wr SHORE.
Portland's progress the past year, as shown by the
statistics of its various industries and features, has
been remarkable and far greater than ever before in
the history of the second largest city on the Pacific
coast. In round figures it manufactured goods to tho
value of $20,000,000, giving employment to 8,000
hands, an increase in value of nearly fifty per cent,
over the manufactures of tho previous year. There
has been built, but not yet ready for operation, a smelt
ing plant that will have a capacity of 150 tons per day,
which may be easily doubled. The( wholesale and re
tail trade of the city increased its invested capital $7,
000,000, to a total of 163,000,000, and transacted a bus
iness fully fifty per cent, greater than the year before.
Bank clearings, for the period of less than six months
since the clearing house was established, were nearly
$50,000,000, and by the end of the full year of its ex
igence will reach thrice that sum. Heal estate trans
fers reached $14,140,352 on recorded deeds and "10.
000,000 on unrecorded bonds, and building improve
ments were made to the value of $5,000,000. At tho
same time the loss from firo, due largely to a most ef
ficient fire department, was but $20,000, the lowest in
its history and less than any city of equal size in the
country. The daily consumption of water increased
forty per cent, to a total of 7,000,000 gallons. The sys
tem has sixty miles of pipe and is worth fully $2,000,
000. A total of $750,000 was expended in the con
struction of new lines of street railway, including one
cable line and four electric line. The grain, (lour and
salmon tleet for the year dispatched from the Colum
bia river numbered 71) vessels. Domestic exjxirts were
$3,330,043 and foreign $5,4 10,338. Post office statistics
show an increase of 2G jcr cent, in receipts, the total
being $120,057. Money order business amounted to
$2,y.VJ,308, an increase of $750,000. These statistics
show but the rough outline of the business of the year,
but it is a most gratifying exhibit for the mctrojsdis
of the northwest, and is an index of what may I ex
ected the coming year. No other city in the union
with 05,000 inhabitants can make such a showing in
all departments, though real estate booms may lend
to some a fictitious air of great progress, but from
which many of the substantials upon which true pros
I'rity rests are lacking.
The democratic bows in Maryland lift up their
voices in opposition to the adoption of the Australian
'lection system. They say it lost Montana to the
democrats and would break their hold upon Mary
land. If a system guaranteeing a fair election will
break the hold of any political party it ii high time
that party's grip were loosened, be it democratic or re
publican. The question ought to be, How to secure
an honest election? Not how to hold our party grip.
THE LATE LUTHER D. ISON.
IN the death of Luther B. Ison Oregon lows one of
her Ix st judges on the bench. Judge I mm was
liom in Missouri about 1 H 0, and eamc to Oregon
in 1MJ2, settling in Baker county. He begun his
career in Oregon as a school teacher, but soon entered
polities and was elected county clerk of Baker county
for three successive terms. Meanwhile he studied law
and was admitted to the bar, and was subsequently
twice elected district attorney, He then entered the
general practice of law and madi for himself a wide
reputation for ability and integrity in his profusion,
lie was suUequently elected to thn UwU of th tilth
judicial district, and discharged the duties of that high
office with fidelity and marked ability until his d-ath.
Judge Ison was a democrat in (clitics and was one of
the most able men of his party in Oregon, and a leader
in the eastern ortion of the state. Personally he was
a man of a kindly diMition and of great decision of
character, one who made and held many warm friend.
He enjoyed the r s-- t of all who knew him, and his
d ath is regretted throughout the entire stato. Judo
I son died about six o'clock r. w. on Faturday, h-rrw
U r 2, He was a member of the Masonic, Ol 1
Fellows and Workmen fraternities and was burled
Uflder thJ auspices of those SM'ietiel.
A Portland minister has had a "call" to a Han
Francisco pulpit, and as it prrtmU a " larger field of
usefulness " w bit h is a synonym of a " larjrr salary "
he will undoubtedly acrepL Many au over-worked
editor would like such a chance as that to work over
Hi old editorial at an incrtaiel cowpetiMtW