Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-03-06
OREGON.
The wE.TBER Up noRTarEARs OF
CONGREGATIONS.
Political Matters = Portland Gossip = A
Good-sized Railroad Boom The
Agricultural Outlook
PoRrLANp, February %, 1850.

rain, storm and SHOWS, that quite behed
my cheerful description of the opening of
the month. Now again the sunshine
makes weak Roadway against the SHOWS
that linger with the shadows and cling to
the northern slopes. 1t is comfortable to
see the suns brightness again, even if it
is not warm enough to give spring feeling
to the air. The present winter has been
rather an uncomfortable one, and if March
shall keep up the evil reputation it
has earned, we may look for
| great deal of suffering among stock.
chards have been much injured by the Sc
we're frost of December. 1t seems that
there was one fearfully cold night when
| the mercury went down to s. below zero,
| sinking at the rate of 2 an hour until 5
o'clock in the morning. This was observed
by gentleman who took half-hourly OBJ
servations of his three thermometers, while
he kept up fires to save valuable plants in
his greenhouse. The cold spell was pre-
ceded by warmish weather for December,
and there probably was more sap in the
trees than suited the situation. In my
last l undertook to say that fruit trees
are neUer destitute of sap at this season,
and the idea was shipwrecked by typo
graphical substitution of the word
noO for ReUer. 1t seems probable
that many valuable plum, peach and cherry
trees are killed or injured, and fruit buds
damaged, to the injury of the coming fruit
crop.
Many farmers who live in the timber
regions of this part of the Willamette
have serious fears that immense losses will
occur the coming season by the spread of
forest fires through the fir regions where
the storm did so much damage. If the
down timber gets on fire while the dry
foliage clings to the limbs, the result must
be fierce confagrations and wide-s spread
devastation This is the serious threat that
looks the farmers in the face. If the woods
take fire, what can those living near by
do to save themselves?
POLITICAL.
Recent investigation goes far to show
that Oregon Republicans are friendly to
Blaine as their Presidential preference
The recent meeting of the State Central
Committee is said to have shown almost a
solid feeling for Blaine. Of course, through
the towns, where these lists are made
Blaine has more decided force than through
the country and among the people, but
then, at the present time, it may be safe to
conclude that Blaine is the Oregon prefer
ence, and no doubt the matter will be so
managed that the vote of Oregon will be
cast for him whatever may happen.
We have a general election III June for
county officers, members of the Legislature
and Congressman, not for State officers as
they hold over for couple of years longer.
There being no Senator to elect next session
of the Legislature, there will not be much
strife over the election of members of the
House, but when Senators are to be elected,
and hold over to 1852, there Will be lively
work, though that viii not apply to this
county or Marion, as the Senators of these
counties are now elected. The interest
centers on who shall be candidates for Con-
gresS The Democrats cannot be consid-
cred as owning the State on strict parti-
san poll, but they hold strong card in the
present Congressman,
JOHN WHITAKER,
Who has been Governor of Oregon, Speaker
of the House, President of the Senate, and
while able to drink his glass and play his
hand with q the boys" still has reputa-
ton for good sense and common honesty
that the best of people respect. He is
not a greenbacker. He told me himself
that he opposed the extra session and the
tactics that were so disastrous to his party,
and he boldly avowed that Thurman was
sfossil." He knows nothing but Dem
ocracy-and yet, being granger and plain
farmer, will command many doubtful
votes 1t will be wisdom for his party to
renominate him, for he has more strength
than any man they can select.
The Republicans have several men
already talked of. Hon. Rufus NAL
lory, who was elected to Congress in
1868 and served two years, is now United
States District Attorney for Oregon. He
will probably be named in Convention.
J. f. Watson, though comparatively
young man, is Judge of the Second Judi
cial District, good lawyer, handsome and
agreeable, and will probably be willing to
receive the Congressional nomination. Nj.
G.. George, is also a young man-certainly
not an old man-was a Senator from this
county some years ago, is a lawyer in good
practice, and has rather nice reputation
is probably above the average as a good
man in all respects. w. H. Odell, now
editing the Salem Statesman, is talked
of He was once Surveyor General,
and has long been known in con-
nection with Republican politics. DIR.
Watts, of Yamhill, the Elector who was
Postmaster, and so was the cause of the
Cronin difficulty, is now Receiver of the
Land Office at Oregon City, and is always
candidate for Congress, for Governor or
for United States Senator, and may have
some votes in Convention. 1t looks prob
able that among them the choice would lie
between Judge Watson and NJ. G. George,
who are both of them bright men and will
make good canvass but my advice to
the party would be to select a man to run
against John Whitaker from the people; If
thew do not, but take the best lawyer In
Oregon, they need not count the victory
won until the votes are all counted.
EX-SENATOR MITCHELL.
This gentleman has not spent much time
in Oregon since his official term expired,
and is now in Washington, finding, no
doubt, plenty ode, and perhaps especially
interested in the alf-million dollars Ben.
Holiday expects TO get as damage sus-
tanned on the overland mail route from In
dian raids. The present aspect of the case
looks favorable for Ben. MIR. Mitchell will
probably remain quiet but attentive spec
tator during the coming campaign, as he
NAV not be here until after Congress adj
journs, but he will probably be on hand to
lend a voice in the Presidential contest,
and from that time on will take care of his
Senatorial aspirations, for he intends to
succeed Grover in 1884. He is a shrewd
worker, knows how to make friends and
how to make them work, and viii be hard
to beat.
PORTLAND AFFAIRS.
a strong attempt was lately made to pass
ordinances that would restrain the ap-
pearance of vice, at least, and give the COM
munitv more protection against vicious in