Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 1880)
December, 1880. THE WEST SHORE. question the crab-apple, the sallal, and the wild-cherry. Do you see thnt line of silver down under the river hank? That is the glisten of the catkins on the willows (salix stoubtriana ) that were out in February. It makes a orcttv contrast to the red stems of a smaller species of willow that grnws along the very margin of the river, with its roots in the water. I am not certain of the variety. There certainly is no lack of interest ing things in the woods of early Spring in Oregon. To my eye, with such a variety of green and really growing trees and shrubs, it is a relief to take iuto the view a group ol naked stems, 1'ke the straight and light holes of the aspen (populus Irtmuloid(s), the gray trunks of the dogwood (cornus nuttalis), or the rugged, scraggy forms of the water-loving ash (traximus Ortgona). Uniform as our climate is, and little as the dropping of the leaves of our de ciduous trees affects the general aspect of the landscape, there is yet to the critical observer a sullicienlly marked difference in our seasons to make the study of Spring and Summer and Autumn and Winter, as shown by the vegetation of our mngnilicent fqrests, profitable and compensatory. It is true that you cannot come back from a walk at this time of year laden with armfuls of flowering shrubbery, as you may in six weeks from now. You cannot, with safety, stretch your self on the earth, and indulge in build ing Spanish castles, as in July weather it is pleasant to do, while birds sing among the branches overhead, the ner vous little squirrel scolds at you from a safe distance, or the only half-conflditig quail maintains vigilant picket duty in your vicinity all, as you think, for your gratification) though in truth you are regarded by these little residents as an alien and an intruder. The bcauticv that should invite you now, pass away or lose their freshness with the up proach of dry weather. The mosses and lichens will have dried up by mid summer ; the terns can then only.be found in the coolest recesses of the woods. The excess of foliage then will close many beautiful vistas ; there will be no more signs of daily growth, no tender lints on the leaflets. The year will be at middle age, round and jwr feet, but with the touching bloom of its youth forever past. 321 There will be a corresponding differ ence in the color of the skies, the shape of the clouds, the hucb of the water; in every part of nature. Let the student of nature learn all her passing moods. There is a wealth of enjoyment in hav ing well trained eyes, and a receptive observation, that no amount of gold can purchase. It depends on the indiv idual. Certain of us never do come into our kingdom, which is the kingdom wherewith the Creator endowed us " in the beginning," because we are too sordid, too indolent, or too effeminate. Certain others of us are rejoiced to think that we have not wholly missed of it, through these faults; and that en joyment grows with possession. KXI'KNSE OK COMING TO THK PACIFIC NORTIIWKST. The following arc the present rates of fare between Eastern chics and Portland, to which should of course be added the price of meals whilst enroute from the East to San Francisco. Meals and berths are furnished free on the steamships from San Francisco to Port, land. The rates for berths in a sleep ing car arc $17.00 between Chicago or St. Louis and San Francisco, or $22.00 between New York and San Francisco. No additional charge for berths in im migrant or third-class sleeping cars. The price for meals at eating stations are from 50 cents to one dollar each. An excellent piece of economy and comfort, however, is to carry a well filled lunch basket. Schedule time be tween New York and San Francisco first-class, is 7 days; immigrant trains, 12 days. From San Francisco to Portland by first-class iron steamships, carrying both first-class passengers and immigrants, the schedule time is iUt Jays, Fare to Putt laml, Or,, I inl ilnu liinnij't, From New Voik Cily $158 jo $75 00 " llinlun, Mum 159 3... 7600 " Chicago, III IJ5 30. 65 5c " Cincinnati, Ohio.... 141 85 6980 " Council HlulU, Iowa. 120 5a 60 50 " New Orleant, Iji. .. 15575 78 " Otlikmh, Wl IJ'j 45 71 ju " Omaha, Neliraaka. . , 1 20 6500 " Philadelphia, Pa 156 Jo. 73 50 " Si. l-uuii, Mo iji 85 65 50 " Galveston, Teat. . . I6j 75 8 jo " avenworth, Kan. . 11610 91 10 " Atlanta, Ga. .'. 157 So " Cheyenne, Wy. Ter. 103 00 53 00 Anotiikk bed 0) brick clay has been discovered on the line of the railroad alxiut two miles from Tacoma. It is to be at once brought into use. INTERESTING TO HOMESTEADERS. The much mooted question involved in the granting of benefits intended by the act of Juno 15, iS8o, which refers specially to the right of all persons who had taken a homestead nrior to June 15, 1S80, has at last leen decided ty the Department that the home. steader can, if he so desires, make proof uy the payment of ifi.ac per aero in cash or by Special Deposit Certificates at his option, at the same rates less tin amount of fees which had been paid at date of entry. It is also further do. citled that all homesteads taken prior to the date of above act, whether set tled upon now or not, abandoned as well as homesteads actually resided upon, can now be paid at $1.35 per acre less the fees paid at date of entry as above stated. This decision virtu, ally leaves the homesteader in position to buy the homestead, even if he has abandoned it, anil no further settlement is required. Applying only to the ad vantage of those whose claims were taken prior to June 15, 18S0, the many whose claims were taken subsequent need not expect nor attempt to take at. vantage of it. (.real complaint has been occasioned by this recent decision, and it is possible tin attempt will be made to have the act repealed thereby depriving all those who have neglected in having their homesteads paid for before the benefits intended by the act. and which repeal if possible can only be taken advantage of by immediate proof on all the homesteads possible, Crops nevtr fail in Oregon, A Wasco county family produces the fob lowing heavy weights : The father weighs 200 pounds j mother, 215 ; old. est girl, age 30 years, io ; next, 18 years old, 2255 next, 16 years, not next, 14 years, 160 ; next 6 year old boy, co; next, 1 year old bahv. i total, 1,1,05. Average weight 163 pounds. W EST F. RN' WASIII NGTON I , A N I )S. m m " tiiohbaniis of tr.rri.Ma. rutnriM. llnlon t.'larksuiai... I'laiKi, t'uluinMa..... I'uualai Lana,...,. ...... I. Ins ...... Marlaa M'lliiHimah. Vilk TlllaiiMua .. M a'bltiflor Yamhill Total Araa. Suntf'il Stiilnl l.iwiii vit.imi 'tttif Kai.un ,! ;s,;m Untm 317,101 1 ni)n 1 ,,i t,lmtw IVi,kii i,imi MWtttn , :u)n n,nl ,II,MD 1'um Ufpti mn l (,i a7.-.." pn"i tnm iiumi t(7,m) ,, ;7,,ii( iVM Wl.KU l,7,,OI 7IJ!,il . I w.in mtn sayaaj