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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 4, 1900)
THE MORNING OREGONIAN, TUESDAY, DECEMBER , 1900.- Yfl M ..l LrrLSrfife !m"o 1B!!K8bT1 ' JKJHB """'jiff g JldMHklBclHfeHM&sRrSwiit fzBJi&: liiKiTi VWli "I yiaHWtlBHW. wratlsa.aR3aMtlHr Jr--y.giaJMBraEal iff'lWnraMMAi!, UK A irIBltlK; rTwK' , Tt ir 1 Mm i TrTCTit,, aMKTT?iiia? rT MOaBWWiMWrJil f ' i 1 ii'? icln '?" 5 8 Photo. tr X J. Hicks I Commerce in The Larg'e Part Has Played in Portland's GrovtK. Tttct maritime Interests of Portland have ever been the greatest factor In .her commercial greatness. In locating the city on the banks of the "Wil lamette, Its founders gave it all the ad vantages for trade distribution that ac crue to any Inland city which springs tip in the heart of a prosperous re gion. At tho same time the splendid system of waterways has from the earliest times enabled deep-water ships to reach the Portland docks With ease, thus bringing the producers. Of this state into direct communication with the markets of the world. "When me consider the vast Importance of the maritime commerce of the present day, while we are also enjoying the advan tages of transportation afforded by four transcontinental railroads, with Innumer able feeders, it is easier to comprbrnd the extent to which Portland's existence was dependent on marine traffic in the early 50s. This traffic, which "drew the world together and spread the race ' acart," was the one artery through which the commercial lifeblood of Port land and Oregon surged. Railroads at that period were rare, indeed, even in the most thickly populated states of the Union, and in Oregon were so far in the future that they were hardly thought of. The dense forests made road-building elow and costly work, and accordingly we find in the records of the vanguard of clvlization who crossed the plains fre Guent mention of the construction af rafts, which were used in floating the pioneers down the Columbia and up the Willamette. The bateau of the trader and freighter supplanted the raft of the pioneer homeseeker on nature's highways, and it in turn gaye way to the noisy, wheezing little steamers, the first of which appeared on the Columbia a few months before the birth of The Orego sian. A year later the steamboat in vaded a new field above the falls at Oregon City, and before the close of 1S51 there were half a dozen steamers plying on the "Willamette, enabling the nardy settlers along that stream to reach a market with the products of the soli, which previous to this time had been practically worthless on account of poor (transportation facilities. The plonfers who had taken the land route to the new West, while neanng the coast had sighted many a rich and "beautiful location for Homebuilding east of the Cascade Mountains, but through lear of the Indians kept moving on. Re ports of thlr observations, however, had the effect o' interesting the Government, and In due s-eason soldiers were detailed and settlements appeared along the Mid dle and Upper Columbia. Steamboats ran regularly In 1831 between Portland and the lower Cascades, and that year the James P Flint, the pioneer steamer on the Middle Columbia, went into ser vice, giving Portland additional territory on -which to draw for trade. Portland's population at this period was not suf!l clently large to offer a market for very much of a surplus of the comparatively small amount of farm products which the settlers were sending in, but the ocean traffic grew apace with that of the rivers, and wheat, oats, beans, bntter, Its Infancy River and Ocean "Traffic hides, tallow, potatoes, etc., began to flg ur& on the outward manifests of the ocean craft along with the furs of the trapper and the lumber and piling which had formerly afforded the only cargoes for the vessels which came here with merchandise from the outside world. Prior to 1860 Portland was dependent entirely on small sailing vessels for con nection with the rest of the world. The pioneer Beaver, the first steamer on the Pacific Ocean, made occasional trips from Puget Sound and British Columbia to Vancouver Barracks In the 30s, and In the early part of the MOs, but as she was owned by the Hudson's Bay Com pany she cut no particular figure in building up trade In Oregon. In June, 1550. however, the Caroline, the first American steamship to enter the Colum bia River, arrived at Portland, and was followed a few weeks later by the Gold Hunter, mentioned elsewhere as the first Oregon Investment in rteamshlp prop erty. The financial troubles of the Gold Hunter hampered her usefulness as a regular means of communication, but a year later the Columbia was placed on the route between Portland and San Francisco, and, connecting at the latter port with the Panama liners, brought Portland Into touch with the rest of the Nation. The Columbia had but a limited freight capacity and her revenue was mostly secured from mails and passen gers. This, together with the rapidly increasing business due to the influx of settlers from the East and from the waning gold excitement in California, left plenty of work for the small coasting barks, brigs and schooners. The Colum bia bar was at Its worst In those days, and, from the rare old relics which sailed between the Willamette port and San Francisco, It Is apparent that ship owners did not believe In sending good vessels here. The big fleet of clipper ships which were built In 1849 and 1S$0 to bring goldseekers to the coast re mained in the round-the-Horn traffic for many years, and made San Francisco the base of supplies for the entire Pa cific Coast, freight for Portland being transshipped at that port, and the coast ers which brought It to Portland carried Oregon produce for the Eastern markets by the same route. Outside ports along the Oregon and Washington coast began to attract at tention from the enterprising Oregonlans in 1S51, and the sloop Klllamook was built .at Astoria and made regular trips to Tillamook and Shoalwater Bay, thus adding to Portland's field for trade. The steamship Sea Gull was on the route between Portland and San Francisco in 1551, and called both ways at Port Orford, Trinidad and Humboldt, all of these ports taking a certain amount of produce and merchandise from Portland. The maritime commerce of Portland and Oregon Is the keystone from which her commercial greatness has bullded. Fifty years ago it was a matter of a few thousand dollars a year. Now the value of the products carried on ocean vessels between Portland and the sea is $20, OW.OOO a year. The diminutive sailers. Francis and Louise, J. JEL Whiting, Susan Ablgal, Georr and Martha ana Kireflq- PRESENT VIEW OF PORTLAND. LOOKING NORTHEAST. SHOWING craft" have given way to the larrest sailing ships afloat, which move unhin dered to the sea, with more cargo aboard than the craft of 50 years ago could carry In a dozen trips. The river has done much for Portland, and Portland has not been derelict in her duty to the river. The channel to Astoria is in such shape that 24-foot ships go tnrough without touching and without delay, and by an other j'ear the Government will have the improvements at the mouth of the river in such shape that there will be no more delay below Astoria than Is now ex perienced above that point. H t BarnKart "Was TKere. f Among those who were present when the first number of The Oregonian was taken fromthe press was Major W. H Sarnhart, who arrived here In the Fall of 1S49. and Is now a resident of this city, and, so far as he knows, with Amos N. King and Mrs. Stephen Coffin, Is the only person now living here who was here in 1849. Mr. Barnhart's name did not appear in the first copy of The Oregonian, but he was at that time bookkeeper for Norris & Co., one of the advertising firms. Early in the year 1S51 Norris & Co. went out of business, and IT WHTTCOMB, FIRST STEAMER BUnh? dX THE "miaiA2CETTE RIVER. f On Christmas day, 1650, tho ste&sxer Lot Whltcomb was launched at MUw&okie, arald a creat Jollification. She was named la honor of the founder of the town, and was commanded by Captain William S. Hanscome. "W. H. H. Hall, pilot, Jacob Kamm, engineer. She was 160 feet lone, 24 feet beam. 5 feet 8 Inches depth of Sold. Captain J. C Alnsworth afterward succeeded to the command. She was first put on the Astoria route, and later ran on the lower river altogether. In 1S54 she was taken to California. Mr. Barnhart went into business Imme diately after, and Shubrjck Norris was bookkeeper for him during the time he remained here. So far as he knows. Mr. Barnhart is the only person now living here who was in business here in the Winter of 1S50-1, and even the firm names have disappeared. For about half the time since Mr. Barnhart's arrival here In 1849 he has been a resident of Portland, and the other 25 years he has resided In various parts ojtti state. Life on tKe River Crude Accommodations on Steamboats Kig'K Fares A Couple's Predicament. ASTORIA, Or., Nov. 23. In answer to your request for some remin iscences of the early history of Oregon, and especially of the first naviga tion of its livers, I do not knew that I can give you much more of a detailed account than you will find In the "Marine History." When I first came tb Oregon, with the Mounted Rifle Regiment, under command of Colonel Lorlng, arriving in Oregon City October 12, 1S49, the regiment was obliged to make Its Winter quarters there, as no provision had been made at Van couver for them. Oregon City at that time was quite a busy place, and num bered some; very pleasant, sociable people, and. Inasmuch as many of the officers brought their families with them, and we had also an excellent regimental band, altogether It made a. gay and lively town. The only means of transportation was by horseback, or by water in canoes or small sailboats. Between Oregon City and Portland and Vancouver the travel was generally on horseback, through heavy timber, and wagon roads were hardly known. A trip down the river to Portland, In pleasant weather, by rowboat or canoe, was very easy and exciting, shooting through the rapids at the mouth of the Clackamas and the numerous whirls and eddies below; but coming back, ""i &TO?&-bx & good ug-ri veer wind, it-was PART OF BUSINESS SECTION. rather tedious. An Englishman by the name of John Thomas was the owner of a very pretty Whitehall boat, and for the moderate sum of J5 would bring a passenger from Portland to Oregon City. With a company crossing the plains, holding the position of sutler, was a man by the name of James Frost, an energetic, speculative, able-bodied man, who, with his brother, became interested in a saw mill down the Columbia, near Clifton, known as the Hunt mill. Frequent tedi ous trips awakened him to the iact that something better was required in the way of navigation, and he enlisted the aid of some residents of Astoria, among them General Adair, Sam Goodwin and others. They decided on building a small side wheel steamer. With the assistance of Tom Smith, an engineer and foundryman of Oregon City, the boat was built, ma chinery placed and ready for her maiden trip, in command of Captain Jim Frost, - in the early part of July, 1S30. The name given was the little Columbia. The boat was small, and not at all a harbor of com fort for passengers, having no sleeping accommodations, and not much sitting room, but, compared with the former modes of travel between Portland and Astoria, was a great Improvement, and the modest fare of" $23 was willingly paid. I remember presenting a bill to Dr. Wil cox, of Portland, for three trips between Portland . and Astoria and . meals en route, for JS0. The rate. of speed depended very much on the .assistance of wind and tide. A couple of young Indians who had considerable knowledge of the river were employed as pilots, but an occasional lay up on a sandbar retarded the passage, which under favorable circumstances on the up trip would take from 15 to 20 hours. After Frost I took' charge-of the .boat, for a time, and later a young Mississippi steamboatman by the name of Makay was in command. After the Little Columbia came the Lot Whltcomb, a fine steamer, built at Mil waukle, and named after an old resident of that burg. With Captain J. C. Ains worth in command, and. Jacob Kamm as engineer, she was ably handled. From this on, steamers increased and multiplied rapidly, both on the Columbia and Wil lamette Rivers, above and below the falls at Oregon City. I cannot enumerate the names and dates of the coming out of the various crafts, as I left Oregon In 1S52, dnd was absent for a number of years before coming back to resume steamboating in the employ of the old O. S. N. Co. If not too wordy for your columns, I might mention one or two little episodes, rather amusing, in which the little steam er bore a part. One of tnese Introduces the name of Amory Holbrook, at that time the Attorney-General of Oregon, and one of the most Inveterate practical jok ers In the country. He had no mercy or scruples In carrying out his jokes to the bitter end when he once started in, as I knew to my sorrow afterwards, when practiced on myself. At Vancouver re sided Governor Ogden, In charge of the Hudson's Bay Company business at that place. Like Dr. McLoughlin, of Oregon City, he was a noble, kind-hearted man. His daughter was the wife of a Mr. Mc KJnley, in charge of the Hudson's Bay Company store at Oregon City, and their home was on the bluff above the city. One night Governor Ogden received word that his daughter, Mrs. McKlnley, was very ill, and required his presence as soon as possible. The Governor mounted his horse, and, accompanied by his Indian servant, made his way as rapidly as pos sible by Indian trail, through the timber and darkness to Oregon City, climbed the bluff and knocked at the door of the Mc Klnley home. In answer ' to his inquiry he was told that Mrs. McKlnley was in perfect health, and asleep. The Governor said nothing, but remained overnight, and in the morning, meeting Holbrook, who could not disguise his satisfaction, surmised at once where the' summons had come from. The Governor made no com plaint, but bided his time. Some short time after, on arrival of the steamer from San Francisco, malls being brought up from Astoria, Holbrook re ceived important documents calling him at once to San Francisco on legal busi ness. The little steamer Columbia, of which I had charge at the time, carried the malls and passengers from Portland to Astoria, calling at Vancouver on the way for mails. While lying at Vancou ver, some few passengers, among them Holbrook, went up to pay 'their respects to Governor Ogden. Holbrook mentioned to Governor Ogden that he was on his way to San Francisco on some important business. While his guests were being entertained In the most friendly manner, the Governor stepped from the room, told his servant to go down to the boat, pre sent his compliments to the steward and say that Mr. Holbrook requested him to give his valise to the servant to take up to Governor Ogden's residence for the purpose of getting some papers from It. The valise was handed up at once and carried to-Jh .Governor's residencs. In Vleir rom Portland Heights. due time the passengers returned to iht steamer, all feeling pretty jolly after the Governor's generous donations, and, all being ready, the steamer proceeded on her way to Astoria. On arrival there, passengers for San Francisco prepared to go aboard the ocean steamer at once", as she was ready to go out on arrival of the mails. Holbrook could not find his valise, and great excitement was in order. When the steward was questioned he re plied at once that it haa been delivered to Governor Ogden's servant, on request of the Governor, and had not been re turned. That settled the matter. Holbrook nr. that he had been paid in his own coin. He returned to Portland by tho llttla steamer the next day, a sadder and wisec man, and waited one month or the next steamer to arrive from San Francisco. At another time my sympathies wera with a young couple en route from Van couver to Astoria. After the regiment had removed to Vancouver, many social gatherings were gotten up, and at on of these, given by the wife and daughters of Captain Llewellyn Jones, a young: and very pretty young lady from Astoria was one of the invited guests. She was much, admired by the young officers, and espe cially so by one who, when he was ready, to return home, obtained leave of absence for a few days in order to accompany her down the river. They could have but little privacy, Inasmuch as the small after-cabin could boast of but two board seats, one running on each side of the dining table, and terminating to a point at the extreme end. Everything went smoothly along till we reached Woody Island, about IS miles from Astoria. Hera we met a strong" wind and a flood tide. The little boat had not the power and strength to fight the two, and we were" obliged to come to anchor. The pitch ing and rolling were fearful, and my two young passengers were soon In the agonies of seasickness and were helpless. I placed them In as comfortable a posi tion as. I possibly could, with their heads close together, at the end of the cabin, put a buckef between them for Joint use, and hung a blanket across by their feet to shut them from view. As the wind and sea subsided, we journeyed on, and eventually reached our journeys end. It was a touching position, and I used some times to remind the young lady of It, but she did not remember it as an amusing episode. DAN O'NEILL. Christmas in 1SSO. The late John Wilson, than whom no man was ever remembered with mora affection, once told how he had endeav ored to give two little girls a happy Christmas In 1S50. "Those old days!" remarked Mr. Wil son. "Did we have any Christmas then? Not much of a one. I was boarding with a family where there were two little girls. I thought a great deal of them, and about Christmas time I thought I ! would buy them some candy. There was no candy in the settlement, as I found to my regret. Finally, a man told me he thought there was a saloon keeper who had some candy In his place. I looked him up. He had four candy jars in which candy had been kept, but they had been empty for months. However, in the bottom of each there was an accumulation of candy dust and broken bits. Would he sell tho remains in the bottom of those- jars? There was not more than an ounce in each jar. Yes, he would sell them, " "How much? "Five dollars. "I got the. cahdy-l$ was- betts tfe4 Jnothins,'-