The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1870-01-15

'e"s tleir sfnagogues; ana there are colleges,
academies, seminaries and high schools, under
the especial care of Methodists Baptists, Presby-
terians, Episcopalians, Roman Catholics, Unita-
rians and Jews-for the education and moral
training of boys and girls, of youths and young
ladies.
OF physicians, surgeons, dentists, of lawyers,
and other professional men, there is-to use
oregon expresson-a multitude. In fact the
professions are overdone-of physic, for the lack
OF patients, by of the extraordinary
healthfulness of the country; and of law, be-
cause the people inclined to compromise diff
culties of a civil nature rather by neighborly arbi
tration than in courts of law and the criminal
calendar of the whole State is perhaps, the
smallest in the Union.
In the matter of manufactures and similar
terprises. Oregon has pursued the slow and very
sHre policy in past years, and if she seemingly
has departed from that within the year just clos
ing and taken up the moro go-ahead style. it is
not because her people have been lured from the
pursuit of substantial enterprises by the glitter
ing attractions of spectators, but simply because
the unprecedented progress of development of
her great and many resources has actually de-
manded the surprising advancement noted, and
which has been fully sustained in every partcu-
lar by tho gratifying exhibits of wholesome pros
perity that have accompanied these various
enterprises. 1t is noteworthy fact, in connec-
tion with this subject. that there has never
CURED a failure nor an abandonment of any i'm
portant undertaking in Oregon, and that in
instance has there happened a failure of any large
OF any capitalist, nor of any incorporation in
dividual, whose business was of such q nature to
cause insolvency or disaster to any other house,
or a material loss to the community generally.
And yet, Oregon has her banks, local and Ma
tional her large steam navigation corporations,
ocean shipping companies, woolen factories, lin
seed oil mills iron works, engine and machine
shops and foundres, capable of turning out the
heaviest works, ship yards in which handsome
river steamers and large coasting vessels built
and various other interpretations and considerable
enterpriSes-to say nothing of her numerous
Touring mills, of which will vie with the
best in any other State, and the -four from which
AS the Imperial, the Standard, the Magnolia,
Naughns, and the Salem miils-has won first
rank in the New York market, under shame to
say, the name of "California -four And final
ly, Oregon has now the first twenty miles of the
line of railway completed. and the engines and
ears running, which is to be continued through
the whole length of the State, thence through
California TO connect with the Central Pacific
road, and thus place US in direct communication
with our sister states of the Pacific and the States
across the Rocky Mountains.
There is an Insane Asylum for the and
safe keeping of that class of unfortunaes. and
are there hospitals in several counties for the ben
eft and treatment of the INDECENT sick crippled.
but as the number of this class of patients is un-
commonly small in Oregon, in contrast with that
Of other States, these public institutions cause
only nominal tax upon the people. And, II
general rule, the same remark will apply to the
county jails. Nor is the State Penitentiary a
justice is generally thorough that the evil dis
posed are awed from the commission of crimes in
many cases, aud consequently fragrant oheDses
and helnous felonics comparatively untre
quent. Burglaries and highway robberes. and
arson, are exceedingly rare, and '' great rob
berry has never occurred in this State. The
preservation of peace and good order is so easily
maintained in all the chief towns, that such
thing police force is not known, and Port
land. with its population of thousands. its
wharyes teeIning with sea going men, and its
streets trod by persons of almost every national
ity, is under the Surveillance of a police organiz
alton so small to excite the remark and often
the ridieule of visitors from the States on the
other side of the continent and yet this force,
small as it is is ample for the duty it is required
to fulfill. Without sumptuary or stringent laws
to restrain intemperance or enforce observance of
the Sabbath, throughout Oregon drunkenness is
rarely to be witnessed, and Sunday is everywhere
observed as that day of rest and of religious de-
votion which the best moral sentiment of the
Christian world commands. And there is not
poor-house in the State, because is not
needed.
There are lyceums debating clubs and libraries
for the entertainment and Improvement in study
of youths and men in the interior towns. and the
Library Association of Portland, though in the
very infancy of existence, has already-by the
generosity of a leading pioneer citizen, w. S.
,Ladd-the handsomest and roomiest hall in the
State. and collection of books, paintings, peri
odicals etc, which does infinite credit to the lib
erality of the donors, to the pride of the MEN,
bers, and to the judgment of the officers who
selected all which constitutes and adorns the
Library.
And in speaking of Portland, it is well to
ehrenicle the fact that while che has only the pop
ulation of large town. as reckoned in the older
States, she has all the improvements conveniences
and elements of city. Clear, pure, icy cold,
delicious water. is brought from mountain
springs to the great reservoir in the suburbs of
the city, and is thence distributed in mains and
small pipes throughout the whole place. into the
buildings wherever required, in generous plenty,
for all uses at very low rates. Gas lights up the
streets at night reasonable cost to the public,
and is supplied to the stores and dwellings hotels,
theatres, and every class of public buildings, at
fair charges. Good hotels, halls of amusement,
elegant stores for the display of goods and wares,
whole blocks of handsome business houses, beau
tful and attractive residences in the prettest and
grandest styles of modern architecture, imposing
looking churches, and Odd Fellows hall which
would be credit to a city of ten-fold the popula-
ton of Portland; commodious, extensive and
well built and tightly rooted wharyes and wharf
sheds the grand wharf and warehouse OF the
Oregon Steam Navigation Company, which has
no equal in San Franeifco. nor superior in any
city the Atlantic; Court House which IN
size, appearance and architectural display, is not
surpassed on the coast and fine public squares,
eligibly located in different parts of the city, are
among the objects which invite the attention and
challenge the praise of those who come from other
lands to visit the metropolis of Oregon.
The city enjoys the protection of a large, thor
oughiy equipped, very efncient FIRE DepaTtmeht
of steam and hand fire engines, ample hose carts,
hooks and ladders, with commodious houses tor
each company, and lofty fire towers; and eapa-
cious cisterns conveniently placed to afford a
plentiful supply of water at a moments warning.
But fires are exceedingly rare. and in the period
covering the whole existence of the city there has
never occurred confiagration of more than two
or three buildings at time.
beautiful drive extends from Portland to the
White House, over a smooth, broad macademized
road, distance of five miles, and all the way In
sight of the Willamette river.
And in one particular all will agree. come from
whatever section of the Union they may 1t Is
that Portland has the best paved and eleanest
streets of any town city which can be named.
The principal business thoroughfares are laid with
Nicholson pavement, and n system carefully OBJ
served of even grading, of broad streets laid out
regularly as those of Philadelphia, with blocks
all Of size, wide, uniform sidewalks, and shade
or ornamental trees planted along the residence
street--ali combine to merit for Portland the
praise of being not only the best paved, but one
OF the prettest, neatest, most tastefully planned
cities in the country.
To give an idea of the trade the city enjoys, a
mere mention of the advantages is required.
Situated on the Willamette, fourteen miles above
where that river pours its waters into the mighty
ColumDia, somewhat more than a hundred miles
above Columbia river bar, it is reached by and is
the port for the ofat xh; rrI,i