The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1875-12-03
EDIToRIAL ooRREgPONDENOE.

out upon a broad plateau of compare
lively level land, with extensive farms
upon one hand, and vast area of un-
fenced pasturage upon the other.
Scarcely a tree, unless the ever-abound-
ing sage is to be dignified by the title,
is to be seen. All around you lies the
upland valley, and in the near distance
distant and yet seemingly near-rise
apparently endless SUGGESTIONS of rolling
bills, upon which flocks and herds are
feeding, despite the fast-falling snow,
while away, away, in the blush border
of the leaden-cOlored horizon, are noun
tain ranges decked with pointed trees
that pierce the clouds with innumerable
spires, as bleak and wintry-ish looking
as ifindigenous if to the hyperborean zone,
which, with eyes muffied in wells,
you gaze upon and naturally consider
these regions part, when you contem-
plate the wintry waste around you.
In the stage-coach, with Mrs. Han
nah and your correspondent, were pair
of invalid ladies from the land of Web
foot, who could. not endure the cold,
snow-laden air around US, so the labor
ing vehicle remained closed for the
greater part of the day, thus obstructing
our vision, and leaving us to guess at
much of which otherwise we might
speak authoritatively. Certain it is,
however, that our previous opinion of
the magnitude of the "upper country"
received additional stimulus, as hours
followed hours, and still the same wild,
unbroken plain continued to unroll it.
self as we journeyed. Luckily the stages
changed "time" before we left the town
of Union, and we had the pleasure-if
such it might be called that naught of
ease had in it-of making the drive OF
about forty miles in the snow-laden
daylight, instead of the freezing, bitter
night, as had been expected.
Found dinner at way station, where
the wind held high carnival with the
freaky, tickle frOst-king, and on we
went again, lurch-ity-lunge, smash-ity-
bang, with ever and anon an excited
ejaculation from our invalid fellow
travellers, causing US to dOubly rejoice
in our own good health; and at night
fall we traversed a sloppy lane and a long
bridge, and fetched up at the well-kept
Western Hotel at Baker City.
Since the "primeval days" when we
were young and romantic, keeping
time in the weary emigrant march,
to the slow, measured tread of lazy
oxen, we had not looked upon this land
of sage and grease-wood. But we did
not, in the golden long ago, imagine
that we should ever see these arid wales
and uplands covered with the cattle
from a thousand hills, or that fields o.
waving grain would ever be garnered
from the ash-like soil around a thriv.
ing city. Such is the fact, however
and Powder River Valley needs nothing
but a railroad to make it one of the
wealthiest of the favored spots of this
most favored land.
DdhHI NlLy 10 dOOuG LWlNC oo lol ~ as
La Grande. Like the latter, it nestle'
under the lee of a range of hills, and un
like Uniontown, seems to be somewhat
sheltered from the fullest blasts of thu
everywhere-prevailing winds. Severa
pretentious buildings of brick and stone
well laden with heavy stocks of mer
chandise of every imaginable descrip
tion, occupy conspicuous places, hare
by frail tenements of wood, in whicl
smaller dealers earn livelihood.
Our old Portland friend, Charles st
Louis, is planted here with jeweler'
business, and is as genial and ready t.
accommodate as of yore. Hon. Mr.
Wisdom, "member from Baker," is il
the drug business, as also is Mr.. Nc
Kinney, and both seem to be efiourishing
There are two hotels and one restaurant
all we'll patronized, and several physi
clans, of whom DR.. Atwood seems to b
chief. There are three churches, goo
frame courthouse, three or four schools
a Good Templars' lodge of some sixt.
members, and, as usual, more saloon
than we cared to count. Mrs. Alfre
. keeps a flourishing store, and fine as
sortment of millinery and fancy goods
as also do Mesds. Foster & Ferguson
, There are good many neat and taste
I full dwellings, and large number G
, hospitable ladies and gentlemen, tn
! most of whom have unbounded faith i
= the future prospects of Baker county
and in its undeveloped wealth of gol
and silver ores, as we'll as its inexhaust
- ible stock range and agricultural facili
ties.
e Mr.. ]. w. Cleaver kindly undertoo
b the looking up of suitable hall for tn
= lectures, and attended to all the prelim
D inaries with kindly goodwill. Th
r first and second lectures were held
!, the Courthouse, and the third and las
o one in the Methodist Church. All wei
e largely attended, and the utmost hal
e mony prevailed throughout the prC
d tracted discourses of each evening
IS Somehow, the more we travel anon
> the people, the more we have to sa
!: about the woman question, and til
,,,oro fI,a ,DooD1o baar ohOuf ~ tho m n,