The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1889-06-16
Astoria Revisited.
And What The Visitor Saw.
A Large And Prosperous Metropolis.
With Great And Diverse Industries.
And Embellished By The Progress Of The
Times.
No. 1888 EAST 6FH STREET.
AGTnnTl nrnOar, CT nn 1nTa

No. 1873 EAST 6rH STREET. /
ASTORIA, Oregon, Sept. 90, 1914.
DEAR FANNIE:
. arrived here last week, one hour
and fifteen minutes from Portland,
via Olneigh, and was surprised and
pleased to note the difference in the
appearance Of things here. Twenty
five years is long time to look back,
and when l remember how Astoria
looked when I left there in August,
1889 1 couldn't help exclamations OF
wonder.
You were mere child then, but
will doubtless remember the ridicul-
GUS appearance of what they then
called streets" and the laudable
efforts of several of the citizens to
secure adequate egress and ingress to
and from the city to the surrounding
country. 1t took, 1 am told, a long
time, but at last progress triumphed
and the city took a step forward and
has been stepping forward in every re-
spect for over twenty years.
The evening l got here we rolled
into the fine Union depot over what
think is the best ballasted track ever
saw. There were twenty eight cars in
the train, the newly patented freless
locomotive drawing this train with as
much ease as the old fashioned loco
motive which burned coal or wood
and ran by steam could have drawn
six cars. This locomotive deserves
more extended mention than / can
give it in this letter. 1t is an electric
engine and generates its power by the
friction between its several parts Us it
moves. The motion is first commun-
icated to it from an electric motor at
each end of the route, but once
started and after attaining a speed of
80 miles an hour it can continue in
definitely. It is. made of the new
metals, alun1ina and phosfor, through
out. The rails are copper, and the
surplus electricity is worked off in
supplying motive power for all sorts
Of labor saving machinery for dis
tance Of several miles on each side of
the track, in lighting the train and the
surrounding country, the stations,
etc, and in the cultivation OF the
new cereal which grows best in the diff
fused rays of the electric light.
The moment OF my arrival as l rose
from easy cushions on the superb
sleeping car "1iliamook," 1 was met
by another surprise. Descending
from the car | moved between two
rows OF men representing the different
hotels of the city, who wore on their
breasts the badges of their respective
hotels, stood erect and silent and
spoke only in answer to a question
from the travellers. This was in such
pleasing contrast to the noisy run
ners at interior points that l made
mental note Of it.
l had been told to stop at the Belle
vue, and was not disappointed. This
magnificent hotel is situated on a
bold promontory extending into the
water in the northeastern part of the
city: 1t is built on the highest part
of what was long ago called Tongue
Point. It is built Of glass and iron
throughout and will accommodate
5000 guests. On the side looking
toward the ocean is promenade en-
closed by glass, from which the grand
est views are obtainable; on the south,
and overlooking the neatly kept
grounds Of the north Astoria Indus
trial school, is magnificent conser-
Satory. The eastern side Of this fine
hotel is divided into three parts. In
one is the dining room, in another a
small theater: in the other an i'm
mense reading and conversation room.
The hotel issues its own newspaper,
chronicling all arrivals and depar.
lures and giving the current gossip ot
the caravansary, it has its own vegeta-
bic gardens, stock farm, creamery
etc, which are located about six miles
east and south of the hotel and con
nected by an electric railway ovel
which trains are constantly moving.
I am told that there are other hotels
here equally as good, and in my rides
around the city 1 have seen several
MAGNIFICENT structures bearing the
names Of THE Percival," " "The Occi
dental and Oriental" "The Sque
moqueakawhka" "The Terminus" Gno
others, the rates of which vary from
S5 to $50 day, for suites.
The city is well supplied with caple
railways running in every direction
1t is only an hours ride on any OF the
suburban lines, the entire distance
from East 29th street (the present east
ern city limits) to any OF the many
summer resorts at Clatsopus, name
given to a acollection of beautiful villag
es on the sea beach, twenty-eight mile
from the extreme eastern limits OF tn
city. 1 rode on the car when l wen
out, with the superintendent OF tn
Nehalem Mills, who has his famil!
here temporarily, and was so inter
ested in his account of telling ant
saving timber by electricity that If
have the time I shall certainly tax
the Astoria, Tilamook 4 Grea
Scott railroad some afternoon