THE
WEST SHORE.
Fifteenth Year.
JANUARY, 1889.
NiMiir.it 1.
THE CAPITAL CITY OF OREOON.
vi
YING in the heart of the Willamette valley,
and very near its geographical
center, is the city of Salem, the
capital of Oregon. It is a city
of seven thousand inhabitants,
and besides being tho stato cap
ital is the seat of justice of Mar.
ion county, a manufacturing and
commercial town of importance
and a social center. Tho city is
platted on an undulating tract of
land, and is handsomely laid out Tho
streets are one hundred feet wide and the blocks
three hundred and thirty feet square, exclusive of an
alley sixteen feet wide extending north and south
through the block. The streets are lined with maple,
elm and other ornamental shade trees, and present a
beautiful appearance in summer time. There are
several very fine business blocks and tho business
streets in general would bo a credit to a larger city.
The residence portion of the city conformi to tho
generous plan of the plat, and there is no evidence of
crowding anywhere. Residences are surrounded with
spacious lawns tastefully ornamented with trees and
flowers. Pleasing styles of architecture are employed
in the buildings, and whatever would add to tho en
joyment of home life is observed in furnishing tho
surroundings of the homes of Salem families. Man
sions and cottages alike bear an air of general com.
fort and refined taste that is quito attractive,
Salem is favored by the patronage of tho state in
its public buildings. The state house, of cour
stands at the head of the list, both in the raaguifi
cenco of its architecture and the importance which it
serves. This structare is built of iron, stone and
brick, and nearly a half a million dollars hare bn
expended upon it The corner stone was laid in B73
and now the stracturo is entirely completed, with the
exception of the dome and the interior of two or three
of the rooms, which will probably be provided for by
the present legislature. This will mako a building
that could not bo duplicated for less ths threc-quar.
tcrs of a million dollars. Tho main building is sov-enty-fivo
by two hundred and soveuty.fivo feet on tho
ground, and two stories high, besides a full basemcut
and sub-basement On tho cast and west aides are
wings each fifty feet long. Tho first lloor is devoted
to the main department oflhos and tho IcgUlativo
chambers, tho senate chamber beiug in tho north
wing, and tho assembly in tho south. Roth are hand
somely finished and provided with every convenience.
A hydraulio elevator was recently placed in tho build
ing, supplying an easy means o! reaching tho upjer
lloor, whero tho state library and supremo court
rooms are located. Tho dome, yet to bo added, will
havo an octagonal base, and will be fifty-four feet in
diameter, and ono hundred and eighty feet in height
abovo tho ground. From tho summit of tho cnpitol
dome tho view inch les ono of tho grandest scenes
imaginablo -river and valleys and mountain rang
and snow-clad poaks; rocky ridgei and timbers!
slopes; grain fields and orchards and meadow -a
wide expanse of greatly diversified scenery that inakoa
an interesting study.
Tho stato asylum for tho imano is another of the
important public buildings of Halera. It is situatM
on a tract of two hundred and ninety acres, lying jtut
cast of the corporation limit. Tho building has a
frontage of four hundred and cigbty-fivo fret, with a
wing at either end extending back two hundred and
twenty feet Tho main department of tho building U
four stories in height, with an ornamental tower hav
Ing a vano ono hundred and twenty f- t above tho
ground Tho rest of tho building is two and ono
half and three stories in height There are now firo
hundred and eighty-six patient accommodate in this
institution. On tho Mylara farm is produced a con
siderable portion of tho vegetable products cor.nafaf!
by tho patients. This institution compare favorably
with any in tho Unit State.