The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-07-01

ingtonians discover after they have
tried the costly experiment. We be-
lieve in railroads we thank the Ma
tion's lucky stars for them. But we be-
iieve they ought to be bullt-the tracks
at least-by the Government for the use
OF the people. Then, the rolling stock
could belong to those who saw fit to en-
gage in the transportation business,
subject to such regulation in rates as an
unselfish public policy should officially
dictate. Then there would be no rail-
way monopOlies, but in a short time
plenty Of roads, over which legitimate
competition would make cheap trans
portaliOn inevitable. Such a policy
would not be encouraged by corpora.
tions or capitalists, but it would take
immensely with the people, and the
world shall see that the United States
will have il as soon as women become
lawmakers. The men Of to-day are
slaves to the despot Capital, aud the
women are servants OF servants, though
those of this generation are not destined,
as were the Canaanites, to be so all the
days of their lives.
On Saturday morning the Olympia
train came laundering through the viii
lage of Tumvater, hard by friendly
home where we sat awaiting its ap-
proach. We came near missing it alto
ge;her; but friends tagged il, the en-
gine was reversed, and the obliging
thing came painting back to meet US,
aud we went on homeward, rejoicing in
the day Of iron horses. This little-or,
rather, short road, for it's big enough,
what there is of twas built by a stock
company for the purpose of connecting
| Olympia, ria TeninO, with the North
Pacific line, and is a success in every
way except financially. a jolly party
OF picnickers, including Governor Ferry
and family among other notables, were
seated in decorated platform car, with
whom We held a season OF joyous inter
course. But the excursiOnists and their
car stopped after q while at a side sta
ton, aud the train went on, leaving US
to the society Of strangers, as we
thought. But in little while we were
agreeably disappointed. Rev. J. r.
Thompson, who used to be radically op-
posed to our mission, but who, like all
sensible men, was open to conviction,
and is now, at least, passive believer
in the equal rights of the sexes, was on
the train, bound Portlandward, and to
him we were indebted for many courte-
sizes during the remainder Of the day.
At Tenino we met the North Pacific
train, aud were so fortunate as to get a
seat in the engine-room at Cowlitz.
Here we had a glorious ride. Every
where, upon every hand, was wide
waste Of steadily advancing water,
whose waves could only be stayed by
the obtruding bluffs. The Cowli,z
River was like an inland sea, and all the
farms on the lowlands were submerged
by the flood. The view upon every
hand was passing beautiful. Whether
our fiery, snOrting steed went bounding
over bridges, rumbling over tressles,
winding round the curves, gliding
through the valleys, or nesting under
bluffs, the scenery, ehangeful as it was,
was always grand. As We neared Ka-
lama, the great blufs rose abruptly on
our left, bedecked here and there with
brilliant flowers and crowned with
guarled oaks aud giant frs. 1t was as
though The water and the rocks had
formed league TO destroy the lowlands,
and the flowers and trees on the high
lands were rejoicing at their success.
Kalama was trailing her skirts in the
waters Of the Columbia, aud bathing
her feet in the wastes Of the far-of
snowlands. y lager beer shop sat sus-
piciously above high water mark away
out in slough, with a raised walk lead
ing to it, suggesting the thought that,
as the water was too high to drink, the
people were expected TO fall back on
beer.
The steamer landing was reached over.
a walkway Of rickety boards, aud the
locomotive looked dolefully at the situa-
ton with her wheels axle-deep on the
track. The Columbia River looked like
mighty ocean. Up, and up, and up,
his eneroaching walters had climbed
over aud over the farms they had
spread; into aud over the farm-houses
they had crept, and the scene was DESC
late beyond description. And yet,
everybody seemed happy and jubilant.
In one place we saw several families
anchored in the rising flood In a floating
shanty; but, though we waved our
handkerchiefs at their heroism, they
seemed unconscious that they deserved /
the compliment.
The damage along the river is incalcu- /.
liable. On every hand were heard ex- 4
elamations Of regret that such a disaster
should occur. But, when we reached I
Portland, it was little better. The flood /
was the chief topic Of conversation, aud 1
we pen the closing lines Of this hasty /
sketch with an inward wall for lonely /
lodge on some friendly Ararat.
y. 5. d. |
Portland, June 90 1850.
-------
Mrs Abigail Scott Duniway, the tai |
ented editor and lecturer, has been on a 4
visit to old time frfands in this pIaoa