Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-17
STUCK Up ON Stills.
How Some Rapidly-Growing Western
Cities Are Constructed.
OBSERVATIONS OF A TRAVELLER
Helena q Town With No Visible Means of
Support, but Boasting q
POPULATION MADE OF MILLIONAIRES

be found scattered over the West during the
summer, the only time when the majority
of people have to travel, and when it is the
most disagreeable. They come from all
parts of the country, and on any of the
through trains it frequently happens that
almost every State in the Union is repre-
sented. The fast express trains are always
crowded, and the Western passenger de-
partments certainly yield we'll during the
hot weather.
| Standing at st. Paul the traveller is at
the gateway to the great Northwest, the
most attractive as well as one OF the richest
| portions of the Western United States.
| Across the cou ntry for 1000 miles stretches
the Northern Pacific Railroad to Portland,
Ore. This is the line that Henry Willard
worked so hard to build, and then at'the
supreme moment, through financial losses,
was forced to unfasten his grip on the Presi-
dency. 1t is solidly-built railroad, and
has been largely instrumental in the incep-
tion and growth of numerous towns that
have already, in few short years, taken
their places in the rank of cities. Chief
among these towns are Helena, Spokane
Falls, Seattle, Tacoma and Portland.
OF MARVELLOUS GROWTH.
It is marvellous how these places have
grown in recent years, and to-day healthy,
energetic rivaly exists between the three
Pacific coast cities for the business suprem-
acy. Tacoma and Seattle hold each other
about even, but Portland, being the oldest,
is the largest and most substantial of the
three.
arrived in this beautiful city early in
the morning, and went up on the Heights
to secure a view of the place In its night
clothes. OFF in the distance was Mt.
Hood, with its summit resting in
the clouds, and below me at the
foot of the hill was the Columbia river,
winding in and out between the mountains
Its banks are lined with salmon canneries,
and at certain times in the year its waters
are full of the nets and traps of fishermen
The Columbia is, indeed, one of the prettiest
streams in America. From Portland to the
Pacific ocean it averages over two miles
wide, and at its mouth it is much broader.
1t is navigable to Portland for vessels of any
size afoat to-day, and this puts the latter on
the same footing as Tacoma and Seattle,
that are located on Puget Sound.
I met a very intelligent man in that
very early walk. who was not
with the territory. Said he: "Without
doubt Portland will be the Chicago of the
Pacific coast. 1t was not Lake Michigan
that made the Windy City, but its railroads.
TODAY Portland is the railroad center on
the Northwest coast, and it has a richer
farming country to support 1t than either
Seattle or Tacoma, but you couldn't make
the people in either of these places see it in
that light"
CITY ON Stills.
= Since Seattle was ravaged by the severe
fires of last winter the people have started in
to rebuild the town on better basis but
even now it is a city built on stills. Many
of the business houses are standing on props
instead ofsolld stone foundations. A peculiar
worm is gnawing at the vitals of these
wooden supports. hewing them out and
sapping their strength. The time is not far
distant, so they tell ME, that these buildings
are liable 10 fall. unless something is done
to maintain their upright and rectangular
positions.
Tacoma has grown to be good sized city,
and on every hand are evidences of pros
perity. Modern improvements have been
introduced with lavish hand, though to an
Eastern man there is much about all these
cities that is primitive. But it is the peo-
pie that make a country, after ALL
1t is surprising how many bright,
energetic young fellows live in
puff up the merits of their respective habi-
tations. In their opinions there is nothing
like the West, and above all, the particular
town in which they live. They talk West,
sleep it, eat it, verify. pray it, and the |
Eastern man who takes exception to their |
remarks and cites surprising cases in the |
East is not wanted. Indeed, it is surprising
how the ''tenderfoot" falls into their way |
of thinking, and unconsciously finds him |
self blowing up the country with the en-
thusiastic natives. He never saw such tim |
Der in all his lie as that which adorns the |
Cascade range in the State of Washington. |
For five hours or more the passengers on |
the Northern Pacific fast express, |
after leaving Tacoma coming East, |
sees nothing but the taIriest trees until the |
mountains are past, and after that long
stretch of sandy plain, dotted with sage |
bushes, only greets the eye. Should you |
happen to meet with temperature of 1910, |
as 1 did, you can't help feeling that you |
struck the fiery furnace at last.
IN BETTER TERRITORY.
When Helena is reached better territory
looms up, and from that place, over to ST. |
Paul, the country is fair to look at, with the
exception Of the Montana and Dakota "Bs
Lands" and these are always interesting to
the tourist.
For some miles along the Yellowstone
river you see one canyon for
nation after another. The whole
is broken up into crested
buttes, and not few of them resemble
city set on hill. This is the leading Pc
culiarity OF the Bad Lands that first attracts
the notice of travellers. People imagine
ft,au afip, fha rnrn nf dofunof |
city in the moon, but the man who cannot
walls, and the remains of ancient houses on
some of these buttes is gifted with little i'm
agination and defective eyes. More than
one passenger on any train is heard to re-
mark about the wonderful resemblance OF
some of these Bad Land formations to an
old city.
Helena is another city in the Northwest
that is on the rise. It has grown rap
idly in the last few years, and its
people are the most loyal
10 its merits that can be met anywhere along
the railroad. The man who pronounces the
name of Helena with the accent on the E
had better have his life heavily insured be-
fore he makes the break. If the natives
permit him to live after the innocent act it
would be pronounced a miracle. But for
Ill that, the people of Helena are bright
ind energetic, and it is seldom one meets
anywhere more desirable and entertaining
,lass.
A CITY OF MILLIoNAIRES.
Helena's population consists principally
,f millionaires. Years ago they shoveled
lp their wealth in the gulches which have
low become the principal streets Of the
own. Even now, in digging cellars
bo- 49, ro1d h,,t AZ. .-L-I j..