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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1885)
164 THE WEST SHORE. warn Association, which began holding regular meetings at which scientific, artistic and literary subjects were dis euaaecL Aa a mans to ni fund to rnrry out the purposes of the organization a Loan Exhibition was undertaken, and for this purpose Mrs. Crocker teudored the use of her gallery. This was a complete success, and for two weeks tlio gallory was thronged with people who wont to viow the great oolloctiou of rare articles, historic cal relics and curious objects from every quarter of the globe. Mrs. Crocker was highly pleased at the success 'of the exhibition and the deep interest the people took in the object of the association, so much so that she an nounced her intention of presenting the building and content to the association. This waa accomplished on the 2d of May by the execution of a deed to the city of Hacramento of the entire property, in trust, for the ocou jwtion of the California Museum Association, subject to joint control of the two corporations, Uie property and its proceeds to be usod " for the purpose of advanoing edu cation and learning in tho city of Sacramento, of promot ing art, acionoe, mechanics and literature in the State of California, and to aid in carrying out the goneral pur poses of the aforesaid California Museum Association." When Mrs. Crocker's intentions were made known a number of geutloraen met to devise some form for ex pressing the gratitudo of the people, not alone for this last and crowning gift, but as an assurance of the love and resoct her long life of charity and care for the wel fare of otliora had inspired in the hearts of alL It was decided that in viow of her great love for flowers a floral festival would the most dulicatoly and acceptably oonvey the coroplimout desired. Committees were appointed, and every man, woman and child in tho city entered into the work with heart and soul. Invitations were sent to every former resident of the city whose address was known, and to the press of the State, while a general invi tation was issued to every one to join them in doing honor to so uoblo a lady. The new pavilion of the State Agricultural Society waa secured, and by many willing and dextaroua hands transformed into a bower of beauty, For several days every boat and train that arrived in the city bore its burden of floral offerings, until it seemed as though not flower had been left unplucked in the State. Offerings came from every Stat and Territory on the Taciflo Coast and from many in the far East The great pavilion was literally covered and fillod with a mass of flowers, twined and wreathed into a multitude of forms and devices, Large floral pieces were contributed by very society and church for in her benefactions she bad mails no distinction of religion or race firms and private individuals. The day of the festival, the 6th of May, the city put on holiday attire. All business was su)eudod, and the eople, ss well ss the thousands of visitors, abaudoued themselves to the spirit of ths occa sion. The exercises consisted first of t reception and floral march at ths pavilion by 8,000 school children from the public, private and denominational schools, which wars witnessed by fully 13,000 people. Ia ths evening were a rsoepuon dj us auoiu, us presentation of memorial tablet by the Sacramento Pioneer Society, and formal presentation of the gallery by Mrs. Crocker, fol lowed by a promcnado concert and dancing. InciJauUl to the occasion was a banquet tendered by the Board of Trade to the visiting members of the press, at which the representative journalists of the State gave delicate, yet hearty, expression to the universal love ana venerauon oi the people for the lady whom all had so cordially united to honor. Taken as a whole it was such an event as the world never witnessed before, and one that could only have been inspired by such a life of benevolence and good works as that of Margaret E. Crocker. TACOMA HARBOR THE harbor of Taooma is a broad arm of Fuget Sound geographically known as " Commencement Bay." It is not, however, as the name would indicate, the extreme head of that great inland sea, since Budd's Inlet, at the head of whioh stand Olympia and Tumwater, extends farther to the south; but it is the extreme southeastern harbor, the one the most approachable by rail from both the south and east the two routes by which the North ern Pacific reaches the Sound from Portland and the . East and combines the double advantage of easy acoesB by rail and water more fully than any other, so far, at least, as lines now built or under construction are con cerned. The harbor is capacious, while the water is of ample depth everywhere. In fact, the most serious ob jection ever offered is that the water near the wharves is too deep for anchorage; but as there is plenty of good holding ground further out, and it is not necessary that vessels should remain close in except when tied up to the dock, this objection loses its force. As will be seen from the engraving, the docks and terminal works of the Northern Pacific, inclusive of the immense coal bunkers in the foreground, are already quite extensive. The largor vessels visiting the harbor are engaged in the coal and lumber trade from this port to San Francisco and the porta of South America, Central America, Hawaiian Islands, Australia and China. There are also many coasting schooners, steamers plying from Taooma to the numerous Sound ports, the great ocean steamers running on the route from San Franoisoo to the Sound, and fre quent large vessels from Atlantic and foreign ports. To these will be added a numerous grain fleet when the rail road across the mountains is completed. Lively as it now appears, uie Harbor will then present a scene of far greater activity, while the number of wharves, docks and warehouses will be multiplied. It is to this Taooma has been steadily looking forward, and which she now has reasonable hopes of speedily realizing. Among the craft shown in the harbor is the magnifioent steamer Olym pian, which is just out of dry dock, and has been replaced on the line from Taooma to Victoria. In the background is seen the giant Mount Taooma, the undisputed monarch of ths Cascades, without whose hoary crown no view of the harbor could be complete. It is the admiration o! the tourist and prids of the native. Year by year its whiU summit ia beooming more familiar with human feet