The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1871-05-20
Letter from Oregon.

We insert with Ieasure the following interesting
letter from a new and unknown correspondent In
Oregon. Our commercial relations with that great
and rich State are Already large and increasing, and
we hope to hear oftei from our Portland friend.
PORTLAND, OREGON, U. S. A }
April 18th, 1871. }
MEssRs. EDIroRs To-day, for the first time, in
all my ffty-fve years experience, l saw and read
your excellent paper. the P. C. ADVERTISER, dated
Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands, February IL, 1871 I;
which, to me. was lot only a rich rarity, but a fat
feast ; as I have forrierly so often heard of, and read
about the Sandwich Islands, but never seen anything
direct from there 10, not even so much as a news
paper therefore, 1 cunt it a great curiosity.
Being a native central New Yorker, although
having resided at St. GATHERINGS, Canada, twelve
miles from Niagara halls, for the most part, for some
~forty-fve years (; twp years ago, [ adventured out
here to Oregon, aid after circulating some two
months through the Willamette valley. have finally
anchored down here, in this rising city of Portland,
one hundred miles inland, from the mouth OF the
Columbia River, OF Astoria.
Oregon, although one of the newest, is one OF the
best States, in my humble opinion, for grain and
grass, for fruits and flowers, for fish and frs yes,
and for men of means, as well as those of no means
at all, to start in on. Here. capital may be safely
and probably invested. Here, the Government
gives every head Of a flmily $50 acres of land as a
homestead. Here, work is abundant, and wages
high. Here, crops never fail from drought, as in
California. And here too, a new beginner may
commence the voyage of life, with fair prospects of
sure success.
Emigration has already set in Oregonian wards.
The OrJfamme, from San Francisco, landed here
last night, some $50 passengers, and every such
weekly steamer. now brings many persons from the
East, who intend to settle down here permanently.
The past winter here has been very mild, but
rainy-of the last six months, 1 think 1 can truth
fully say that it has rained during four of them,
continuously and necessarily, but now, the " rain
is past, and the time of the singing of the birds is
GOMEZ and the flowers and fields are both blooming
and green.
Trade and commerce here in the winter, are
usually dull but the balance of the year are both
brisk and bright. We predict a good season for
business of all kinds, this year of our Lord, 1871.
The Northern Pacific Railroad Company have laid
out their town on the Columbia River, some fifty
miles below this, and named it Kalama, . an Indian
name, s~ignifying " Goose-town - not " a beautiful
as some of them assert and have COM
menced their work on this west end of their trans
continental railroad, having already finished ONE
600 miles of the east end, from Duluth. Then, when
the Canadians build their railroad through British
across the continent, and the Southern
Pacific folks complete theirs, all of which will be
in ten years time, these four highways,
and railways. from ocean to ocean, will
trade and travel, corn and commerce., so
so that you islanders will sensibly feel the
pecuniary shock of these railway earthquakes, even
at Honolulu, agreeably.
The Willamette Lock Company having re-
,eiyed a State subsidy of some $500, COO, are push
ng ahead their works, and now building the canal
md locks around the Willamette Falls, at Oregon
which will make a splendid water-power, and
make a second Lowell, or Manchester, or Birming-
lam town there, in the course of human events,
7erily do believe.
We, in Oregon, and particularly here in Portland,
re a mixed multitude, composed of almost all-known
lationalities, els and ans-Pacifc-ward on this
ide as well as on the other side of the Atlantic too.
We are a G. go-ahead people,, as you very well know,
nd as to news, when we cant GO. f~-.o--"s
uoaSn, we can Always pick up local news enough
ere at home to satisfy any one, even the most =
such as divorces, robberies, murders. J
runaways and railways. {
Now. Messrs. Editors, if you will insert this in I
our very excellent paper, send me a copy of the
anne, and with it, 1 will send you another and a 9
etter article next time, in the meantime, 1 would a
~ Fare-ye-well, G. s. P.