Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1888-08-30
THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST.

Marvellous Opening Up of Industries
and Settlement Through the Advent of
Railways--A Country Rich I'm Agricul-
ture, Timber, Minerals, Stock, and
Water-Power-Unsurpa rpassed Climate and
Wonderful Scenery.
PORTLAND. Oregon, Aug. %. 1888.--In the
mind OF the observer who takes but furtive
glances from tho car window in hastoning
through the Pacific Northwest, the impress
sions created may not be altogether favor
able but the man who comes and looks for
facts will be favored by q constant success
sion OF surprises. Its agricultural resources;
its mineral wealth; its timber; its manu-
featuring possibilities. through the close
association OF water-power and raw ma
terial; its climate; and "a full share OF those
superb creations OF nature which distinguish
our country from all others, convey to the
intelligent traveller the most gratifying
thoughts. assuring him Of its future prog
ress and prosperity.
WHERE is oREGoN2
1t Is the State OF the Pacific Northwest
and has the ocean for its western boundary.
1t is bounded on the north by Washington
Territory. on the east by Idaho. and on the
south by Nevada and California. 1t has an
area Of $1,000 square miles, or over sixty
million acres. larger than Old England and
New England combined, and IS capable OF
supporting ten persons where 1t now has
one. If you have never been there. admit
that you know nothing or very little about
1t. Oregon has not only variety OF material
resources. but there is difference In the
climate east and west of the Cascade
Mountains. On the coast there are four
seasons, but two only are conspicuous-the
wet Jnd the dry-while in the eastern part
OF the State there is u greater range OF
temperature, the winter. however. rarely
having more than few weeks or months OF
snow, with summers cooler and more equa-
BILE than in the States east. The rainy season
on the coast is in the winter. and the idea is
common that the rainfall is excessive, but
wrong. because the Signal Service shows
every South Atlantic and Gull State to have
from five to twenty inches more OF rain than
Portland. where the annual average is flf-
teen to twenty inches in excess of the States
of the Upper Mississippi Valley. In the
Southern States the rain is heavy; out here
the showers are lighter, come oftener. and
never with driving wind, and without the
| shivering dampness usual to the rainy sea-
sons on the Atlantic coast. The snowfall at
| Portland is light seldom enough for sleigh
| ing. In the heat of summer there is no sun
stroke, nor the lassitude OF Southern Cali
| fornia. and no night was ever so hot as to
preclude the need OF bed clothing. The
| reasons for so mild and uniform climate so
far north have been so often told that a
mere mention of the chief one Is all that Is
necessary. This Is the influence OF the
Japan current, IN immense gulf stream" i"
| in the Pacific Ocean which sweeps toward
the North Pacific coast and affects II as the
| Gulf Stream does the British Islands. The
| potency Of the japan current Is seen when
| we state that the annual temperature o.
| Sitka. Alaska. is about that of Minnesota.
| This current is the source of the Chinook
J Winds" which pass inland to Montana and
| even Dakota melting in few hours the
snow in Oregon and Washington Territory.
| and allowing the stock TO crop the herbage,
| which is green and growing under the snow.
| The lawns OF Portland are bright and green the
| whole winter through and flower bloom in the
| open air long after the frost has withered the
! vegetation of Virginia. Thunder storms are
| practically unknown, and there has never been
| n blizzard or cyclone. The farmers can plow In
| the codest part OF Oregon as early as February,
| ard in nearly all parts Of 1t he can have an or