Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-12-14
Letter from Oregon,
PORTLAND, OREGON, Nov. q

PORTLAND, OREGON, Nov. 20.
Friend EarLe-Thinking that some of
your patrons might feel interested in hear
ing from the far )f west, and what only !
few years ago vas considered long and |
arduous journeyto perform, and which was
as many residing here can testify, attended |
with many dangers and privations-requi-
ring in most of Cises many months to make
the journey, butnow, thanks to God, since
the completion q the railroad to San Fran
cisco, the trip can be made from your state
to Portland, Oregon, in ten days Scarce
ly any of us canbegin to realize the change
that few short years have wrought We
are fully aware here of the meagre knowl-
edge people residing in the eastern states,
have of Oregon and its resources. Since
the discovery o the gold mines in Califor-
MIA, that state mas had the full benefit of
at least four fifhs of the emigration COM
ing to this coast, while but little has been
said concerning us. California has had
until within the past two years, even, the
entire benefit Of all our agricultural pro-
ducts; our what, -four, bacon, lard, wool,
&c. Oregon, when mentioned at all, would
be looked on s a small county in the inte-
riOr Of California. 4 change, now, is com
ing over the spirit of our dream. During
the last year alarge numbero distinguish
ed visitors haze been travelling over our
beautiful valleys, and traversing our large
and lengthy rivers, have looked with won
der and aston shment at our magnificent
mountain scenery and cascades. Their
| report without an exception has been IA
vorable. | will endeavor at this time to
mention a few facts in relation to what we
consider to be the garden spot on the Pa
| ciic coast.
| We will first give its geographical boun-
daries. Oregon has California on the
south and Washington territory on the
north, extending from the Pacific ocean to
Snake riyer-the latter constituting part
of its eastern boundary; it is $50 miles in
length from east to west, and 29j miles
from north to solth, containing 81, PA 50.
miles, or 60, 975, $50 acres; the Willamette
valley alone being large enough to sustain
a population of over one million inhabit-
ants.
Its principal town is the city of Port.
land, situated on the west bank of the vii,
lamette river, twelve miles from its mouth
and one hundred and ten miles inland from
the ocean. 1t contains at this time a pop
ulation of about - 900 inhabitants, show
ing an increase within the past year of Is
per cent. and being in a commercial poin
of view the second city on the coast, and il
the great emporium of our state, with .
harbor which steamships and sailing yes
sells or all sizes, and from all parts of tn,
world, can reach in safety; with conven
lent docks, wharves and warehouses 70
packing and reshipping; and being tn
distributing radius for the merchandise
mechanical and agricultural wares, an,
the vast amount of other supplies consum
ed in the mining, numbering and agricul
tural regions of Oregon, Washington, Ida
no and Montana Territories, making tn
depot for an extensive commerce. Gu
city at this time is commencing to max
rapid strides in the way of improvement.
Over one million dollars has been expend
ed during the past year in the way of pei
manent and magnificent brick and fran
structures, street Improvements, &c. Tw
railroads are also being built, one on eac
side of the river, both commencing at Port
land, and known as the Oregon Contra
East and West Side Railroad the Eas
Side Road, under the supervision of Ben
Holiday Esq, will complete their first 2
miles during the coming month 1t is e1
pected that within three years from tn
time we will be ir direct communicate
by rail with Chicago and New York.
Portland no doubt is as far advanced
the way of churches, schools and semin:
/ ries of learning, as any town or city of i
I size on the coast. Our free school systel
= is thoroughly inaugurated. We have son
n twelve or fifteen schools and seminaries, a
tended by about 1900 scholars, and abol
the same number of churches of the var
: GUS denominations. Our government is
: this time erecting United States Custo
House, District Court Rooms, Post Offic
r &c, here, at an expense of 100000. b
: few years ago our county erected fiji
Is brick and stone court house and jail, sa
r. to be the best on the coast, and will cor
/ pare favorably with any in the older al
" more populous states.
'e Business here of every description seer
d to be in fiOurishing condition, and on
firm basis. The following is summary
Re the occupation of the people of Portlan,
v Portland has 80 accountants, Al alto
l. neys, l assay office, l auctioneer, 2 arch
e tects, 8 dealers in agricultural Implement
n 4 banking houses, barrel factory, boo
is sellers and stationers, 10 boot and sh
y dealers, II boarding houses, bakeries,
g brick yards, l broom factory, 10 commi
W sion merchants, civil engineers, 10 co
l. tractors and builders, 4 claim agents, 6 &C
p lectors, 2 copper smiths, 4 coffee and oyst
o, saloons, 6 clothing dealers, 4 crockery des
n, ers, 10 cigar and tobacco dealers, cabin
to makers, dealers in china goods, 9 de
lie fists, drug stores, l express company,
foundries, fruit dealers, 8 feed stores,
N gas factory, 8 dealers in gold dust, gu
of smiths, IS grocery stores, 20 hotels. re
m estate agents, dray companies, 5 ha
ir ware stores, 9 insurance agents, 40 hqu
e. saloons, 10 wholesale dry goods stores,
W meat markets, 4 large steam saw mills
s. grist mills, Is physicians, 4 photogra]
ii galleries, 8 marble shops, 2 job printil
re offices, 5 newspaper offices Is dailies and
a. weeklies,l stove stores, telegraph Of