle, on Pugct Sound, lias now about 3,500 in liabitants, is well located and growing. Business in general is fair, much better than in California and the Eastern States. T. F. W., Faikhi rv, Nebraska. You would find it a rather expensive trip by the route you propose to come. 1 he fare to San Franeisco is no more than to the Junction of the Oregon & California Rail road. From the latter place to Redding, the present terminus, the fare is $14. The facilities there for the purcliase of teams, are not good. Buy a through ticket to Portland. The immigrant fare from San Francisco to Portland is $10. Here you will find a Board of Immigration, who will give you all the necessary information to find suitable lands. In the matter of pur chasing teams, quite a little sum can be saved by buying here instead of California. Although the weather is very mild at present, the nights are yet too cold for the rapid growth of vegetation, and such of our readers as desire to have their gardens look nice at once, w ill find a hotbed a great help. One could he prepared now, and for four weeks yet used in raising early let tuce and radishes, as well as stout tomato plants; and after the nights are sufficiently mild for these vegetables to grow outdoors rapijly, the hotbed could be used in start ing all half-hardy and tender plants. The expense in constructing one is very slight, considering the amount of early blooming plants that can be obtained by the aid of it. The bed should be in a warm Ksition, fully exposed to the sun, facing the cast or south, and sheltered by a fence or hedge on the west or north. The soil should, if possible, be light and dry, as in this case the bed can be sunk a foot or more in the ground; but, if damp and cold, it should be built u(on the surface. MAKING THE BKI), Manure fresh from the stable is best. This should be thrown over and thorough shaken up with the fork, making it into a conical heap. In this state it should be allowed to remain four or five days, at the end of which time it should be turned over, shaking it up as before. At the end of another three or four days it will be ready to make up the bed. layout the ground six inches lanjer than the frame, and put down a slake at each corner. A frame such as shown in this cut mav be made of various sizes, according to the size of garden, from four sashes upwards. The length of sash is generally seven feet by three and a half wide, the size of glass six by eight inches, making the entire frame of four sashes fourteen by seven feet. Proceed to build up the bed to the height of two and a half or three feet, mak ing rather firm, and watering if the manure is dry. When the bed is finished put on the lights, and let it stand to settle and exhaust the violent heat. In a day or two add three or four inches of light sandy loam, spreading it evenly over the bed. If the seeds arc to be sown in the soil of the bed, two or three more inches should be added; but, if in wts, no addition will be necessary. The pots being ready, and sown with the various seeds, should be put into the frame, shading them during the day if there is too much sunshine, and regulating the temperature by tilting the lights at the back both night and day, and covering at night with mats. Plunge the xLs in the soil, and, with proper care, the seeds will soon be above the soil. A thermometer plated in the bed will tie the safest guide to the inexperienced. It should not rise aliove 8; in the day, no sink below 60 at night. As the heat declines, linings of fresh manure should lie applied round the out side of the bed; but, ordinarily, for seeds this is not necessan-. The length or number of the frames is immaterial; but the)' should be from nine to twelve inches deep at the front, and from fifteen to eighteen inches at die lack. This will give good slope to carry off the rain, Cold frames are simply the hotbed frame set upon a warm spot of ground, covering it at night to keep in the warmth accumu lated during die day. WATKRlNiiPOT PLANTS. In the operation of wateringpotlcd plants, persons not practically familiar with plant culture are apt to make serious mis lakes. Cultivators find by experience that an cite of water at the roots it very injurious to almost all plants; and hence it