The Republican journal., 1881-08-04
Western Wanderings.
Correspondence of the Journal.

through dreary country, hot, dusty, and un-
comfortable. True, the last hundred miles before
reaching San Francisco was through finer coun-
try, yet if my impressions of California we're to be
only such as this Il. r. trip would have suggested,
they would be to the effect that it is a much over
rated region Still, it was pleasant to see oranges
on the trees at Los Angeles, and the stacks of
| harvested wheat, all along the roadside for the
| last hundred miles or more Arrived in San Fran
| cisco learned that the steamship Columbia was
to sail the next morning for Portland, Ore and 1
decided to take passage at for the latter place,
and postpone further sight seeing in California un
| I'll my return. The Columbia is one of line of
four OF five steamers that ply between San Fran
cisco aud Portland and is splendid specimen Of
marine architecture. With capacity of nearly
5000 tons, and perfect in all her appointments
every possible comfort is assured to the throng of
passengers with which she is burdened The other
steamers Of this line are scarcely inferior to the
Columbia and all Of them are admirably offcered
and are under the ownership and control of the
Oregon Railway and Navigation Company
wealthy and powerful corporation, of which may
write more at length in a future communication.
In due time we off, and once outside the
Golden Gate, there is a gradual thinning out Of
the passengers, and the decks which were throng
ed with men, women and children little while
ago come to wear deserted look The gong
sounds for dinner, but in vain-only Struggling
company assemblies. You sit down at table and
your nearest neighbor is SO tar away (your seats
are assigned by number that you must almost
| shout to carry on a conversation. What does it
mean Are they all overheard and drowned No
| An occasional sudden pallor and precipitate rush
tron the dining saloon of some of the brayer ones
| who sought to defy their fate is suggestive. A
| walk about the saloon and an occasional glimpse
through the half open doors Of state rooms Of de
| sparlng wretches who have thrown up every in
terest IL life, tells the story Three quarters of
! our company miserably seasick aud so it con
| tinues until We get inside the bar OF the Columbia
River and reach Astoria where il is said facetlous
| ly most OF the passengers came or Juard. Then
| there is resurrection, aui life again The ground
swell with whcA the Pacific ocean is generally
agated III this region, is said to be peculiarly try
ing to the human stomach | was fortunate
enough, however to escape all unpleasant conse
quences, and was able to enjoy every moment Of
the three days sail over the seven hundred miles
of distance from the city to the other able to
enjoy square meal three times each day, and
cup Of coffee before rising in the morning
And it was indeed delightful excursion The
weather was fine and for nearly the whole distance
/ the coast OF California, and then of Oregon were
plainly in view. Once over the bar-a feat of
some difficulty and only possible at high tide-our
progress up the broad Columbia with its heavily
| wooded banks pt hnr Gid
into hills and mountains becomes succession OF
panoramic surprises of the most pleasing sort
Oregonians are justly proud of their magnificent
| river At last reach
PORTLAND,
rapidly growing city Of about %, 900 inhabitants,
situated on the Willamette river. short distance
above its junction with the Columbia Evidently
there IS great future before this young city. Sit
uated at the foot Of the Willamette valley, a won
dertully rich territory over hundred miles in
length by about fifty in breadth, it is the natural
outlet Of all the vast product of this unexampled
wheat region, ii Portland was fed from no other
source than the Willamette valley alone it would
necessarily become ID considerable town. But this
is not the half All the vast product OF the great
Columbia valley above, both IN wheat and stock
will naturally come to Portland. Lines Of steam
ers ply on all the navigablo portions OF the Colum-
bIa and It's tributaries above the city, and railroad
IS approaching completion which will also assist
IN laying the offerings of a rich region larger than
all New England at the feet of this young city. A
considerable tribute will be paid by other local.
ties. not embraced IN the above description-and
altogether it the large and st eady growth
OF this business centre. 1t is busy, bustling
place, Marks of wealth and refinement are every
where making themselves visible in handsome
residences and grounds Society is good and A
New Highlander at once feel himself at home
Here on Tenth street Mr.. a Mrs g. Wadlin
have their cosy little home, and if their host of
friends III Belfast do not think they are pleasantly
situated, they must come and see for themselves
Afterthe cordial welcome winch ! have the best
of reasons for believing that they will receive
AIN sure they would soon be convinced of the en-
viable nature OF their situation. Absence from
the circle of their friends in the East alone detracs
from the felicity Of their present life But as a
compensation in part they making hosts of
friends here. and in the best circles OF the cltv
Mr Wadlin holds responsible position in the ser
vice of Wells, Fargo d COS Express with good
prospect of advancement He has deserved and
enjoys the confidence Of his employers The
Captains Moves OF Searsport are spending the sum
mer here. They are in the China trade and their
fine ships are lying side by side at the wharf
There Is generous welcome and entertainment
for all Eastern friends on board their craft Mr.
Woodbury. Roberts ut stockton. who came out
here about year since 10 engage in the sheep
blSiDpsS isF1
in common with nearly ali whe were engaged in
the business but he Is plucky and capable and
viii yet win success. He Is Just now in the EN-
ploy Of Cunier.A Co, large clothing dealers, by
whom he has been rapidly advanced but predict
that he will not .ong remain there, as the exper-
ence for which he paid so dearly last winter is too
valuable not to be turned to direct account When
he next takes up the stoc, line, his friends may
feel assured of his success
There is a large New England element here and
it constitutes the enterprise Of the city very large
ly, The Bros. Gammons are here-one in a law
partnership, and the other engaged in handling
wheat-both with very encouraging prospects
The WILLAMETTE VALLEY
may best be described as a vast wheat field
Should it be entirely placed under cultivation, it
is capable almost of supplying an empire with
bread have just returned from Journey through
it, two hundred miles southwark to Roseburg in
Douglas Co; and the magnificent array Of grain
along the whole route is almost marvellous
have seen nothing like it elsewhere. The valley
of the Umpqna river, which is chiefly embraced
in Douglas 90, is also a very rich country Unlike
the Willamette it is broken up by hills and mount
aims, with highly fertile valleys between, and in
the valleys | found the finest grain. The high
ground is devoted to stock; and here may be found
numerous locks of sheep, producing quality of
| wool that commands from two to four cents more