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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 1888)
581 THE WEST SHORE. IN FAR OREOON. HAVING been requested by friends in Memphis, New Orleans and elsewhere to write, giving an account of this country, which I have adopted as my home, and finding it quite impossible to address a letter to each one severally, I will comply in a man ner even more satisfactory, by writing to the Appeal. In reply to special inquiries, I will refer all to the board of immigration, Portland, Or., which will send upon request, freo, their admirable and trustworthy literature upon the subject of the great northwest, the most attractive region of the United States, and as little known cast of the Mississippi as the great plateau of Central Africa. I can only state in gener al terms my observations concerning Oregon as a field inviting tho industrious and enterprising in quest of fortuno and a delightful home. Writing this letter in response to inquiries is purely a lalor of love, for tho theme is a pleasant one to me, and it may, perhaps, bo as the casting of bread upon the waters for some sun-scorched and blizzard blasted deniz.-n of tho Mississippi valley. I will purposely avoid tho descriptive, touching scenery, and climate unsurpassed, tho never failing and abundant harvests, the extraordinary quahty in aizo and dcliciousness of fruits and vegetables, be cause a plain statement of actual facts would sound to eastern and southern ears liko tho wild exaggera tions of an enthusiast I will temper my statements with tho hum-drum monotony of tho Arkansas swamp, so to speak, which is about tho lowest dead level of fact any truthful writer could select as his base. Considered climatically, in variety and extent of resources, in present prosperity and assured pros pct for a brilliaut future, Oregon is incomparably ahead of any other stato in tho union. In making such a sweeping statement I am thoroughly guarded, for, having visited every part of tho United States, I am reasonably comjx'teut to judge by comparison. To como here, however, and succeed without tho aid of capital already in hand, requires such elements of manhood as energy, willingness to turn a ready hand to any employment for present support, and a spirit of contentment With good habits, established purpoeo and a determination to succml, tho field is here, open to all that ambition could desire as tho re ward of honorable ((Tart For the timid, tho idle and tho dissolute, this country, with its population and driving energy of truest American stamp, with its lovo of law and order, together with a public senti ment in favor of an industrious life, is about tho last such arsons should select Wholly out of place here, they would bo driven to the wall to make room for their superiors. It would be impossible in the brief compass of i letter to attempt a particular mention of the vast and varied resources of Oregon and the reasons of iu commanding advantage as a place of residence in. eluding its splendid system of public schools and pri vate educational institutions, its churches, libraries, and all else that belongs to the highest progressive enlightenment and public enterprise. I will mention incidentally that this city has raised for improve ments of a public kind on its own streets, within the past six months, $2,000,000.00, and apparently with out an effort These facts are better appreciated when it is remembered that on account of the difficul ty of access, this state remained, until within the last five years, almost entirely unknown. Now, however, with its steamship lines, and four transcontinental railways entering here, with feeders pushing into every part of the country, the world is quickly find ing out the extraordinary attractions of this great northwest, and thousands of the best citizens from the Mississippi valley and states of the eastern sea board are pouring in, under no stimulus of a specu lative boom, but drawn by inducements of a normal kind; are bringing their families to make their homes in this new " western empire," and to become an in tegral part of its greatness. I speik with the assur ance of ascertained fact when I say that no man who has lived here three months can return to his home east of the Rocky mountains and contentedly remain there. Among the many thousands of others I tried this myself, and although finding myself again in my old home, with the delightful renewal of former asso ciations, and every inducement that hosts of friends and a successful business could offer to remain there, I soon became thoroughly discontented and actually unhappy because of a continued longing for the cool and life-giving climate, the majestio scenery of the snow-capped mountains, the lovely valleys clothed in richest verdure, and the cold, limpid waters of Ore gon. The wisest move 1 ever made was when I laid aside every tempting consideration and came, as I hope, to live and die on this Pacific- slope, for this is essentially a white man's country, and public senti ment is unanimous and absolute that it shall so con tinue. As an American, or, rather, as a citizen of the United States, using that expression in its highest sense, I am proud to know that this wonderful do main constitutes a part of the union, and am chagrin ed to reflect that superlative ignorance and stupidity in congress came within an ace of losing the whole of it If the old proposition of " 54 40 or fight " could bo reconsidered we would stand on 5U0 and fight forever. Acquainted somewhat with this heritage won by the splendid courage and indomitable here-