The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-08-03
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE,
AR READERS OF rHENEw NoRTIwEsr:


1t is not necessary here to go into par
ticulars concerning the Columbia River
route to the new metropolis of the
Northwest. Everybody knows that the
winding Willamette worms its course
from Portland to its confluence with the |
River of the West, point, or points, a
dozen miles or so below the headquar-
ters of the Board of Trade and the Sena-
tOrial commission, where 1.-THE river,
not the board or commission-become
absorbed by the greater current, just as
you sometimes see the greater consort
absorb and Overslaugh the lesser hus-
band or wife.
The "Willamette Chief" duckling
of a steamer, too light for the Columbia
River trade, but an excellent substitute
for the larger boat that happened to be
hauled off for repairs, coquets with
the buffeting waves, like a saucy mai
den with surly lover
We are too busy to look about us, for
the New NORTHWEST, like the horse
leech, is ever crying, "give, give" and
its insatiate maw must be supplied, or
the mill must stop. By and by break
fast comes, and, after a few hours, din
ner.
Afternoon, and we begin to reach the
canneries, and at intervals, till P. NJ,
our little craft locks up against the
Shiny piles, like a tipsy Irishman
against a row of hitching posts. Here
we halt a minute or two, while greasy
Chinamen rub their Shiny clothes
against the slippery salmon that lay in
heaps upon the docks, and truck men,
mail men, and boat hands throw pack
ages in all directions at lively rate.
The whistle blows, and soon we are
off again, while a solitary passenger,
from whom we have just parted COM
pany, climbs an adjacent bluff and looks
after our boat regretfully.
We haven't visited the canneries yet,
and must defer any attempt at descrip-
tion till next week, but we have already
spent eight days in Astoria among
friends and strangers at the Parker
House, where we've lain i'll of bilious
attack the most of the time, and be-
moaned our bad luck on general princi-
pies. But we're better now. The salt
spray of the Ages comes in increasingly
from the grumbling breakers in the
offing, and fills the air with an invigor-
ating salubrity that corrects complain
ing bile and compels it to discharge its
erewhile neglected duty.
Astoria, though yet quite small of its
age, is fiourishing infant, waxing ex-
ceedingly strong in its swaddling clothes,
and growing fat on fish.
The Parker House, kept by our friends
!, Cardwell & Perkins, offers every facility
for the convenience of guests at reason
able rates. The main portions of the
building are new and cOmmOdious. The
landlords know how to keep a hotel
and one of the neatest, spryest, and jOl'
liest house-keepers imaginable keeps
everything in excellent repair in every
room. Messrs. Wright & Megler alsC
keep an excellent hotel, the Occident
and Mrs. Arrigoni sustains a first-clas!
clearinghouse.
We have met friends and acguaint
ances here from all parts of the country
all of whom have faith in Astoria anC
have determined to cast their lot within
: her borders.
| The Jack dramatic troupe are playin!
nightly to fair houses, Mr.. Jack anC
f wife being great favorites with the As
toria public.
Our friend ireland of the Historian il
getting on swimmingly, as, indeed, il
everybody else in the town who "rus
ties"
Last night we had the pleasure o
meeting good audience in the theater
where we discoursed as best we coulC
E upon Constitutional Liberty" Tier,
: is much desire expressed by the citizen
, to hear more lectures, but there is n,
t hall at our disposal. The churches ar
too holy to do good in, and the theate
: is in use every night save Sunday.
s Everywhere among the better classe
e the progress of wOman's mission is no
ticeable.
, Mrs. DR.. Patterson and Mrs. DIR. Bur
+ have each an extensive practice. Mrs
q Stears keeps a music store and circulat
ing library, and the usual quota of la
dies are engaged in millinery and dress
making establishments, in restaurants
fruit stores, and the like.
G. w. Cornart has opened a genera
, news depot, where readers may get tn,
latest news, from the New NoRTHwEs-
to the New York Tribune.
One of the jurors in a case of assaul
recently written up for publication il
this place by an occasional correspond
ent, informs us that the article in gues
tion did said jury great injustice. W.
are sorry if any feel aggrieved, but car
only offer our columns for the defense, i
any is desired.
But we're tired, and can't scribblt
r further. Good reader, pray excuse us
: Well do better by and by. A. J. D.
r Astoria, July 80, 1877.
FOREIGN NEWS.