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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1885)
162 THE WEST SHORE. v Tits iponUneoua tribute of love and gratitude paid by the citizens of Sacramento, CaL, and many visitors on the 6th of Hay Lm & toiuiHiatiuxj even beyond that iu tendod by the participant. It tenches us that gratitude in, after all, a living sentiment in the human breast, that gonuino effort to cast a few raya of sunshine into the unleaa live of the poor and miserable do not go without their reward even in this world, and that there is aueh a thing as honor for a prophet in his own country. The citizens of Sacramento are to lie congratulated, not only that they have paid a deserved tribute to true nobility of character, but that they have taught the world a lesson in honoring those noble workers of charity throughout the world whose name is legion. The recent disastrous fires that have nearly obliter atod the business portion of Miles City and causod much destruction of property in Billings are far more of a calamity in appearance than reality. Those cities are but passing through the same experience encountered by nearly every town of proruinenoe in the West Hastily constructed almost exclusively of cheap one and two story wooden shanties, the Western town springs into being in a few months. Soon it is found that the very cheapness of its structures which made its initial growth so rapid serves but to retard its future progress. Insur ance is high or cannot be had at all, and partios hesitate to erect valuable buildings in the midst of such tinder taxes. 8ooner or later comes the inevitable conflagration and sweeps them away like fog before the sun. A mortal blow seems to have been struck, such aa in an oldor and nnprogreasive town would seal its fate; but not so in the stirring West The citizens, full of energy, hope and faith in the future, bend to the task of reconstruction, and soon large brick, iron and stone buildings rise amid the ashes of Uie burned shantixe, and the town emerges from the baptism of fire purified, and for the first time enters ujxin a career of permanent prosjerity. Such will be Uie case with Miles City, and within a year it will be a bettor town, letter built and with better trade than ever before. There is some discussion as to whether the shipment of cattle last April from Walla Walla to Chicago was a paying venture. The Piuncrr rc$$ gave a set of figures which indicate a total lew of at least $30 per head upon prices that were offered for tho same cattlo immediately More ahipmmit In reply to this one of tho men who handled the stock rescinded with statistics showing tho exact sUte of affair, as follows: Three hundred and thirty cattle shipped and sold for R40 pnr hundred; average weight, 1,295 pounds; average prioe, UK'Xt; average expense of shipment, 1171; not result, $34.49 per head. It is admitted that an offer of (5 per hundred was made just prior to shipment; but that offer, though it does seem to indicate a Ions of $110 per head, cannot be used as guide by which to determine if the business of shipping eaUle from the Inland Empire to Chicago mar kU oan be made a profitable one uodor the onditioBe that then prevailed. A recent shipment by four stock men of Union County of 335 cattle and two car-loada of horses shows that the growers of that region are satisfied with the results. If the returns from this later venture are satisfactory there will no doubt be a large number of shipments during the summer. The distance is a long one and catlle lose from 100 to 150 pounds in weight, which has to be included as part of the expense of ship ment The main question is, Does it pay? and upon the answer dopends the continuance of the business. On another page will le found an article on the shipment of dressed moats which will be interesting in this connection. The failure of the Indians on the Umatilla Reserva tion to oomply with the terms of the Congressional act, providing for the assignment of lands to them in sever alty and sale of the remainder for their benefit, is some what of a surprise, since it was generally understood that such a oourse met with their approbation. It is more than probable that designing persons in whom they have confidence, and who manage to "turn an honest penny" on the strength of it, are largely responsible. The greater share of responsibility, however, rests upon the inherent laziness and improvidence of the Indians themselves, for which the Government is largely to blame by reason of its policy of maintaining Indians in idleness. It is time more sensible and more stringent measures were taken. Congress should pass a bill embodying the features of the present one, but omitting the clause requiring assent of the Indians. It will be the best oourse for the people, for the Indians and for the Governmont itself. There is no good reason why large tracts of fertile land should be looked up and held sacred to the names not the use or occupation, for they neither use nor occupy a tenth of it of a few lazy, unproductive Indians. Each should be given a generous tract in his own name and the remain der be thrown open to the people. The true policy is to make the Indian depend upon himself and render him subject to the jurisdiction of the oourts of the State or Territory in which he lives; in other words, make a re sponsible human being of him and not an unreasoning objoct of national charity. BRITISH COLUMBIA SCENERY. WE present this month four views of the soenery of British Columbia along the line of the Canadian Pacific above New Westminster. The railroad runs along tho north sido of Fraser River, passing through much desirable and unoocupiod land. Heretofore settlement have been made chiefly on the south side of the stream. From New Westminster to some distance beyond Harrison Iliver many desirable tracts may bo fouml The char actor of the country may be understood from the engrav ings. The topographical features consist of meadows uplands and hills, with high mountain peaks enclosing Uiom. The railroad oners a means of access to much desirable agricultural land in British Columbia, which was formerly rendered practioally valu-U. by its isola tion. .