, 1862-06-07
Letter from the Dalles.

DALLEs, May 29th, 1862
MEssRs. ED1ToRs-The cry here is, " still they
come, not McDuf's hosts in pursuit of his an
tagonist, but the swelling waters of the Columbia.
On Wednesday morning last the lower end of
Main street was submerged, causing the occu-
pants of the buildings in that locality to retire in
haste to the higher grounds adjacent, and convert
private residences and tents into business houses
Some of us most ardently hoped the destructive
element would not advance so as to overflow the
higher points on Main street, but we were doomed
to disappointment. BY Wednesday night at ten
o'clock the business houses as far up the street as
the Western hctel were deserted and the rise
still threatening those situated farther up. 1t is
thought that the stone buildings at the lower end
of II street, in which tt e water has risen to the
depth of several feet will be entirely ruined the
materials used in their construction not being
considered waterproof" A case Illustrating
the danger to which these buildings are liable in
consequence Of high water, occurred during the
last term of court in this place. A certain owner
of two of them sold out short time before the
high water but was obliged to dispossess a couple
of obstinate tenants before he could confirm the
sale by securing possession TO the purchaser To
this end he commenced a suit. But the opposing
party, probably driven to the last resort brought
celebrated and invincbe gentleman by the
name of Richard Roe alias John Doe into court,
and secured a continuance of the case until the
next term. Thus though tie litigation won't
cause the buildings to stand Or fall, it will make
slight difference in the small matter of dollars
and cents as to who really owns them at the mo-
ment of their demolition. The owner of the pre-
carous structures having to all intents and pur-
poses sold them to another party, and the occu-
pants leases having also run out, not without
some cause became incensed at the appearance of
the aforesaid Richard Roe alias JOhn Doe, and
would have whipped him on the spot but for the
timely interference of that mythical gentleman s
friends. The stone building man evidently has
no more confidence in courts than in mud-cement-
ed granite rock, lnasmuch as having wOH two or
three other causes in court of small moment in
which justice was acknowledged TO be on the 9TH
er side, and being congratulated thereon, he very
Indignantly remarked that he had "played HI
by retail, and went to hi by Wholesale What
ever my unfortunate friend may think of courts,
contend that our court and attorneys likewise are
to say the least as honest as the times and cir
cumstances will allow" If this, however. should
be considered an unwarrantable assertion, hope
somebody will correct it.
! The railroad to the Deschuttes, which we all
hoped would be pushed to a speedy completion,
! if for nothing else than that we might behold the
iron horse snorting through our streets and wit
ness the rrnaways and rights it would naturally
engender, has suddenly been stopped, the men all
taken away, and operations thereon entirely sus-
pended. | understand the company are building
a railroad at the Cascades on the Washington
side, and using the men and material origin
ally designed for this work at that place. 1t
| IL H., Il,
perative, as the company already have the use of
one road at the Cascades and hope soon to see
the men back again and vigorous operations
prosecuted.
Do you have such things as "bathi5g establish.
ments" in your city? feel an unusual interest in
these delectable institutions nova, days. as a new
feature in the manner of conducting them lately
came under my observation. If | comprehend
t plan, it must add greatly to the profits of the
establishment, especially in a town where water is
only to be had by paying for it. entered one of
them the other day enjoying the prospect of a re-
freshirg bath, wnen a conspicuous placard in
scrioed as follows, stared me in the face: "Don't
let the water out of the tub after using it." was
thunderstruck. Tried in vain to remember pre-
cedent for such singular Injunction but couldn't
| remembered notices telling the bather to let he
loater out but never before enioining them not to
/ q
cess of reasoning and conjuring as to what could
be the real meaning of the astounding pacard ;
and if it really meant what it plainly said,
then what was the object in allowing water to re-
main in the bath-tub which may have been the re-
ceptace of all the filth and vermin that man
might have acquired in trip to the Salmon mines
and hack again What Interpretation would YOU.
Messrs Editors put upon that placard? Could
that water be designed for another bath? |
thought of the high Price of the fluid, looked at
the water to see if l could form any opinion as to
how many had already bathed in it, once more
cast my eyes upon the curious notice, and some
what in doubt to its effect, but determined not
to take the desperate chances" in the tub, left
the room. There may be good and sufficient rea-
sons for such an Injunction in bathing room. but
don't believe it. Before l go into that room
again l shall solve the meaning of that notice.
you bet"
Business is as brisk as could be expected since
the apparent decrease in The numbers travelling
to the mines. The proprietors of the opposition
boat now building at the Deschuttes must hurry
up or they will find nothing to do wher it is com
pleted. AT the present time should Judge they
would have plenty of freight every trip up the
river. DALLEs.
MY faculty, surely is the more ancient. for the
killing of Abel by Cain was the first criminal case,
said a lawyer to a medical friend. "Sure enough, >
replied the doctor, "but before that happened a
rib was taken out of Adams side and that consti-
tuted the first surgical operation"
IT is said that some mothers are grown so af-
fectiorae, that they give their children chloroform
previous to whipping them.
THE solar system has large family, but only
one sun.