Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-04-12
Portland Oregon, March 30, 1889.

MbSSlS
Gentlemen-Agreeably to the promise
made to you, l now write this from tie
western part of the west. | arrived III
Portland about 3 p. IN. on the 2ilnst'
travelling over the Northern Pacific H.
Il. from St. Paul, Min. and from Chicago
over the Chicago X Northwestern
Stopping in Chicago nearly three days.
while there | spent some of the time
with j. L. Hall formerly of Alma. The
weather was very fine during the trip
clear and warm SO that the fires III the
cars were most of the time not kept
burning during the day but required
nights. After leaving hicago we
found the first clouds and some rain IN
the Cascade range in northern Wash
ington, al Tacoma the clouds passed
away OF rather we passed south towards
Portland, and for aught | know the
clouds still remain over around and
through that city of the sound with, us
all was clear and bright All OF the
way some evidences of returning spring
in Minnesota and Dakota, farmers were
working in flower fields and stock was
out on the range. When we crossed
the upper Missouri River the ice was
just running all that could crowd in the
stream. Until we were nearing Tacoma
there was but very little green shading
of the grass or vegetation some 400 50
miles east of there day dawned and we
soop saw we had reached different
climate on the western slope of the
Cascade range. And now in the Co
lumbia and Willamette valleys grass
and oats range when not pastured one
to two feet high, in fact they have grown
here all winter no freezing weather, a
farmer told me he had left potatoes on
the ground and they had not frozen.
Flowers are profusely in bloom and the
fruit trees proclaim by their abundance
of blossoms largeEield of fruit, cherries
have nearly passed their bloom, so much
for the weather here
There has not fallen this past winter
Oh the great mountain range the usual
amount Of snow neither of rain in the
valleys. To day is somewhat of the
usual order of the rainy season of this
valley, alternating showers of rain and
showers of sunshine and whenever |
look out of the window where | am
writing this Il am on the nights west
of the city miles, | plainly see the
long high dark green Cascade range
nearest point 80 miles, whose south
ward extreme is lost to view in the dis
lance and mist of shower, but plainly
above all Mt. st. Helens, Raniee,
Adams and Hoods towering peaks are
seen where in former times mighty
flames burst out in volcanic fires bright
ened the sceue, molten torrents of lava
rolled a beautiful destructive tide.
Earthquakes themselves shook and
tossed the whole mass rs if it was of no
weight, suddenly stopping leaving all
in wild confusion. The fires have died
out Time rolled its carless course" and
" lilty sut lOShCN III ICt anu ollON Z.
which means and is death to all living
things and does it not apply to worlds
as well. Now they please the eye and
imagination by their silent regal grand
eur. Monuments and monarchs of an
age gone by, of which no other history
remains to us, what is not told by them
will never be told To man.
To me this is an interesting country
in its wildness and vastness. much to
see and much to imagine and reflect
upon. There is an immense influx of
people here, all avenues of work seem
overlooking, too many want employ
ment in new country and cannot find
the work to do. Here small amount
of land supports family, small tract
of timber furnishes much lumber and
the present supply of labor is not re-
quired here now.
Respectfully Yours,
;. a. BOWERS.
M