The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1875-10-22
ED1TORIAt CORRESPONDENCE.

- nave q nloIy NSCOlSCGAOh SHoS buS
last editorial correspondence left you in
Imagination leading the town of Marsh
Held to the waters edge, as if to let it
take drink Then, we were on the
eve of beginning course of lectures, the
first of which opened on Saturday even
ing, before large and critical assembly
of expectant listeners, in the minds of
many of whom had been formed the
previous conviction that we ought, in
justice to the people, to be prohibited
from lecturing inside the corporation;
but a few moments talk suficed to
awaken the curiosity of the multitude,
who favored us with the keenest atten-
tion. After a while their austerity gave
way to mods and smiles, and before we
were half through, the sympathy of the
audience with the speaker, which the
latter can always realize and appreciate,
became general. The "bug-bear" of the
"woman question:" which they had
long dreaded, proved only phantom of
prejudiced minds, and in its stead arose
pleasing consciousness of practical
justice, which nobody attempted to
gainsay. Sunday evening was devoted
to Temperance" and Monday to the
COLLECTIONS to Woman's Enfranchise-
ment." Tuesday was occupied in can
vassing for subscribers, with the most
favorable results.
The lower portion of this busy mart is
builded upon piles, many of the resi-
dences being placed upon these stilt-like
foundations, above high-water mark,
and connected with the neighboring ed
ifices by planking, from which a child
or nocturnal pedestrian could be very
easily betrayed into an unexpected bath.
Among the merchants who are doing
large and thriving business we are
pleased to mention Messrs. Hirst &
Nasburg, and the Werden Brothers,
whose stocks of trade are extensive and
varied. The Blanco Hotel, kept by Mr..
and Mrs. Bailey, relatives of Hon. La
fayette Lane, is well-kept and de-
servedly popular house, as is also the
one kept by Mr.. and Mrs. Rogers. There
is also another hotel, but as its proprie-
tor did not subscribe for the Peoples
Paper, we cannot say that it is prosper
Gus in a business point of view.
Ship-building is one of the chief at
fractions here for carpenters in that
line. A new schooner of ample dimen-
sions is now on the ways, with a fail
prospect of speedy completion, and an
other is soon to follow it.
The steamer Empire" makes semi
monthly voyages from this and othel
points on the bay to San Francisco, ant
you would think, to hear the frequent
allusions of the citizens to the latte
place, that Coos county was not in Ore
gon at all, but only suburb of thu
golden city.
On Wednesday, after having received
gratifying additions to our subscription
list, as well as the hearty "God spee'
yous' of numerous ladies and gentle
men, we went aboard little white
winged packet and headed for Empir
City.
North Bend, milling point, which
our limited time would not permit US Il
visit, is village of some pretensions
; in plain view of the town of Marshfield
The high ridge of land that forms tn
peninsula or promontory which i
marked upon the Biographies as a cape
that loomed along our route upon tn
left, presented everywhere much tn
same characteristics as when we frs
beheld it, opposite Coos City, only tn
timber was not so thoroughly fire-killed
The bay grows wider as you procee,
toward the ocean, and vast ridges @
sand-drift greet your eye upon tn
right, with dense forest tops peepin
above the accumulated mountain
masses, and setting you to dreaming
over the work of nature that ceaselessl.
went on in by-gone eras in other climes
when other uplands were forming owe
other forests that now form the inter
minable coal beds over SO many habita
BILE regions that once were naught but
Barren, sandy, windy waste,
Ger which the sea-gull scared"
But truce to these reflections now
for here is Empire City. The wharf q
which we land is stacked high wit
lumber awaiting shipment. No com
peting hotel-runners trouble the tray
eler here with their villainous din, an
r we hesitate as to the next venture, whe
the obliging captain of the steame
points US to our destination, and wit
basket and bundle in hand we seek th
Lockhart Hotel, where the smilin
landlady makes US forget that we ar
among strangers by causing US to fee
thoroughly at home in one of the best
: kept hotels on the bay. Although tn
E weather of the valley is excessivel
sultry, fire is necessary auxiliary t
comfort here, hard by the sounding sef
D Empire City is not SO large as Marsh
: field, nor SO numerously populated, a
e though it is much older than the latte
town, between which and its own in
! habitants there exists rivalry rathe
| grating to the ears of stranger, VIII
g has little reason for caring which "city
: is ahead.
/