, 1867-11-22
AIerislator on his Travels.
SALEM, OREGoN, Nov. 10th, lS

SALEM, ObEdONb NON' AO'uJ '0O''
EDITOR SrATEsMAN.-As many of the
readers of your paper have never been in
in this Valley, 1 thought that through
the columns of the same might say some
thing that would interest them, especially
such as think like l did,-that it rains here
eyery day. As you are aware, perhaps,
myself and wife left Walla Walla, Nov. 7th,
on board of one Mr.. Abbott's sstages-advcr,
tisements being posted to carry passengers
from Walla Walla City to Wallula for Fifty
cents. The consequence was, the oppos
tion stage went lightly loaded, and made
the tri1 some three and half hours sooner
than our COACH whilst We had % passen>
passengers and an all day ride, the ladies'
some of them-gettiDg their feet wet in
crossing the river; besides the coach was
stopped on the road and two dollars and
ffiy cents demanded of each passenger. Now
this was cheap enough, but you see we were
compelled to ''see the Elephant" | do not
know whether the readers of your paper
would call this tricky, or not If they
should, l suppose they would have to ac
count for it as Punch did of the frying pan,
when he said "the reason why water boiled
quicker 10 an old pan than in new one,
L-~~.,aA it was more used to it "
We landed at Vancouver, November oUn,
in the evening, and as l expected, it was
raining; but Sunday morDiug, the 10Th, it
did not rain, and after church, upon that
day, we visited the cemetery grounds, where
rests the numerous dead-so numerous that
we were surprised; yet after learning that
LII
there for the past Fifty years, it was not so
surprising after all; but to the credit OF the
United States officers and the citizens of
Vancouver, the grounds in their care show
that no pains have been spared in keeping
them neat in all respects After staying at
Vancouver three days, we left for the more
imposing city of Portland. This latter place
remind, one, and compares with, some of the
fine cities of the East. After visiting the
most prominent localities about town, we
left for some of the more interior places of
Oregon-passing through Oregon City,
which contains quite large Wollen Factory
establishment; taking view of the Falls,
we went on up to Salem, and stopped at the
Capital House, kept by the gentemanIy
landlord, Mr.. Homer Smith. Friday, the
18th, we visited the Woen Factory at Sa-
lem, where myself and vie we're cordially re-
celvcd BY its gentenanly Superintendent,
Mr.. Hoyt, who kindly invited us to look
throug b the whole establishment, conducting
US himself from the room where tile wool
goes through its first process on until it
comes out iu finished goods; as fine qualities
perhaps, as are manufactured any where In
the west. In the first place, they make
their own soap for securing, etc, and use
about six thousand pounds per mouth. -Four
hundred pounds Of wool dyed at once, it
being done by steam. They manufacture
; from twelve 10 fifteen hundred pounds OF
matcria! per day. There are thirty three
Looms all working at the same time TheI c
are indicators attached to these Looms fJr
making Harness, used for weaveing. There
are fifteen carding machines, some Of the
latest inventions. There are also spinning
machines with sixteen hundred and eighty
sPindes. This machinery all runs at the
ame time, working up from four to five
hundr,d thousand pounds of wool every
year, reminding che that We are liyiog in u
day of Inventions
We are soing to spend few days here,
visiting the PeuitentIury, and other places
of note, aud then leave for Olympia, wherr
lexpect to meet the Hon. W ii. Newell and
other members Of the Legislature from Wala
Wala. But | must close, by saying that
from the time of my lauding, VI rather, after
the next morning, there has not been Que
drop Of rain here, to ny knowledge. 1t is
t warm and pleasant, aud everything looks
agreeable. Respectfully Yours,
S. MANSON