The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-07-17
PHOENIX, July IL

LUIS Isosue hlFer Naley grows yet .
more beautiful to behold as the eve
grows more and more accustomed to it.
With a railroad through to Roseburg
from Redding, and a narrow-gauge con
Meeting with the sea at Crescent CITY, I
this would become a veritable Paradise
for tourists in search of the beauties of /
nature. And then, the agricultural and .
mineral resources OF the country are .
alike wonderful. No more fertile wales .
are to be found anywhere than these, .
where Nature would seem to have ex-
hausted herself in making a soil, from
one to nobody knows how many feet in |
depth, where every production Of the /.
earth that is to be found in temperate
climes, and many of the fruits Of trop-
ical lands, are growing without irriga-
tion and in the open air. The rainfall
OF this valley, as compared to that Of
the Willamette, is slight, and yet it
is amply sufficient for agricultural pur-
poses, although a more humid climate
would render the abounding gold fields
infinitely more productive. We opine
that discoveries Of gold are yet to be
made beside which many Of the mines
that are now being worked will sink
into insignificanee. And yet, it is a
subject Of grave doubt as to whether
gold mining pays humanity in the ag-
gregate, no matter what its yield. Had
the efforts that have been made in Jack
son county for quarter Of a century to
burrow into the earth for gold been used
for tilling the soil and manufacturing
the raw materials Of the county into
articles Of home consumption and for
general export, there is little doubt that
this beautiful land would be far more
prosperous to-day than it now is. In
some sections whole creeks have been
/ burrowed out and their beds turned lit
orally upside down. They do have clas-
sic names for some localities, "Louse
Creek" and "Tail Holt' being amsug
the euphonious titles which are named
in your hearing by polite society, which
has become so accustomed to such terms
that they no longer convey a ridiculous
idea to any but the newly initiated.
On Sunday evening, after the long
ride to Sterling mine, Of which we last
week wrote you, we met fair audi
euce, after a pouring rain, the subject,
Everyday Religion" being exceed
iugly well received by the best element
Of the city. The newspapers, this week,
have been exceedingly respectful to our
work, although the Sentinel has not
failed to ''cri our thunder" and, calling
it his own, say that we are unfair or
we'd use it ourselE By the way, speak
I ing Of newspapers, the Sentinel is a verv
racy, readable and successful paper.
Mr.. Turner, the editor, who has hit us
hard, and we've hugely enjoyed hitting
back to get even, has built it up TO
handsome circulation from very small
beginning, and the politicians stand in
/ wholesome awe Of him. His estimable
wife is q twin sister of Mrs. Judge G.. II.
/ Stewart, Of Vancouver, who (the latter
LADY,, with her mother, Mrs. Cbrisman,
Of Lafayette, and a younger sister, is at
/ present visiting at his home in Jack
sonville. Among the prominent and
worthy gentlemen and their excellent
families whose acquaintance we have
made, and to whom We have been in
debted for substantial aid in the prose-
cution Of our labors, are the Danforths,
| Ryans, Beekmans, Roses, Plymales,
/ Risleys, Constants, and Savages. Mrs
| NJ. H. Nining, formerly Of Albany,
whose excellent husband met a melan-
eholy fate in the Puget Sound country
by drowning, keeps first-class board
ing-house and hOnOrably supports her
seven children, her noble work requir-'
ing a heroism as exalted as it is endur-
ing.
On Tuesday, the Sth, accompanied by
Mrs. Plymale in one of their elegant
turn-Outs from her good husbands Iiv-
cry stable, we drove over to Phoenix,
our gallant lady pilot proving efficient
and successful at her business.
Phoenix is charming little country
village, chiefly noted as the abiding
place OF Hon. Sam. Culver and his
splendid spouse, with whom we spent
several delightful days, and Iectured in
the evenings 20 overfiowing houses.
Here are two grist mills Of apparently
sufficient capacity to grind the grain Of
the entire valley. There are two -four
ishing dry goods stores, one kept by J.
r. Reams, Esq, and the other by Mr.
Sergeant, each Of whom subscribed for
the Peoples Paper, thereby setting a
praiseworthy example for the benefit of
the merchants in Jacksonville. There is
also a fiourishing Good Templars' lodge.
church, sehool-house, a drug store.
a blacksmith shop, ETC., and a surround.
ing country vastly rich in agriculture
fruit and blood stock. Phenix is
about dozen miles from Jacksonville
and it is thought by many will vet be.
come the county seat.
Mr.. Culver, or Uncle sam, as he is IA
miliarly called by everybody, is a noted
parsonage, who began his career manv
years ago as theological student hn,
apostatized, and turned his attention 10
verse-making, lecturing on anti-slaverv
and Woman Suffrage, and running an
underground railroad. He was once