The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1869-12-11
Letter From the Capital.
SALEM, December s, 1869.

SALEM, December s, 1869.
We had our city election on Monday.
The result is as was anticipated by al
most every one. The politics of the city
being Republican, officers of that political
belief were, in every instance, returned,
though there was no agitation of national
ideas involved. The members of the old
Council were reelected, which thing
pleased them not so much on account of
the pay attached as the endorsement of
their proceedings last year. The ex-
penses of the city government for the
past year have been larger than ever
before. Over three thousand dollars
have been disbursed for the fire depart
ment alone, and the improvement of
streets has been another source of ex-
pense, yet the people would hardly con-
sent to be placed back where they were
year ago.
Is quiet here as every where else in Or
egon at this season, yet the usual amount
of business is transacted, as the casual
observer will see by visiting the wharf.
Considerable activity is noticeable among
the stores and shops where Santaclaus has
established his division headquarters.
Fine display of books, pictures, etc., can
be seen at J. X. Gilrs, on State street,
and at Yeaton & Boon's, on Commercial
itreet. For watches and jewelry Martin
can suit the fastidious, while toys, dolls,
and such like, are to be found at uza-
fovage & Wright's.
THE WEATHER
Astonishes old Oregonians; but, per-
! haps, the most wonder is expressed by
those who are spending their first Win
ter with u.s. They had heard of the
Webfoot rains, and the deep mud SO
often, that they dreaded to see cloudy
day. But this Winter convinces them
that the horrid stories circulated in Cal
ifornia and other places about our wet
Winters are exaggerated. Speaking of
wet seasons, will just stop to say that
the rain fall here Is not so great as IN
many other places in the United States.
A few days since examined a rain chart
and found that the rain fall of the Will
lamette Valley was given at IL inches,
while that of Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and
/ Western New York was put down at
from AZ to 40 inches, and parts of Cali
fornia at 4S and so inches.
MONEY MATTERS
Are easier here than could reasonably
have been expected six months ago, and
the financial distress predicted by the
Democrats in the Spring is not upon US,
Notwithstanding we have had no extra
session Our sheriff says the tax payers
are coming forward quite as promptly as
/ heretofore.
IMPROVEMENTS.
Notwithstanding the elegant buildings
erected the past Summer, the spirit Of
improvement is not yet satisfied. Mr.
Mallory is peparing to build an imposing
! brick structure on the corner where the
Capital Hotel stood, to be used as a hotel
and the Commercial Hotel Company
with Messrs l.. L. Groover, John. L. Mil
ler, Geo. A. Eads, and others, as stock
holders, are going to put up hotel Of
pallatial proportions on the corner o.
Trade and Commercial streets, near the
long bridge. This building, when com
pleted, will be equal in all its appoint
ments, except in size, to the Occidental
hotel in San Francisco.
Major Berry burned a kiln of one
million of brick just as the rainy season
set in, yet every brick is engaged.
ADJUSTMENTS.
Now that Reeds Opera House is :,
nearly completed, we have some kind o
amusement every week. Tonight thu
Salem Dramatic Troupe, assisted by Mr.
and Mrs. T. M. Bates, play g Nick of th'
Woods" This piece, and the talent O.
the players, promise to bring out full
house. ID.
Our municipal election passed off quie
ly in the extreme, the only real contes
being for the Treasurer. Party issue
were not made and the old officers wer
roelocfed with tho exoantinn of Chairman