, 1862-05-17
Portland Corresponder
PORTLAND, May 1862.

Oh1LAND; -hdl 4OOA'
EDS. STATESMAN Did you ever lice what
an influence the atmosphere has w Che dispo-
sitions Of peopleP During the past y. < we have
had most perfect specimen of the ygon win
ter-a cold, chilly atmosphere and dr. ling rains.
For week or two previous the wee sr was de-
lightfu The birds warbed their otes of re-
joicing, and so did the men. EveryboG, hummed
a familiar songs or if the emusic of the soul
was not trained to tune, they had a cheerful word
always at the tongues end, and consequently it
first found expression. The children gamboled
on the green, and the "bg boys played at ball
on the cOmmon-all hated the very sound of the
old school bell calling them to their studies But
anon cloud arises and the children even in Or
egon have learned to regard this as Ominous not
of shower and genial clear up, but of success
i've days and perhaps weeks of oppressive "moist'
or drizzling rain
The item in your paper styling this the land
of webfoot" served to illustrate the effect of the
atmosphere. When that came down it was the
time OF general rejoicing, and those who saw it
Indignantly repudated the cognomen es nappro-
pirate and unjust. But the wealth having re-
solved them back into their native element, they
find the phraze not Inappropriate, and some of
them admit just now that the prospect is fair for
soon finding web-feet very desirable auxiliary to
navigation.
The flood of water is again threatening to sub
merge the city. Already it is up most of
the wharves-all the lower on -ey
some of those intended for use durm- nigh wa
ter. Some of the business men are beginning to
count their chances in case of another food, and
looking for elevated points. Before the rains
came, there was fear of a food from the cOntin-
uance Of warm weather-now from the contin-
uance of rain. Verify the people of Portland, as
well as those of Lewiston, are doomed to "an ag-
ony of suspense" on account of the instability of
the mighty waters. Well, they are sure to rise
and fall in pursuance of an inexorsble law, ard |
suppose if the people don't like their encroach-
ments they must emigrate to more favored sites.
Portland, in spite of the floods, is bound to go
ahead but with the other natural embarrass-
ments in the way of Lewiston, it is pity that the
water should overflow her fair surface. thus caus-
ing a most grlevous backset to her progress.
There are at present seven steamers a month
in the trade between San Francisco, Portland and
Victoria-nearly at the rate of two a week, if
they made their trips with any regularity. But
they don't. During the past week we have had
not less than four steamers in port, all bringing
more or less passengers and freight. In this man
ner our city is crowded 10 excess and the strife
in getting up the river becomes almost violent
Applicants for t;ckess stand all night in the hal
Of the steamboat company, in order to be first on
hand in the morning. The stock boats are
crowded worse than the passenger boats, and the
demand for transportation is greater.
Daniel H. Lownsdale, an old resident of this
city, died recently of consumption. His remains
were inferred by the Masonic fraternity. His
death brings another Richmond in the field"
which will have the effect, imagine, to unsettle
many of the titles to city property, the nominal
possessors of which have heretofore felt them
selves entirely secure.
Yours, B. P. S.