The west shore., December 07, 1889, Page 386, Image 2

380
WEST SHORE.
PUHLISHID IVIRV SATURDAY.
L. SAMUEL, Pub., I7I-3-B Seoond 8t., PORTLANDOR.
tnlrrtd in IK Port Offlr ( Portland, Oregon, for tranmiuim ttrcmjA
IK mailt at ft and clou rahi.
UaiCRIPTION RATES atrlotlir In Advnncej.
On Yeer, U I Three Monihi, li.'S
Hi Monthi, .... t.is I SlngU Copic.
(VCoplit will In no cim b cent to tubKrlbcra beyond the term
paid for.
The WilT Smori offer the Best Medium for Advertis
ers of any publication on the Paclflo Coast.
Portland, Ohkoon, Katurday, Dkcemhir 7, 1889.
fYNN and Boston liave Ixttli Imjcii viHitod with fires
rivaling in tho extent of Iocs those of Seattle,
Ellensburgh and Spokane Falls. While it is a
matter of deep regret everywhere, especially tho
disaster at Lynn, by which several thouHand hands
have heen suddenly deprived of work as the winter
season is taginning, and while our sympathies for the
sufferers would Inj expressed in a substantial and gen
erous manner wero assistance from the far west re
quired, yet we can not hut feel a sense of relief that
two such fires in such old communities, so well pro
vided with means of protection, must remove tho im
pression from tho minds of eastern people that the
fire in Seattle and her sister citioB were tho result of
any Hculiur condition that there existed. If eastern
cities can hum down great blin ks of brick and stone
buildings, why not western ones as well? Our west
ern cities are just as careful alsmt having a gool water
supply, fire department, electric alarm system, etc., as
eastern communities. In fact, take them city for city
in proportion to size and population, and there are few
in the east that are so well protected against fire as
those nf the Pacific. The same comparison will hold
ginnl in regard to electric lights, telephones, street cars
and all modern metropolitan conveniences. There is
another idea suggented by the incidents following the
fire at I.ynn, and that is that in the west the purse
strings are pulled much more easily and quickly than
in the east at theory of distress. When it was known
in Boston that within a few miles of them many thou
sands of people had suddenly Uvn deprived of a live
lihood, a public meeting was held and $.'),IKN) sub
criUtl. There was not a city of 10,(KH) people in the
northwest that did not promptly send twice that mm
to aid her sister cities in the hour of their need, and
only stopjed fending Urause more had already Utn
sent than was needed. On the whole, one's limn could
easily be cast in less pleasant places than among the
people of the Pacific coast.
Secretary Rusk's reasons why an American citizen
should feel thankful are a summary of a few of the con
ditions which prevail in this country and nowhere else
in tho world. His reasons are, " that we are thriv
ing under the best system of government ever known;
that we are a people imbued with a spirit of brotherly
love, which finds expression in so generous a response
to calls for assistance from scenes of flood and fire;
that the prosperity of our nation is based on the peace
ful avocation of agriculture, and that famine is a word
which has no terrors for us. With fifty bushels of ce
reals for every inhabitant of the land, we have enough
for ourselves and our herds, the stranger, foreigner and
millions that Btay at home to dream of paradise and
plenty in America. We can sell this year more cotton
than wo grew thirty years ago. We can spare more
wheal than was grown in 1850. Four pounds of wool
are grown for every one that was clipped in 1800. We
have added to our store of fruits in such abundance as
to initiate an export trade. We are searching the world
for a market for our surplus production."
It was scarcely to bo expected of a state so young
as Montana that it should at one bound reach the pin
nacle of political uncertainty and have a double legis
lature. ThiB shows how thorough had been the prep
aration for statehood. Tho senate is equally divided,
politically, and neither side will "round up" with the
other for organization. As there are only eight on a
side they can not resort to a ball game to determine
which shall rule. By the issuance of certificates to
two Bets of candidates from Silver Row county the
lower house of the legislature is two. Tho factions
meet in different halls and make wry faces at each
other. Tho democratic governor sits on his pedestal
and smiles and smiles. It will not be surprising if
the people become tired of this aping of the ways of
tho effete east and send a few Bronco Bills from Pizen
Thunder down to Helena to Btraighten tho kinks.
The scheme of certain western congressmen to
maintain a united headquarters in Washington, where
shall Ihj exhibited Bamples of tho products of their
states and a display of their natural resources, with
maps, pamphlets, pictures, etc., presided over by gen
tlemen well informed on all subjects connected there
with, is certainly a good one, and, if properly man
aged, ought to be of great benefit tc their several
states. The opjMirtunity it will give to educate a few
of tho eastern congressmen on western subjects and
dispel the Egyptian darkness now enveloping their
minds, will not be the least of its advantages.