Middletown transcript., 1892-08-18
ON THE PACIFIC COAST.
INTERESTING LETTER FROM A
DELAwAREAN.

DELAWAREAN.
1t would be impossible to give the
readers Of the Herald full account
of the proceedings of the General
Assembly at Portland.
From the time the delegates reach.
ed Portland until the day of their
departure everything in the power of
their entertainers was done to make
their stay pleasant. Portland is sit
uated on the banks of the Willamette
river, twelve miles about the confluence
of that stream with the Columbia, and
120 miles from the Pacific ocean. 1t
was founded in 1847, and we are told
that toss of penny decided its
name. The early settlers were largely
from the New England states. Some
of them therefore wished to have the
new city's name Portland" others
we're anxious to have it called "Bos-
ton" in honor of the great New Eng
land cities from whence they came.
As it seemed impossible to reach
decision, the rival parties determined
to decide the question by tossing up a
penny with the word Portland" on
one side and "Boston" on the other.
The word Portland" turned up and
thus it was named. The city is now
the chief commercial centre Of the
vast region drained by the Columbia
river and its tributaries. 1t is also
the depot of a large mineral country,
including extensive gold and silver
mines Through 100 miles from the
ocean, this is no draw back to its fore
ign trade. The largest vessels can be
moored at its wharves. In proof of
this we found on our arrival there the
u. S. crusiers Baltimore" and
"Charleston" moored near the railroad
bridge. They are both large steamers,
the 'Baltimore" drawing 20 #. of
water and the "Charleston" 19 #.
We saw also large ships and barks
loading and being unloaded at the
river front. Portland has not been
noted for spasmodic "booms" but
rather for steady, healthy, vigorous
growth from the very first. It is now
one of the wealthies cities in propro-
ton to the number Of its inhabitants,
in the Union. 1t is adorned with
beautiful buildings. Its people are
composed largely of the young and
energetic who left the East to make
homes for themselves in the New
West. 1t has all the modern inn
proyements that are found in the
older eastern cities, and many that
the great cities of the East have not
yet introduced. 1t is said that San
Francisco had better "look to her
laurels" for Portland is stretching out
strong hand to obtain the portion of
metropolis of the Pacific Coast. On
the arrival of the train at the Union
depot, the delegates were assigned to
various homes and hotels throughout
the city. Three of the Westminster
delegates were sent to the Portland
hotel, and this was their home during
the whole session. The delegates and
their friends were given abundant
opportunity to see the city and sur
rounding couDtry through the kind
ness of the people of Portland. Special
rates we're given to the delegates and
friends on the city and suburban rail-
roads. Sometimes free passes. Be-
sides this series of special excursions
we're arranged free to all in attendance
at the Assembly. In these excursions
every thing was done for our comfort
and welfare that any reasonable per-.
son would expect. There was one
| feature of Portland's surrounding
which could be seen any clear day
without going on an excursion ano
which when seen could not we'll b.
forgotten. From the window of oul
hotel we could look out upon Noun
Hood 1920 feet high. and crowned
with perpetual snow. In 1887 a party
ascended this mountain with 100 Id
of red fire and on the night of 4th o
July they succeeded in Illuminating
its crest SO splendidly that the gloV
was plainly seen at Portland nan.
miles away. This is perhaps th
loftiest 4th of July illumination Oh
record. OFF toward the north ma,
be seen majestic Mount St. Helen'a
$3.50 feet above the level of the ses
'. On any clear day we were told it wa
possible to see Mount Rainter an
Mount Baker; 1t is hard to imagin
a more majestic sight than those soil
tary mountain giants, snow-crowne
winter and summer to their yer
SUBMITS.
On the morning of the arrival il
Portland two of the delegates set on
to visit u. s. Cruisers Baltimore
and Charleston lying in the harbo
These magnificent war-ships wer
thrown open by their officers to th
public, and during the few weeks the
remained near the city, they wei
. | x,;s;4oJ hs thousands nf v,arsnns VI