Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-03

THE SHORES OF THE PACIFIC-THE Stair OF
MORALS AND SIGNS OF IMPRovEMENr-THE
STAR OF EMPIRE TO REMAIN EAST OF THE MIS-
SOURI,
| Correspondence OF THE EVENING STAR
BENICIA, CAL, October 25, 1883.
This is the third year the correspondent of
Tue EVENING STAR has spent on the Pacific
| Coast. and during this period he has trayersed
the immense tract of country extending from
San Francisco to British Columbia. embracing
!nits extent California. Oregon and Washington
Territory HIS observations on climate, see
merry. soil, products. population, &c, have been
presented to the public through the columns Of
your popular Journal; and now, before leaving
| this coast for Washington. D. c.. he wishes to
ind.te few more thoughts for the benefit Of
your intelligent and inquiring readers.
THE NORTHERN PACIFIC.
The completion of the Northern Pacific rail-
road has inaugurated a new era ia the history of
this great northwestern world. 1t provides a
direct and easy mode of transportation for the
multtudes who are seeking homes in this vast
REGION. where lands are cheap and labor profit
able; and. on the other hand. 1t opens the mar
kess of the world to the immense products Of
these magnificent rivers. fields and forests.
PUGET sound is now but few days distant
from st. Paul and Chicago. and the same sleep
ers run from New York to Portland Oregon.
Until recently Washington Territory and Oregon
were reached in rough stages, over sandy plains
and dangerous mountains. or by going thou
~aDd miles beyond to San Francisco ana then
returning about the same distance on the Pacific
ocean. amid the heavy fOgs and bOisferOus winds
of rocky coast and a proverbiaIly perilous bar
at the mouth of the Columbia. But the dsad-
yanta@es and pers of frontier life are among
the things Of the past, and the convenences
and comforts of civilization are not only the
common blessings Of the east, but of the west
az well.
THE CENrER5 OF POPULATION
on this coast are first and foremost San Francis
CO, which is daily growing in wealth and i'm
portance. Eighty-three of its citizens are mill
lionaires, whose fortunes are estimated at from
$50 600 900 to $40 900 OOO The site of the city is
not attractive, but it abounds In palatial man
siOns and mammoth business houses. The wares
OF Oriental and OF Occidental civilization will
ever meet and mingle at the Golden Gate. Across
the bag lies Oakland a most refined and beauti-
full city of fifty thousand Inhabitants. 1t is Suffi
GENTLY remote from the damp fogs and cold
breeZes of the sea to render it healthful and
pleasant, and as place of residence it possesses
many advantages over it's greater sister
Portland. Oregon, Is said to be the weatthiest
city OF its size in America. Its streets and
squares are projected on magnificent scale and
1t commands large share of trade and COM
MERGE 10th by land and water The largest
ocean steamers find easy entrance to its fine
1arbOr
Olympia. Seattle and other places on Puget
sound are thriving towns and give promise of
prosperous future.
THE CLIMATE OF THE SLOPE.
The air here however, is damp aud the
winters rugged. Waila Walla w T., lies east
of the Cascade mountains. in the midst of
rich agricultural region in the very heart of a
valley of singular fertility and beauty The
climate here compares with that of your own
capital city, with the exception that it is more
changeabie and capr!GiOus and therefore favor
able to muscular and nervous disorders. This
young city. with population of say five thou
sand. labors under the Disadvantage of not
being located on the great central lines of trade
aud travel But there are several enterprises
now in progress that will soon bring it into
more direct relations with the great currents of
life and industry.
spokane Falls. w. T.. town only few years
old. is delightfully."- located on the main branch of
the Northern Pac ic. not far from the Idaho line
1t IS surrounded by vast forests of timber and
has waterfall which in respect to volume.
momentum and majesty. make it second
a2ara. 1t is possible this may prove to be the
site of that great northwestern city which is to
adorn the annals of the twentieth century.
Various localities are competing for this prize.
The best climate | have known in this broad
belt OF territory is found 10 southern California.
Wnere the winters are simply exquisite. and
where the summer heats are tempered by ocean
breeZes. and Yet 1t must be confessed that the
suddenness of climatic changes are unfavOrable
to health and longevity. 1t is not safe to GO
from home on any day in the year without an
the gentleman or lady is liable to
contract an incurable cold in July as
well as In January. The same cloth
ing is worn here the year round Changes Of
heavy for light garments are utterly unsafe
Hence it is plain that the Pacific coast is not
desirable resort for invalids. whilst 1t is charm
ing region for persons Ut bodily soundness and
vigor. The long dry season extending from May
| Till the middle OF October produces heavy de-
posits of dust which affect the sweetness and
purity OF the atmosphere. The drinking water.
especially in California, is miserable whilst in
oregon and Washington Territory it is Clearer
and cooler article. The absence of the phenOm-
ena of thunder and lightning is one of the
attractions OF this coast. The cheapness of
land which in some sections can be procured in
large quantities for a mere song is another at
| tractiYe feature in the eyes of emgrauts.
THE MORALS OF THE PEOPLE
Whether the soil naturally contains elements
OF greater strength and fertility than that of
Pennsylvania and Ohio cannot say: and whether
larger yield to the acre can be had here than
| there is problematcal. But it is certain that
the west Will not yet compare with the east in
point Of social order. moral and religious cul-
| ture. The people along the Pacific slope are
generous to fault But to majority of them
the Sabbath is simply holiday devoted to fish
ing. hunting. horse racing, dancing and all
| manner Of sports and amusements. Habitual
drinking is the damnable vice of this popula-
| ton. whilst at the same time there are many
| noble examples of temperance and sobriety
| among this magnanimous people. Divorces
| and assertions are Of frequent occurrence, and
| are often based on the most fimsy pretexts
Men and women who had made shipwreck of
| fortune and character in the east. fed in early
| days to this wilderness world to rebuild their
broken hopes, and many Of these have since ac-
qured wealth and social position with very
loose ideas in regard to the proprieties and mo-
raiitles Of life. But there IL doubtless steady
advance of the public mind in respect to the
| purity of home life and the sanctity of the
| marital tie. and the constant importation of new
and better elements will tend to create higher
| type Of social and moral excellence.
THE STAR OF EMPIRE TO REMAIN EAST
After calm and deliberate survey of the sub
ject, your correspondent Is of the opinion that
| the star Of empire will never move west of the
Missouri river that the people Of the east will
| ever hold the balance Of power in these United