September, 1883.
THE WEST SHORE
301
A SOUVENIR.
The completion of our great transcontinental
route, and the ceremonies and demonstrations
accompanying it, have been uppermost in the pub
lic mind of the great northwest for several weeks
past. As a souvenir of the event, The West
Shore presents to Its readers a group, containing
portraits of those officials of our transportation
system the most closely identified with the Pacific
coast. There are many who have not enjoyed
the pleasure of a personal acquaintance with these
gentlemen, who no doubt desire to become famil
iar with the features of those whose management
of the great interests intrusted to them meets
with universal approval. In this group are rep
resented officers of the Northern Pacific Railroad
Company, Oregon Railway and Navigation Com
pany, Oregon & California Railroad Company,
Pacific Coast Steamship Company, and Northern
Pacific Terminal Company. They are:
Henry Villard,
President of the above Companies.
T. F. Oakes,
Vice-President N. P. R. R.
C. H. Prescott,
Manager 0. R. N. Co.
R. Koehlek,
Manager O. & C. R. R.
R. E. O'Brien,
Manager N. P. T. Co.
J. M. Buckley,
Asst. Gen. Man. West. Div. N. P. R. R.
Gen. Adna Anderson,
Chief Engineer, N. P. R. R.
II. Thif.lsen,
Chief Engineer, 0. R. & N. Co.
JohnMiiir, fN. P. R.R.
O. R. & N. Co.
0. & C. R. R.
P. C. S. S. Co.
Superintendent of Traffic
A. L. Stokes,
Assistant Supt. of Traffic,
Theodore Wyoant,
Secy, and Asst. Treas. 0. R. & N. Co.
C. J. Smith,
Comptroller O. R. t N. Co.
Paul Schulzb,
General Land Agent Western Division.
OUR FAIRS.
For a dry year Oregon and Washington are
making a splendid showing al the various places
where their products are placed on exhibition
In the matter of quantity and quality of display,
the recent state fair held at Salem was an improve
ment over that of any previous year, machinery
alone excepted. The most marked improvement
was in the entries of blooded stock and sheep, a
gratifying evidence that our fanners are recognis
ing that it Is true economy to raise good blooded
stock, even at a slightly Increased expense. The
displays of fruit were very fine, though this is
decidedly an "off year" for Oregon fruit. The
cereal exhibits were superb, and show that even
after the dryest season known for years we have
grain that will bear comparison with the product
of any section of the globe.
In a few weeks, continuing from October I ith
to the 27th, will occur the annual Mechanics'
Fair in this city, wbicb will attract visitors from
far and near. There is no stated event that Is of
o much benefit to Portland and the northwest
generally as this annual exhibit of the products
and industries of this region. It is believed that
the coming fair will surpass all prrrWM efforts,
tab la display and attendance.
PORTLAND.
THE METROPOLIS OF THE PACIFIC
NGRHlWKhl'.
ITS tllSTOKY, TRADE, COMMERCE, WEALTH AND
BRILLIANT FUTURE.
Of the city of Portlsnd, now brought into
special prominence by the completion of the
Northern Pacific railroad, thousands in every
state in the union are seeking informatien. They
desire to know more ol this city and the vast
region of the Columbia, preparing to pour its
treasures into her lap. Portland stands to-day
the undisputed metropolis of the Pacific North
west, the chief manufacturing, trade and railrond
center of a vast empire, whose resources are but
just being developed, whose population will soon
be hundreds of thousands where It is now but
thousands, and its wealth hundreds of millions
where It is now millions, Our illustinlions spvuk
in forcible terms of the business pmnpciiiy, sml
it is only necessary here to add a few minis of
explanation.
Portland lies on (he west bank of the Willam
ette river, twelve miles above its confluence wilh
the mighty Columliis, lis site is a beautiful
slope, giadually rising to the ridge of fir-clad
bills at its back, into which the city is rapidly
extending. It also spreads up and down the
stream, occupying several miles of good harbor
front, much of which is bordered by excnsivc
and commodious docks and warehouses. Oppo-
site, on the east bank, art East Portland and the
town of Albina, both of them practically a por
lion of this city, with which they are connected
by four ferry lines, and to which will soon be
added one, if not two, substantial Iron bridges,
A view of Portland and her surroundings, fiom
Robinson's hill, is especially pleasing, and Is one
that visitors to the city should never fail to see,
At the base of the hill, and sloping gently to.
wards the river, lies the city, wiapml In the
green mantle of her shade trees, all blending In
a harmonious whole, save where here and there
some tall spire or imiosing structure thrusts itself
above its fellows and asserts lis claim to Sieclal
notice. The winding course of the beautiful
Willamette can lie traced for many miles by lit
green fringed tanks, leafy isles and the smoke of
its freight-laden steamers, hast I'ortiaml and
Albina, wilh Sellwood, Portsmouth, 81. Johns
and the score of suburban villages, all soon to be
united in one great city, are plainly visible. The
city of Vancouver, on the noith bank ol ihc Co-
lumbia, and sit miles disunl, can I dl.llnclly
seen, and the course of the mighty ' River of the
West " can be followed wilh the eye until it is
lost between the towering sides of the Columbia
irorce. In the middle ground rise the wooded
slooes of Mount Tabor, while In the estreme
back ground and lowering far strove llie crest of
the Cascade range, Ibe singly Mourn ,i,.
thrusts his regal head, crowned with a diadem of
purest white, sparkling in the glancing rays of the
morning sun, or suffused with the most d. licalr
lints of crimson, blue, purple and gold, a. lh
evening sun sinks behind the hills. To the left
.norarthe snowy crests of Mounts St. Helens
Tacoma, Jefferson and Adams. It iaa sighl never
ho b fcrgoltep- .....
Jutt iMtt of thHitjr, Vlln M WW "ill w
covered wilh native forest trees, is a beautiful
tract that has been donated to the people as a
public park. The diive thither Is delightful, and
wilh all-in cicne iuipiuvcniciiu can be made
that will give us one of the moat lowly and
attractive parks to be found in the Union. The
drives through the canyons along the banks of
the Willamette, and ecstward beyond Mount
Tabor, are unimpatwd 1 ) where for loveliness
and the beauty of surruunding scenery. Within
the city has been resetved a row of blocks extend
ing from north to stuih, for a perk, with drive
ways along its full length on either side, and
many elegant residences faclrglton both sides
With the Improvements contemplated and the
growth to larger pniortions of the shade trees
these boulevards and arks will rival those of
older cities
Portland may I said to lie the crysUllied etloit
to establish a city al I lie head of deep-water nav
igation, as neat as possible In Ihe giral agrirul
tuial region of Ihe Willamette valley, and yet
located so as to command Ihe trade uf the Uwr
Columliis, Other Hiiuls were chosen before this
one, and many rivals have spuing up and lived
a precarious life for a brief time, but the inevit
able law of "natural selection" decreed that
Portland should survive them all and become the
metropolis of Ihe northwest. The city has now
a firmly established Irade, great concentrated cap
ital, and vast sums In veiled In business and Im
provements. The average of her wealth per
capita uf population is eicecded by but one clly
In tie union. She Is not simply the foundation
or nucleus of a great city, bul is rapidly becoming
the great city itself.
1'he founding of Portland was as unromantle
as ll Is possible lo conceive, If we escrpt Ihe
fact that at the lime Ihe site was located Un I lie
few Killers of this region were surrounded by
savage trilm and Isolated from home and friends
by thousands of miles of dreary desert and rocky
ridges One uf the pioneers of Oregon, Mr. A.
1. lovejoy, was struck wilh ihe advantage of
Ihe location while wsslng, .nd in 1U4J took up 1
claim of 640 acres a half Intern! In which he
gave a hlreM man named Overton, In payment for
his services in helping lo clear away portion of
ihe forest trees which covered the ground. Over
ton sold his Intern! In 1H44 to V. W. Petlygmve,
for $50, and the same year the firsl log cabin was
built. In l&tS, i,ln blocks wrre laid off for
a town site, near Ihe liver. In selecting a name
for Ihe Inleni clly there was a controversy, I'eliy
grove proposing Portland, the name of Ihe chief
cily of his native stale, and l-ovejoy, who was a
Staaaachusclls man, desiring ll lo be called Mot
ion. Finally they lefl the decision lo chance ami
toaaed up a Copper cent, which fell in Petlygrove't
favor ami decided thai the clly should forever
bear the name of Portland. For several years ll
grew at a snail's pace, various causes oprtttlng in
keep ll down. In 1H4 the gold dlstivery In
California drew off a large portion of Oregon's
population, ami Ihe fortunes of the new clly
aeemrd fainter than Wore bul lo this cloud
there was a silver lining. In 1H50, California
brgsn to call loudly up- Oreg' lor supplies,
VrsM-li sought Ihe Columbia river and offered
faldus prket (or ihe products of ihe valley lhal
had before Un dreg upon the market. Port
land suddenly awoke lots coenr ersUI ruilviiy,
M ttfvlaf " ol Keawiert " M'iblltM be-