Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1882-03-25
WASHINGTON TERRITORY SEEN
By 4 SAN FRANCISCAN.

lew NaNS, kaut learning LnaI you were
about stating q paper, | thought perhaps
a few notes of travel might interest some
of your readers.
Some days since I left San Francisco
or board the steamship Oregon, arriving
in Portland after an unusually pleasant
trip of sixty hours. As it is my first
visit to the Northwest, Portland was a
new experience. 1t Is said she has more
wealth, and does mere business, than
almost any other city in the world, in
proportion to the population. She now
cannot have much less than $4,000 peo-
pie. 1t was relief to find contcnted
people, no complaining of hard times,
everybody in the best of spirits and
trimming ship for the good time coming
the completion Of the Northern Pacific
&. r. San Francisco merchants, too, are
taking time by the fore-lock and are
opening branches of their respective
houses. This fact, of itself, is no small
indication of the prosperous outlook. 1t
is live city, possessing vigor discerni-
ble on every hand. With all their pros
perity and bright 1maginings, 1 think
they are the least bit jealous of the good
prospects of New Tacoma, Seattle and
that other yet unborn metropolis, "some>
where long the Sound" Yet by prompt
action and a liberal supply of money
spent in dredging, or in cutting a ship
canal from the Columbia river to the
ocean, thereby avoiding the bar, she may
rest secure in her proud position as the
distributing point of the great north
west.
The ride up the Columbia was grand
beyond description. The scenery equals
if not surpasses that of Yosemite valley.
at The Dalles we got aboard the cars at
$40 p. IN. and arrived at Walla Walla by
7 o'clock the next morning. The wealth.
er was very pleasant, no snow except that
on the surrounding mountains. Busi>
ness quiet, but good year expected.
There is some complaining that the
railroad has cut off some OF their eastern
trade-which is the experience of many
once promising towns. Here, as else,
where, many are enthusiastic over the
prospects of Puget Sound, and point to
it as the land of promise. Returning to
Portland, / took the boat to Kalama,
thence to New Tacoma by rail. This
town is growing very rapidly. Must
have at present population Of not less
than 1900. Some sixty new buildings
are under contract. Also three churches
and hall to be erected. 1t has the sp-
pearance OF newness and of sudden
growth-the first families having more
or less stumps in their door yards. Lum-
Der is little difficult to get, so great is
the demand. And good carpenters will
soon be In requisition.
At Seattle there was great boom in
real estate. Some few are making hay
while the sun shines. The prices are
too high and the bubble will soon burst.
Seattle is very pleasantly situated, and
the prospects for large town are good.
The Territorial University Is located
here, under the able and energetic
management of Prof. Anderson. Mr..
Willard has nobly supplied shameful
omission of the Legislature, with the
promise of further assistance. doubt
If ,any other institution OF learning on
the continent commands a finer view.
Leaving Seattle o'clock in the morn
ing we reached Anacortes, 100 miles
distant, the same ievening. Here l met
my old friends Mr.. and Mrs. Amos
Bowman, whom I had not seen for a
long time. They are most pleasantly
situated, and have four as handsome,
healthy and promising children, from
three to nine years old, as can be found
anywhere. These little ones have great
faith in the guidance and protection CT
fairies, of whom they believe the
woods to be full. The other dsy while
rambling through the woods, they lost
the trail and could not f1d their way
out, but without becoming frightened or
alarmed, they said little prayer to the
fairies, placed red flower, tthey call q
fairy's torch, in their hats, took up their
line of march, single file, and marched
straight out, as they aftcrwsrd said.
Mr.. B. is a pioneer, his first residence
here being tent. some four or five years
ago. He has fine ranch, a store, il
post master, and notary public.
For scenery this point is without q
rival. Mt. Baker stands like sentinel
to the northward, covered with the
snow of centuries. Every hour of the
day produces some change in Its magical
hues. Sometimes when the rest OF the
| landscape is cloudlcss there will gethel
| hood of vapor about its summit, which
in the last rays of the setting sun, will
glow and light up like crown OF glory
| To be idle here does not seem like 9
waste of time. One learns to see the
truth by the same light rs great mer
have seen it by; and our thoughts are
led to the Almighty Artist who paints
new landscapes morning and evening
whose sculptures are the melting clouds
and the everlasting hills, and whose harl