The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-07-21
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.


Boise City, or "Boisey," as the in
habitants term it, sits fiat upon fertile
plain which fifteen years ago was moth
ing but a seemingly barren waste, COW
cred with sand and sage, and given over
to the high carnival of heat and winds
and drouth in summer, and the cold and
winds and SHOWS in winter. We did
not ask concerning the population, but
should guess it to be equal to that of
Albany-on Willamette. There are
a number of brick stores, quite preten-
tious in dimensions and stocks, and sew
eral buildings of sandstone equally
commodiOus. The town is regularly
laid out, and abounds in cottages with
tidy fences and elegant gardens. The
Boise River has been tapped above the
town, and the waters brought down by
ditch, which supplies the gardens
with living streams that act like magic
upon vegetation. We saw many beau
tiful gardens, abounding in vegetables
of all kinds and fruits of every variety
known to temperate climes, where three
years ago was nothing but trackless
desert, where the shy jack-rabbit
roamed at will. Shade trees, princi-
pally of cottonwood, locust, and Lom-
bardy poplar, abound everywhere, out
vieing even the trees of Webfoot in
their rapid growth. Peach trees, three
years from the seed, are loaded down
with fruit. Apple, pear, plum, and
cherry trees are equally enterprising.
The character of the soil is much like
that of Eastern Oregon, being a sandy
loan, as dry as powder, and Judged by
every known agricultural standard else
where, as unproductive as ashes. Yet
you have but to give this soil drink,
and with very little cultivation it will
bring forth such marvellous returns that
even the sluggard can grow fat upon its
bounties.
The weather during our sojourn was
very hot, but not at all oppressive. The
atmosphere, owing to the great altitude
, of the plateau, is bracing and the breezes
cool. The cultivation of the soil il
D making marked change in the climate
too, and rains fall much more frequently
than in former years. The grazing ia.
cilities of the country are excellent, anC
s the mountains round about are stored
! with all 1.-THE wealth of Ormus and o
> Ind" With such country and such {
: climate Idaho will soon wheel hersel
]. into the ranks as one of the first of ou
r Pacific States.
= Owing to the severely hot weather
: the shortness of the summer evenings
: and the preparations for the coming
o Fourth, the attendance upon the lee
e lures was not as large as elsewhere, bu
Il it was good, and grew better night!
t during our stay. We found much apa
: thy concerning the woman movement
We left anything else but apathy, a
d the mailing clerk will testify when h.
= sees the list of new subscribers to tn
n Journal of Peace.
k During the week of our visit we wer
d hospitabIe and wide-awake heIpmate
e and right royalty were we entertained
'r The Judge is owner and editor of tn
g Statesman, a tri-weekly and week.
journal of high character and good Gil
ii culation. He is assisted in the enter
" prise by his son-in-law, Mr.. Perraul
" an amiable and scholarly gentleman
1t Mr.. Goulder, the "mountain poet"
'r also upon the staff, making an efficier
y and accomplished trio, we'll worthy th
- patronage they receive.
lie There are two flrst-class hotels, th
e. "Overland" and Central" the hosp
ot talities of both of which were tendere
t, US. Indeed, we could not ask for mol
le appreciative treatment than we haV
met everywhere, unsolicited, since OF
OF journey began.
IN Finding that we could not work oil
er way to Philadelphia IN time for the ce
lg bration Of the Independence day of Il
'h men, we concluded Boise was the neI
G. best place, and so we tarried.
H. The celebration was a complete su
cess. Bunting and buncombe and fir
works and liberty car; ice cream al
:" soda and strawberries and sandwiche
o. balls, horse races, and buggy rides; fir
H. crackers, fuses, and fun of every desert
y, ton ruled the day. The prayer, by Re
az Mr.. Bollard, of the Church of Englan
at was an ornate piece of advice to Il
mn Deity, which His Holiness ought
N heed, if He doesn't. 1t was read from
H. proof sheet, and was well qualified
,er flatter Omnipotence, provided su,
hrs folly were possible. Perhaps we wou
ire have had a better opinion of that Hi,
IA Churchman and his prayer, only '
re. had sent him tickets to our first lectul
ne with instructions that he was not to 8
tai cept them unless he would attend.
lid isn't our mission to cast pearls befC
fe- swine, or give complimentaries
cal preachers who are too Pharisaical to a
,ys preciate them. But the reverend a
to visor to the Almighty pocketed t
tickets and gave them away, desp
it our proviso, thereby failing to hear
rec for himself, and muctiDg US in the su
ice of one dollar. We didn't care for t
to dollar, but we did care for the insu
ur- and that's why we speak of it,
l. -