, 1862-08-30
Portland Correspondence.

advance. 1t is already getting so large, and its
various Improvements so numerous, that one cam
not keep track of them as we used to do by an
occasional walk about town. The levee, which
year ago we all wished would remain open to af-
ford us clear view of the beautiful Willamette, /"
promises soon to be as compactly and snugly
built up as the other side of the street, which oc
cupied years in the process of building. A fine
brick, with stone basement, is going up on the
levee directly opposite Robbins old stand C.
S. Kingsley, the enterprisng and shrewd business
manager, is the builder. Allen & Lewis are also
building substantial brick, adjoining their other
buildings. The Metropolis hotel has been great
ly enlarged, and will be when completed hotel
of man moth dimensions. The city is stretching
out its boundary with remarkable rapidity and
l imagine 1t will require but few seasons growth
at the rate of the present to double her size, and
make her indeed a magnificent city. 1t may be
possible, however, that some counter current will
at length take the wind out of our sails and send
us drifting upon the beach. But whatever the
danger, like stubborn pilot, we feel too sure of
our future commercial Importance, or are too
much engrossed in other affairs, to pay any atten
ton to the course of our ship or remove the
breakers that threaten her safety. In order to
secure our permanent advancement, we must
hold fast to the trade with the mining country
north of US. This is an essential and vital point,
as the success which has marked our history since
the gold discoveries has most amply demonstra-
ted. The Willamette valley is perhaps able to
sustain the inland towns and cause them to jog
along in the old fashioned style; but we of Port
land have cast off the old moorings successfully
allied ourselves with the gold producing regions,
and have assumed /" two-forty gait. Hence
forth we must have irmer resources and llveler
trade to support our advanced stride. Shall we
be able to maintain our new alliance, and reap
the benefits growing out of it? is question, it
seems to me, which we will do well to consider,
and discover whether there are any barriers to
our progress that may be ov vercome. Both Van
couver and Dalles are endeavoring to set them
selves up as rivals to our present advantages and
it must be confessed neither of these points is
altogether without its chances of success The
former place has long been jealous of our growth,
and has made several desperate struggles TO out
strip US the scientists Of the Daes imagine they
are paying us a tibute that keeps them down, and
are determined sooner or later to establish di-
rect shipping line between themselves and San
Francisco. Whether this long talked of move
ment will ever be effected is extremely doubtful
and whether such a desideratum once accom-
plshed would particularly interfere with us, is
another question of doubt. Our success during
the present season has perhaps given us too great
confidence in our future resources; at all events,
this point will be determined when obstruciions
in the river such as we have hitherto had give oc-
casion for little effort on the part of our citizens
to secure at all seasons an unobsructed commu-
nication.
am not apt at retailing the gossip of the town,
having never served an apprenticeship q local
editor of Portland daily; and therefore you
will have to depend upon some one else for the
major portion Of this kind of yarning The spar
allel" instituted by your Florence correspondent,
GIL m nina IN HRro p'sn chancoe for tba SeData
struck us exceedingly truthful and appropri-
ate. His head is right These Lis only
chances, and his only peculiar claim to the posi-
ton rests wholly upon just such groundless and
absurd pretexts. That he is a candidate he no
longer denies, if he ever did squarely and it is
really amusing, now that the election is supposed
soon to occur, to see with what exquisite grace
and ease all the patronizing airs of reguar-bred
politician of the toady school sit upon him. His
headquarters nowadays are at Wasserman's ci-
gar store, the reason for which is obvious when
you remember that Philip is our representative
elect. If there is election for senator at all
matter of some doubt--it is hard to conjecture
who will be the successful candidate. I most sim |
cerey hope, however, it will be neither of those !
who spoken of as the prominent cand-
dates"-Pearne and Bush. Either of the Judges, !
Williams, Deadly Boise, or Siratton. or several
other gentlemen who might be named would
suit us much better. Speaking of friend Pearne
always reminds me of his rght-bower Governor
G-s. Since the election the Governor has had |
about all he could do to navigate his own corpc-
rosity, and has been exceedingly quiet the only
question of public printer directing attention to
his excellency for a short time. 1t was supposed
by some that in this matter the Governor would
have the appointing power, and queries arose as
to who would get the printing. For few days
the chances we're evenly balanced between the
Oregonian and Tunes, until it transpired that a
certain influential friend of Bush, curious to know
how the Governor stood, wrote letter to him
before the election, inquiring directly what would
be his action touching the public printing in case
a vacancy occurred in the office. The Governor
promptly replied that he should make no appoint
ment in the matter without first consulting the
Statesman Office. This 1" knocked the pegs from
under the other candidates. who are of course in
censed at the Governor for pedging himself be-
fore the election. 1t is the general conclusion
now, believe. that there is no vacancy in the of
fee, and that Bush will hold it until after another
election.
You have doubtless noticed from the papers
that the affairs of the Umatilla Agency are being
slightly oNerhauled here. The general impress
ion is that Barnhart has been playing old Uncle
Sam out of large amount of money, thereby
making good his remark years ago that he "had
hadn't made anything if he ever got another
chance he would see that he came out with his
share" This determination he has undoubtedly
fulfilled to the letter. The investigation once
commenced, it is hoped it may be thorough one,
both for the credit of the government and the In
dians upon whom also he has imposed his theving
practices. When Col. Rector passed through our
town on his way to said Agency batch of GER
tiicates, fully showing up the character of Barn
harts transactions, were placed in the Superinten
dents hands with the request that he should in
vestigate the matter. The Colonel took the GER
tiicates to the Agency, found them all truthful,
and Barnhart grossly culpable. Upon the Super
intendent's return, the gentleman who furnished
the certificates called upon him to learn the result
of his visit. He was informed by the Superinten-
dent that he found the allegations contained in
the certificates all true but thought it was best
not to say anything about it, to keep still for the
present, ntimatng that Barrhart would perhaps
be transferred to some other Agency. He ought
to be promptly removed, and the public will de-
mand nothing short of this The idea of appoint
ing Barnhart to a position where public moneys
were to be dsbursed, was s1premely ridiculous in
the outstart. l am told the cause of Rectors hes
itation to suspend him, is the receipt Of letter
from Col Nesmith declaring that Barnhart must
not be removed. 1t is not reasonable to suppose
that Nesmith would have written such a letter,
but he may have done so. PHENIx.
PoRTLANDERs.-Judg from the num-
Der of Portlanders in our city at present,
we should think there had been general
exodus from the webfoot metropolis.-
Among the numb er our old and esteemed
friend ]. w. Cook very unexpectedly