The record-union., 1891-02-01

there is not for its size a lovelier spot on
the whole coast; and its wealth of strange
plants is something wonderful. Nobody.
learn, ever asks any one to go and see it.
Look at your Art Gallery! Put that in
Portland, and see what we would do with
1t. why, we'd support it, and every
man in town would be member of the
Museum Association, and push it in a
way to make people come thousands of
miles TO see the pictures and collections,
ana once there, we'd secure some of them
permanently. Yet 1 hear that there are
scores of your old citizens who have
never been inside the building, and many
others who are not at all familiar with its
contents, and that it is impossible to
get line OF street railway to il MY
heavens, give it to Spokane, or Seattle, or
Tacoma, or to my town, and Well show
you. Pardon the Boosting. Why, / got
up at daylight the other morning-the
morning after l arrived-to go up and
see the giant palms on n street / saw
them set out, when L was boy, and it is
with delight L come to see them yearly,
and Eastern people would deem it treat
indeed to see them; but no one ever asks
any one If they have seen any of your
lovely senll-tropic Vegetation here.
Don't Don't y you think that shows lack of local
Probably you are right,
UNDENIABLE FACTS.
II know that am right. am not saw
ing this to hurt you, but for your good.
Ii you do not think am right let me tell
you. had to ask halfa dozen business
people before L found one who could tell
me TACT about public institution of
your town that every one ought to be
eager to pop into the ears of every stran-
ger who comes here. l won't say what it
was, the ignorance and indifference We're
too shameful"
We'll, but does any one repulse stran-
gers here?'
Yes, they do. I went to the Secretary
OF one OF your foremost institutions, and
most important. Maybe my business
was not IN his sight good. Maybe it is not
the kind you like here. Possibly 1
should not have preached it here. Any
way, up, north in such a case no fellow
VIII let you kOw as much. Well, this
Secretary OF great institution, that can
build or crush your city, said to me:
Don't; it is no use. l would not stay
tor tourists. No one stays here longer
imam they can help. The railroads run
their trains through here in the night.
and that is a great detriment to it, He
said more | do not choose to tell, backing
the eyes of your city, for do not care to
night battles you people will not take
apart IN when they are your own mat
ters."
What impression did the Secretary
make on your
None. L knew better. But stranger
might have been badly impressed. [
went to the President of the institution.
and found out the truth, and that the Sec
rotary had no right to say what he did.
and that 1t is not true. Why, trains have
to go through some place OF importance
III the night. They do up north, anyhow,
ana 1t hurts no place. That idea is bosh.
why, lind trains going and coming all
hours day and night here. one can scarce
sleep Tor the roll and whistle of the trains.
There are, they tell me, in and out,
here.''
es, think there are even more,
WHAT SHOULD BE.
why, I find there is no place on the
coast. viii not except San Francisco. so
admirably situated as to inland transpor-
tatlon as Is Sacramento; roads in all di-
rectlons, tapping all regions. You can go
east, west, north, south, and to the half
points OF the compass, up and down both
SIDES OF your river and over to the trans
montain region, and you can go to San
Eranclsco--and back the same day. WHY.
don't you know you are wonderfully
blessed IN transportation lines for passen-
gers and freight. Your travelling facili-
ties, L tell you, are unsurpassed on this
coast | defy contradiction OF that
DO you want us to blow of these
things all the time?''
We'll, nc; but do not put them under
bushel. See here, find your merchants
DONG better all around than in most
places. L find no real distress, no fear of
panlcs, no real complaint in Sacramento.
our people look well, they live well.