, 1873-01-26

sa1mon, aad fruits, and return with cargoes o.
general merchandise, ten, rice, sugar. ant
molasses. This department. Of commerce to ant
rom at Portland is growing rapidly. The grea
missed at present. When tho choice l,roduc
tions and vast resources OF Oregon, and tlt
| favorable position TINT Portland occupies as
centre are tAken into consideration, tie future
| commerce seems almost illimitable.
| MERCHANTS OF PORTLAND.
The merchants and traders of Portland cre
very conservative in their business relations
Very fow Of them, if any, are what are known u
epeculators. The srcat majority of them dc
the :best stores arc built by capitalists. and
| rented by the merchants, 30 as to haye thei1
| caI'ital concentrated in their business. Tie
lending merchants require very little bank &C.
eonmodation,,they arc genorally their OWL
Lewis do business OF q, 500, 600 in the year.
| Corbott Il Macleay cell about Sl,250,0 ,0OO Lev
ez1dse,~ Wadhams l. Co. sell fully 5000, 900.
There are three or four hardware, iron, and
$25o.ooo to s75o,ooo q year each. The three
leading dry goods houses, sell from $780,
| 600 to $1,000 each annually. There
are q, number Of clothing houses
that sell from 100000. to s250,o0o each.
There are several shipping and commission
houses, that transact business from $500, 600
| to 91,000,000 zach. These are given mere
y as samples Of the business transactions Of the
city: fellure among the merchants Of Port
| land is rare occurrence. This arises from the
fac. that they have sufficient capital, confino
themselves to their legitimate business, and at
tend to it. Portland is not cursed with 4 Board
OF Stock Brokers to tempt businessmen into
speculations thnt generally ond III ruin. From
all such plaques, good Lord, doliyer this city!
THE BANKS OF PORTLAND.
There arc throe banlsing housos in Portland.
Ladd d Tilton have capital and deposits equal
to $1,000, ,ooo; the First National Bank has ut
least s., ,125, 900; the Bank Of British Columbia
bank capital of the city 49, 125ooo. These banks
conane their business to strictly mercantile
transactions. They do not loan money on
real estate. The loans are from 50 to
30 days, and tho rate of interest is
OF banking capital answered for all purposes
prior to 1853, but it is far below tho amount
Which the strong tide of improvements and pro-
gross that set in with 1869. ard that has contin-
may be formed Of the improvements, in build
ing: wharres, warehouses, stores, and private
residences, mado in Portland, from the fact that
81, 500 900 was spent in 1869, g. 000 600 in 1870
$4,000 o00 in 1871, and e 500 600 lust year, and
for the etringency Of the money marker. There
is ample room and profitable employment in
Portland for as much moro banking capital Ms is
available at present. Savings banks are prohib-
tied By the State Legislature, well ss banks Of
issue; but the banks referred to allow per
cent per nnnum interest on deposits re:ncining
six months, which, in some measure, meets tho
wants of savings banks.
PRIVATE RESIDENCES OF PORTLAND.
There are at least 80 fr6t-c1ass private resi-
denccs In tho city. The buildings aloao cost
from $4,000 to 5000 each. number of
them occupy an entire block, and very few OF
them less than half q block, surrounded with
great majority of the private houses and cot
tages Indicate great comfort and refined taste.
The streets where families reside are extensively
ornamented with beautiful shade-trees. The
and west from the beautiful Willamette River
to the hills that form the background Of the
city. From thb river and it's eastern bank, q fine
view OF the city is available. The prospect from
the hil1s-hnlf an hours walk from the Court
House for hundred miles, and, where
Mount Hood Mount Saint Helen's, and Mount
Rainier, crowned with perpetual snow, and from
5000 to Il 600 feet high, come into full view, is
sublime. The city itself, in good Keather, for
nine min months, months af tho year Is remarkably bright
The population at present is at least II, 600, har
ing steady growth of all that goes to constitute
q prosperous city.
REAL ESTATE
in Portland has steadily and rapidly advanced in |
value during the last four years. 1t present it
is very quiet and rather depressed, owing to the
tightness OF the money market. Improved |
property on Front street, in the best business
portion of it, sells for $500 per front foot; on
on etfes sai s psa 5 S,tsa 1 s 1s os
retail stores, sells for $400 per front foot
Ground adapted for irst-class private residences
sells for s100 per front foot, down to $40 per
foot in the suburbs for small residences. Whole
sale stores on Front street, TO feet front By 200
feet deep, two stories high, rent from 9400 to
$500 per month. Retail stores on First street,
50 feet front by 100 feet deep, two stories, or s
floor and basement, lot from $3.50 to $500
fS11t ntu H1A1
First streets would do credit to any city. The
3ank buildings on the latter street are substan-
lel and elegant. Captain 4. P. Ankepy's s. Gem
raj Market, On the same street, just finished
It cost Of 100000, 100 feet front and 200 feet
leep, is not surpassed in tho United States for
amp1eteness Of design, convenience Of arrange
nents, and elegance Of finish. Money judi
ious1y invested. in real estate in Portland is
ound to pay well for MI time to come. It's sun
+ prosperity will never sot until the final conha-
ration.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The Court House, tho now Post Office, tho
i'd Fellows' ball Chat cost 95o,o00), the Ma
onic Hall Chat cost 3Go,ooo), tho Good Temp.
rhoo1 buildings, do credit to tho State, the Ma
onal Government, and the citizens OF Port
md. Thore is no city in the Union, with pop
latlon OF 1000, better provided with public J
uildings charitable, benevolent, educational
nd religious institutions, adapted to the wants
the people.
SOCIETY. r
The general tone Of society is remarkably {
BOD but the fact that there are very large t
umber OF saloons and bar-rooms, that sell
Boz, 900 worth of strong drink in the year, and ,
considerable number OF houses occupied by :
:ofossional women of the free and easy class,
tablsh beyond controversy that there il bad |
cment in the midst OF tho good, that ia cor
lpting and degrading in it's tendencies. 8
sTREET-CAns
ne been introduced quite lately and very suc- b
ssfully. They arc grcnt convenience at all b
nes, particularly during the winter months.
THE FIRST GREAT FIRE = u
Portland took place on Sunday week, the 22d &
December, shortly before 10 o'clock in tho S
0rning. It originated in o Chinese wash d
'use., The flames got full possession Of the
use before tho firomen could get to the place. -
block OF brick buildings on Front street .
re entirely destroyed. Hadi it not been for q
heavy rain during tho previous night, tho =
efforts Of tho bravo firomen, con fl
Eerable rain during the day, and the changing