Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-03-22
Letter from Oregon.
PORTLAND. FEB. %. 1870.

matters and things as they actually
exist here in this most western OF all
the western states. | wish your read
ers to know more of the attractions
offered by its unequaled soil, climate,
&c, so that when those of them who
conclude to leave their native hills and
wales and look to the west to better
their condition, they will not give US
so wide a berth as many have hereto
fore.
In the matter of manufactures and
similar enterprises. Oregon has pur-
sued the slow and rery sure policy in
past years, and if she seemingly has
departed from that within the year
just closed, and taken up the more
go-ahead style, it is not because her
people have been lured from the pur-
suit of substantial enterprises by the
glittering attractions of spectators,
but simply because the unprecedented
progress Of the development of her
great and many resources has actually
demanded the surprising advancement
noted, aad which has been fully sus-
tanned in every particular by the graf
flying exhibits of wholesome prosper
ity that have accompanied these vari-
GUS enterprises. 1t is a noteworthy
fact, in connection with this subject,
that there has never occurred a fail
urc nor an abandonment Of any i'm
pOrtant undertaking in Oregon, and
that in no instance has there happen
ed failure of any large commercial
house, of any banking establishment.
of any capitalist, nor Of any incorpo-
ration or individual. whose business
was Of such nature as to cause inSol-
vency or disaster to any other house.
or a material loss to the community
generally. And yet, Oregon has her
banks, local and national, her large
steam navigation corporations, ocean
shipping companies, wooden factories,
linseed oil mills, iron works, engine
and machine shops and foundries ca
pable of turning out the heaviest
work, ship yards in which handsome
river steamers and large coasting YES.
sells are built, and various other incor.
porationS and considerable enterpri
ses-to say nothing of her numerous
Touring mills, some of which will vie
with the best in any other state, and
the -four from which-aS the Imperi
al, the Standard, the Magnolia, Salem
and Vaughn s-has won the first rank
in the New York market, under, shame
to say, the name Of " California -four
And finally, Oregon has the first TWEEN
ty miles Of the line Of railway compile
ted, and the engines and cars running
which is to be continued through the
whole length of the state, thence thro
California to connect with the Cen
trail Pacific road, and thus place US il
direct communication with our sister
states of the Pacific, and the state:
across the Rocky Mountains.
There is an insane asylum for tht
care and safe keeping Of that class Of
unfortunateS, and so are there hospi
tails in several counties tor the benef
and treatment Of the INDECENT sick 0,
crippled, but as the number of thi
class Of patients is uncommoaly small
in Oregon, in contrast with that OF
other states, these public institution
cause only a nominal tax upon tn
people. And. as a general rule, tn
same remark will apply to the count
jailS. Nor is the State Penitentiar
a crowded institution, because the ad
ministration Of justice is generally s
thorough that the evil disposed ar
awed from the commission of crime
in many cases, and consequently fla
grant offenses and heinous felonies ar
comparatively infrequent. Burglarie
and highway rObberies, and arson. ar
exceedingly rare, and a great robbie
ry" has never occurred in the state
: The preservation of peace and goo
order is so easily maintained in tn
interior chief towns, that such a thin
, as "a police force is not known, an
Portland, with its population of thor
! sands, its wharves teeming with SCI
: going men, and its streets tod by pc
sons of almost every nationality,
under the surveillance Of a police 0
ganization so small as to excite tt
= remark and often the ridicule OF visi
ors from the states on your side O
. the continent; and yet this fore
small as it is, is ample for the duty
. is required to fulfill. Without sum
i tuary or stringent laws to restrain i
! temperance or enforce observance
E the sabbath, throughout Oregon drum
enness is rarely to be witnessed, al
Sunday is everywhere observed as tn
- day of rest and of religious devote
= which the best moral sentiment of t
- Christian world commands. Al
g. there is not poor house in the sta
IA because one is not needed. There a
W lyceums, debating clubs and librari,
for the entertainment and impro7
ment in study of youths and men
n the interior towns, and the Libra
Of Association of Portland, though in t
IT. very infancy of existence, has alrea
IN by the generosity of leading p
la, neer citizen, W. S. Ladd-thc hal
"a soonest and roomiest hall in the sta
ne aud collection Of books, paintin