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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 1879)
ago THE WEST SHORE. October, 1879 gala took place in 1862 and '63, which of course (really benefited the rising settlement. Some made large fortunes. and more did not succeed so well, but all thing seemed to promise well for the growth of the place. Hut history repents itself, and we see the experience of Melbourne and San Francisco licing undergone by the Queen City of the Northwest. By students of the history of British colonization it is remarked that its pro gress, though ultimately sure, is fre quently somewhat tardy, "rauus ltd rertus " appearing to be its watch word. This mOttO will apply in some re spects to the subject of this sketch, as the growth of Victoria cannot be said to le as rapid as that of other places, but "sure" it is, ami, in spite of mani fold discouragements, frequent reverses and commercial disappointments, Vic toril to-day is by no means a failure. From the gold excitement up to 1 865 all was prosperity it seemed too good to be lasting, and since thai time altcrmite hope and depression have been felt. Such is a brief outline of the history of the city. In an admirable position, well adapted for residence and com merce, it would appear certain that at no distant day it will become the great Pacific Krt north of San Francisco. Situated on the southern end of Van couver Island, easy of access for navi gation, possessing a harbor of its own now being improved and a Splendid one at Kso,uimall, ,t miles distant, trade has every facility and with the growth of opulation it may very fairly lie ex poem that trade will rapidly devel op. The land for miles in all directions is admirably adapted for the erection of Intimations, line- wide streets extend for long distances, large shops anil ware houses are men, and commodious bail's skill the h.irlHir, at which steamers and sailing craft are constant ly loading and unloading freight. The government building are orna mental and imjMKing the substantial Parliament house &c. Custom House, Post Office, Government residence, Public School, Ac, adding considerably to the beauty of the place. The shops are remarkable for iheit sise and for the variety of goods to tvr obtained. A stranger is surprised to find himself able 10 procure every Eu ropean article of necessity and lux ury. In close proximity to the town, sit uated on the sea shore, and looking to wards the Straits of Juan dc Fuca, is Beacon Hill Park, a splendid, natural recreation ground, where on holidays and in summer evenings citizens can enjoy the beauties nature has so lavish ly bestowed. The climate of the Island through out is excellent, and this is by no means the least attraction for visitors in summer. Many, struck with the advantages of the place, have settled down perma nently, and admit that, all things con sidered, it is a highly favored spot. Religion and education are well at tended to. The prominent object to be seen in approaching the city is Christ Church (Episcopal) Cathedral which is situated on an eminence close to the harbor. There are 1 1 other places of worship, including the Roman Cathedral. St. John's (Episcopal) Church, &c. Colleges and schools arc supported by several denominations, while the free education of all classes is underta ken by the Government. Public schools hnvc been established to which every citizen is entitled to send his children. Hut there is one thing which strikes strangers as very remarkable about the town, ami that is the excellent con dition of public order. The capital of the Pacific Province, possessing a population of some six or seven thousand of all nations, scattered over a large extent, and made up of a good percentage of unruly characters, respect for the law is so great that some dozen policemen are sufficient to preserve good order, and any one pass ing along the streets at any time of the day or night, will wonder at the quiet that prevails. Probably no town on the Pacific Coast can excel Victoria in this respect n the whole it will be apparent that surely, although perhaps some what slow ly, the city is progressing. New abodes are constantly being erected, fresh land brought under culti vation, and in suite of the 1 - III 1 1 1 1. 1 1 . . il depression now so general everywhere, 1 1 hoc seems noun lair v. Thus in a comparatively short i;n! since Governor Pouglas first marked j out the site for the city, it appears to have made good way, and in the ordi nary course events it is not UoreatM, able to suppose that it will at no dis tant day realize his expectations, and the hopes of all well wishers to Victo ria, British Columbia. THE WATER-SI'OUTS OF THE UPPER COLUMBIA BASIN. BY RKV. 0. K. ATKINSON, D. D. THEIR 'FREQUENCY. On the 22nd of May, 1879, at Spo kan Falls, a sudden and violent rain storm passed in a circuit from the eastern mountains, over forests and plains. On the same afternoon a water-speut burst upon the hills along the Pcnewawa creek, in Whitman county, eighty miles distant south, and bore a hundred or more tons of basalt stones and rocks for two miles down into the stage road, ploughing out the hill-side canyons. Another, about the same time, burst on the hills along the Satnss creek, in Yakima county, 150 miles west of the latter, with a like result to the stage road. Another was reported at the same date in the Blue mountains, 150 miles southwest, which filled the stage road with the debris during the same storm. Others were reported, but less definitely, settlers and travelers in the upper country have often seen them, or noted their paths in the canyons that mark the slopes of the hills and mountains in all directions. If observed only once in their sudden and vast downpour of waters, which rush and roar and plough out the steep hills, sweeping away fences, bending or breaking trees, laying whole fields of grain flat, drenching, perhaps de molishing buildings, burying large areas of highways, of fields and gardens, with rocks, stones, gravel and soil, in a vast conglomerate mass, they reveal one of the mighty forces at work to wear down ibc high plains of this interior basin. It has been the common ides that the sudden melting of snows, and the great storms, have dug out the al most numberless canyons of that re gion, and this is true, no doubt, to a great extent ; yet the water-spouts have had no small share in this process. THEIR OIUGIN. They come out of a clear sky. On May 22nd the sun shone till ia Spokan Falls. It was clear and pleas-