The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1877-10-20
THE PACIFIC
GomnrertialA0bertiser
SATURDAY. OCTOBER 20.
A Tour to Oregon and British
Columbia.
by H REV. ALEXANDER MACKINTosH.]

coed with the publication, in this and succeeding
issues, of the Rev. Mr.. Mackintosh's NJ. S. con-
tanning an interesting account of his recent tour,
in company with Mrs. Macintosh, to Oregon
and British Columbia.
PORTLAND, OREGON, Aug. 6th.-We came in
sight of land about 6 p. m. This being too
late for a Pilot we were compelled to pass a
restless night off and on. At 5 a. m. next day,
a steamtug brought the Pilot, Capt. Doig (for-
merly mate of the Falkinberg plying to Homo
lulu) on board the Matte. We went over the
bar without perceiVing anything unusual, the
sea being as smooth as a millpond. The tug
then left US and We proceeded up the river under
sail and drifting with the current. We landed
at Astoria, about 10 O'Clock. Captain Doig was
exceedingly polite. He guided us to the Custom
House where we found our OWN Capt. Pope. We
did not see very much of Astoria. Most of the
city Is built on piles, the river Columbia flowing
beneath. Very singular the wooden streets APP
ing as we walked, and the rumbling of the car
riages struck us with peculiar effect. Business
and idleness seemed to be pretty well combined.
Men, sailors l think, sitting on chairs on the
about with pens or pencils in their teeth and
papers in their hands. Our first rush was for
for us by Captain Doig-a capital fellow and
most polite and kind. We shall perhaps have
more time to see Astoria when we are home
ward bound. Astoria derives its name from
Jacob Astor. Our pilot Capt. Gilman now hur-
ried us on board. The Custom House officer.
Mr.. Brown, also accompanied us up the river. in
order to watch any attempt to land contraband
goods. Calamity the Matte ploughed her Way
up this wonderful river, by dint of her own ex-
ertions, because we were unable to procure a
tug. However we went up at the rate of six or
seven miles an hour. The river is about three
miles wide for the first few miles, but afterwards
becomes narrower. The entrance to the Column
ba River is about five miles wide from Cape
Disappointment to the opposite shore, but the
estuary is like an inland sea. In one snug corner
is Fort Candy and on the Oregon side Fort
Stephens. Tall pines stand on both sides like
gloomy sentinels-Very beautiful-but one wear
les with the sameness.
Now We left Astoria behind. We soon took
our eyes from the Washington Territory side of
the river, because of the everlasting hills clothed
with fir. The Oregon side was more varied, on
each bank we saw cGnnerieS-that is, places where
they pack salmon in cans. The salmon fishing
is now over. Now and then, we passed an island
thlckly wooded. In the distance we saw a snow
capped mountain-Mount Hood, 10000 feet.
About 2 p. m. we reached Mr.. Macleay's Can
merry here we were hailed by Mr.. Ms steamer,
called the Edith after his second daughter-(our
ship, the Matte Ndcleay, is named after his ED
est daughter.) This ferocious little steamer soon
Joined us, and being fast bound to our port side,
tUgged us along at the rate of eight or nine miles
an hour, amidst a constant shower of sparks.
These fell so thickly that we were obliged to shut
ourselves up in the cabin. When we could bear
this no longer we went forward and sat in the
bow, | astride of the bowsprit, where it was
cool and pleasant. This lasted until dark.
What a wretched night we spent How we
longed for day In the middle of the night they
deluged the ship with water to keep the sparks
from setting fire to the ship. Then we were
alarmed at the sudden cessation Of the putting and
painting of the steamer. We thought it had
changed position and gone ahead on account of
the sparks but suddenly we were terrified by
an awful noise of shouting and hauling, as if
we were boarded by pirates. But it was only
the return and rebuckling to of the steamer
which had left us to get a supply of wood, as
the fitie lady "di emo o. sRRedROu She ua naa Z OF To %S9a
fully capaeious NAV for so little a person. We
tossed about in the most restless manner for a
few hours longer, and just as Morpheus was
overcoming me and about to hold me fast
bound IN his sweet captivity, we were apprised
of our arrival at our destination.
Portland is on both banks of the Willamette
River, a tributary Of the Columbia, and is
about 105 miles from Astoria it has a popula-
ton of about Is 1000 inhabitants. A ferry boat.
which runs perpetually, connects East Portland
with Portland proper. The whole country with
in range of our vision is bounded by a densely
wooded circumference. Outside this circle the
mountains called Mt. Hood, Mt. St.
Helens, Mt. Adams and Mt. Mcpherson, lift up
their lofty heads. but they are only visible now
md then, owing to the dense smoke caused by the
burning woods. Through the centre of the cir
Gle flows the river Willamette. On the riobt
bank Portland rises as it were in terraces, the
streets forming the meridians and parallels of
attitude of the sphere. Every block of buildings
md of building land is most regularly laid out.
One has only to remember the name of the lati-
.udinal and meridian streets, and then the way
8 easily found without the aid of compass, sex
ant. chronometer or policeman. The only diff
'ulty one tnds IN navigation, is tn rareity of the
treet names being posted upon the walls-but
his no doubt is little felt by the citizens.
Very few of the old residents seem to know the
treets by their names. People are directed by
he presence or absence of a church, or of some
government building. Front Street lies along
he bank OF the River Willamette, and goes from
me end of the town to the other. In this street
re situated all the principal wholesale business
louses, among which a resident of Honolulu can
some familiar names. Corbitt and
1acleay, Allen and Lewis, McCraken G. Co.
Hawaiian Consul,) Janian & Co. The traffic
this busy street is ceaseless it would astonish
ur quiet Honolulu merchants. They would, 1
hould think, imagine that it was perpetually
day, and even this thought would give
but faint idea of the business. In fact.
is very little difference between this street =
nd also the next, which is called First Street, 1
nd any Thames Street. Blackwell Lime st. or I
in the world. To give just one ex- .
nple of trade which L accidentally Iearned-the 4,
Verage number of eggs per week which are J
into the wholesale house from the coun-
y is twenty thousand dozen, and not unfre-
the number daily is five thousand dozen
OF that this firm is solely in the egg line, seeing
lat IN one year, the same firm shipped to for. =.
On parts eighteen cargoes of wheat valued at J
ne million and a half dollars gold, and the
oney turned over IN one year by this said firm :,
two and three-quarter millions of dollars. 4
the length of Front Street cars are II
instantly moving up and down. In First Street
e lne principal retail stores, and these are truly
agnlncent. However, there is not much differ
zee between the merchandise sold in these a
ana buildings and that in Honolulu either in
rec or quality. Then the public buildings. the fro
anks' the Custom House, the Post Office, the be
lson are all of beautiful stone. There are Mr.
oanks: The British Columbia Ladd and
lton; FIRST National Gold Bank: and the T,
egon Savings Bank-the last named derivino !
; s.oek principally from Scotland. Second and Dui
S'reets, together with the streets which 49,,
,oe - mem, are taken up with stores, both M
lolesaie and retail. Along Fourth Street runs
railway which extends about tbirt1 u;Ias z.