Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-04-04
OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON TER.
FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 1879.
Portland.

It 10 with O feeilnS aklu W Pii"o
that the pioneers of Oregon note the
permanent and stable growth OF It's
chief city-rortland. Although it
cannot be said to have been RAPID,
II has been sure and steadfast, and
in exact ratio to the progress OF the
State. 1t is nearly thirty years ago
that the writer camped on the pre-
else spot on Front Street which now
constitutes the business center OF
the city. Then dozen or more
struggling =" California houses, and
n log cabin or two, occupied the site
where now stately edifces are piled
together in massive dimes OF architec-
tural beauty. The logs and stumps
have disappeared from the public
thoroughfares, which have been
transformed into magnificent streets
and avenues, parks and squares.
supplied with all the accessories
which wealth can bestow and art
.doru. Then dense forest en-
croacbed upon what is now included
within even the business precints OF
the city. and single backwoods
store supplied the wants OF the peo-
ple and the country for many miles
around. Then passengers we're car
ried to Milwaukee IA formidable IL
vail and Oregon City in whaleboats,
about the only points with which
the people held regular communica-
tion. The first step of progress was
made when the httie propeller Wasl-
sngton was placed on the Oregon
CITY line, and the slow little side
wheeler Columbia began her weekly
trips to the then supposed embryo
cities OF st. Helens, Rainier and As
toria. The advent of the Willamette
and the Los Whdcomb, shortly after
wards was the next decided step in
L the march of improvement, but they
were found to be in advance OF the
times, and after q short trial, gave
place to boats of smaller size and
less pretentious exterior. The splen-
did feet of the Oregon Steam Navi-
cation, to-day, attests the steady
growth of the commerce OF Oregon.
Its elegant steamers control the ar
teries of business and travel, and
Portland is the center from which
they all radiate, not only sending
out life-giving currents Of industry
and enterprise. but returning to the
city of its adoption the means for
fostering and building up com
mercial supremacy. To this aid.
more than all others, Portland owes
her prosperity.
The population OF Portland is
about twenty thousand = not by
any means rapid growth for quar-
ter Of . century, but that it is per-
manent is indicated by the nature
of the improvements of the past few
years and those contemplated. A
bridge connecting the eastern and
western banks of the river il me-
csssity which will be supplied at no
distant day, and her population will
soon be sufficient to give her in
creased postal facilities. including
free delivery, desideratum much
needsd where many citizens are
compelled to travel several miles
two or three times day 10 receive
and post letters.
Some Of the business houses and
private residences of Portland are
nnodels Of elegance and beauty, but
the churches, without exception,
ere the homeliest specimens Of arch
itscture to be seen anywhere. The
new cathedral is no exception to the
rule AN immense pile of brick. with
fhs lop-sided appearance which
seems to be an essential character
Sstic Of that class of buildings in the
Oregon metropolis. The docks of
Portland are large, commodious,
and supplied with every convenience
1or recsiving and storing freight,
but some Of her business streets are
nxecrable marrow, dirty and uneven.
The FIRE department is one of the
best on the coast. and supplied with
splendid apparatus, an electric fire
alarm, and elegant houses. The
diatrict telegraph and telephone,
a6ord means Of easy communica-
-