The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-09-11
FROM THE PACIFIC.

We have been permitted to publish |
the following letter from ]. s. Englerth,
formerly of this county, addressed to S.
Billings, ESQ.,. of lie Ray:
MILwAUKEE, OREGON,
July 18th. 1885. !
Mr.. s. BILILNas:--Since coming to this |
coast the 10th of June, We have travelled
u good deal. We made our advent
through Washington territory, as far
north as latitude AZ. and within 80 miles
of Victoria, BIC Washington territory
is rough, broken, sterile, mineral coun-
try. well adapted TO fruit raising of all
kinds incident to u northern climate. The
western part is where the big trees grow
you doubtless have heard spoken of. II
is true trees are found here three hun
dred feet high, having diameter from
two to seven feet. Promiscuously trees
are found ten to fourteen feet i'm dame
ter. counted one day eighteen twelve
foot saw logs cut from one tree, ready 10
roll, the but cut was SIX feet and the
end of the top log four feet one inch,
and then "a feet left i'm top. The mills
where these logs are manufactured into
lumber are tirst-class, having two hori-
Zontal circular saws.
Washington territory IL quite sparsely
settled To be so long II territory. was
one whose signature accompanied null
ttude of names TO Westinghouse our
national congress, for IA divide, separat-
ing il from Oregon. This was done in
1853, when sojourned three years on
the Pacific coast II has scarcely to-day
600 inhabitants. When Howard Per-
kins gets there will add 10 il, unless he
gets mad, like too many have already
done, abandon their claims and run of
To Oregon, or British Columbia, or cross
the rockies and settle upon some volcan-
ic eruption where il is so healthy that
doctors turn to farmers, and lawyers
gathering bugs, and where women, old
bachelors, and all the heterogeneous
Ter life. This country, all over the coast
is noted for beautiful young and middle
aged grass widows. They are dressy
fascinating, courteous, well educated
bold, full of brass, no way at all bashful
They court the men, especially those
whose pockets are blessed with the shin
ing elements of wealth. They marry
anything of tins kind; in short time
they boss the tan yard, the devil steps
in, and subsequently the courts are con
tamnated for divorce. This refers Il
both Washington and Oregon. Thil
territory has scarcely 10000 inhabitants
with this small population for a territory
having 10000 square miles or 50,0O0,0Ol
acres of land, two-thirds of this number
live in the towns and villages. Theil
taxes are awful, % to 30 mills. Thei
imports far exceed their exports. IL
1888 the imports of Washington was $l2,
100000 over exports. Oregon, SO, 600,
600 over her exports. Now, friend Bill
ings, any financed person will agre,
with me that no state or territory can b,
prosperous when she sends out NOR,
than she gets back. These are fact
which cannot be gainsaid.
On independence Day, july Ith, 1885
was hot--l00 in the shade. We went (,
Fort Vancouver, Washington territory
This fort is situated on the north side O
the Columbia. This is large and ma
iestic stream, its waters afford the plyin,
of large draft vessels from all parts o
the world This stream Lewis an,
Clarke navigated i'm 1909, by commission
of President Jefferson. have stood Oh
the identical spot where they wintered
il is where the Willamette river form
its confluence with the Columbia. Thi
fort was first laid out by the Hudson
Bay Company. A man by the name o
Hudson was chartered to traffic with tn,
nntivae in Pritish Am orioa in f,re, ct,
inhabitants, including the 200 soldiers
Its streets run at right angles, are 81,
rods wide, and macadamiZed Its side
walks are beautifully shaded with tree
of natural evergreen. IL has some me,
brick and wooden structures, two schoo
edifices, which bid greeting to educa
tional developements, equivalent to an,
on the coast according to the number O
Inhabitants. The government building
are low but substantially built.
The l09th anniversary was held i'm
beautiful grove. promiscuously arranged
for the capacity of seating one thousant
or more persons. The main speaker O
the day was II lady lecturer from tn,
east, who Us ont on u women's rights
mission. She handled the subject quit,
well, but was too brief on the topics o
the day. She dwelt too long on tn,
rights of woman, ignoring the laws mad,
by state and national government ant
vindicating the laws of Washington ter
ritory, wherin woman is by law allowed
to vote and hold office. A jury of twelv,
women tried criminal before lawyer
and Judge, in which. it is said, their de
alterations were made with due dill
gence and dispatch.
The vocal and instrumental music wal
splendid. II was classical in all it,
branches. The United States band was
and is, the most skilled band to be founC
on this or the Atlantic coast, i'm fac
would say that il has no peer.
We leave this part of Oregon on Tues
day, July 2Sth, by way of the ocean, fol
California, hoping and trusting in Divine
Providence for a safe pilgrimage, ending
our return home in September. Re
specially bid you and your lady adieu
j. $. ENGLERTH.
H. ~