The record-union., 1892-06-20
PORTLAND'S ATTRACTIONS.
"Di. Vernon's" Description of Ore
CONS Beautiful Metropolis.
The Points of Interest in the Neighbor-
hood Reached Easily and
Rapidly.

Especial Correspondence RECoRD-UNIoN.l
The city of Portland is already great
it is more than great, it is growing Its
possibilities seem illimitable. 1t has the
command of waterways, the Willamette
and the Columbia Rivers are at its service,
the Pacific Ocean is within reach of its
merchants. The mountains girt the city
round about and give it the security of
their everlasting presence. Its site is one
of present advantage and future growth.
To stranger the city presents many at
fractions; it is traversed very thoroughly
by cable and electric cars so that there is
no difficulty in going from Que point TO
another. Surely, no city was ever sur
rounded by more charming and more ac-
cessible suburbs than is Portland. To
reach any one Of them is but the cost Of q
car fare and the expenditure OF little
time. By taking the cable cars in the
center of the city, one can ride to the ele-
vation back of the city, known as Port
land flights. From this elevation
stretches glorious and compre-
hensive view Of the city as it lies
far below the eye. the Willamette and the
Columbia wind through the scene, and
what must favorably strike the traveller
If he be from such a stone and wooden
city as San Francisco is the profusion of
trees that blend with the houses in the
view. Trees on every block, trees on
every street, impart an air Of beauty to
the scene not to be under estimated. In
making this ascent to Portland Nights
the cable car mounts an elevation that
must throw some of San Francisco's
steepest grades entirely in the shade.
For the Portland cable road when they
had an ascent to make simply made II
by building a slanting trestle and run
ming the cable through that. 1t Is appall-
ing TO stand at the loot OF the incline and
think OF mounting that long steep by a
cable car-but once on the open car, no
thought of fear can have place-the only
sensation is one Of keen enjoyment.
The residences all along this route are
beautiful and artistic, some of them bear
ing evidences of wealth, ali OF culture
and refinement. The tract is one of
homes, the avenues are shaded with full
large maple trees, and the gardens are
under careful cultivation. Another car
will take the sight-seer to the nights back
of the City Park, where another COM
prehensive view of the city is to be OBJ
tanned. 1t seems strange to be riding
through Enthusiastically country scenery
on a cable car, but it is q very pleasant
experience. The hillsides all stand clad
in living green, and some tall frs are yet
towering over the younger growth.
A resident OF Portland told me that at
first the timber on the hills had been
wantonly sacrificed to the ax-and, in
ness to that-"but," said the Portland
man, 1--WE are becoming wiser and more
CAREFUL
From the same man 1 learned that the
water supply for the city OF Portland is
ali drawn from the Willamette River,
about eight miles nearer its source. Said
he: ''Some complaint is often made that
the water rates are too high, when the
water is, so to speak, at our very doors
But those who complain forget that, in q
city growing SO rapidly as Portland, the
water supply means constant outlay to
the company. 1t is always laying new
mains and extending its service to points
far remote, and through sparsely settled
country. Consequently, the cost of con-
struction must be met by the rates. We
hope" continued he, ''in time to draw
our water supply from Bull Run, which
is led by the SHOWS of Mount Hood, and
then we shall be well fixed. The river
water has to be filtered before being
used.'
Another electric line takes passengers
TO a beautiful spot called Willamette
Nights, in honor of the river, q view Of
which it commands. Electric cars also
run direct to RiVerView Cemetery. ST.
Johns is a pretty little suburb also
reached by the cars that run over the
great steel bridge. Speaking of bridges.
Portland has several of them which span
the Willamette, along whose shores large
vessels lie up Tor cargo and PASSENGERS
and whose banks are lined with back
yards.' so to speak, of business houses,
! lumber mills and wharveS.
Mt. Tabor is one OF the most beautiful
of all the suburbs of Portland Swiftly
moving motors carry the passengers out
into a beautiful stretch of country, to be
charmed with the scenery, the balmy air,
the trees, the view Of Portland to be en-
ioyed from the nights, and best Of all the
glorious sight of Mt. Hood, rugged and
snow-crowned, and the snowy sugar-loaf.
Mt. Heleus.
1t is not every visitor to Portland and
in the surrounding country who can boast
of having seen Mt. Hood, for often the
haze or the clouds obscure It's summit.
On last Monday, however, fate and nature
was glorious sight.
A quaint little ferry-boat that plies
from shore to shore Of the Willamette,
and which is known as the Stark-street
ferry, for the sum of twenty-five cents
carries passenger across the river. gives
! MIN lIdIlSIeE 10 bU0 DlOlOf ROAD tlat
runs through most attractive stretch OF
country, full Of homes, fruit trees, fields
and fields OF wild roses and clover bios
SONS, and by streams of water overhung
with willows, cottonwoods and elders.
| The train stops at a wharf. gives a trans
| fer to another quaint little ferry boat,
/ which crosses the broad Columbia River
and lands its passengers at the historic
! spot of Fort Vancouver, the old trading
/ post of the Hudson Bay Company. The
/ town is full of ambition, some imposing
| buildings are being erected, and the coun-
! try back of it is rapidly being settled and
| opened up. 1t is spot destined to hold
an important position commercially.
| A car runs to the barracks, where Uncle
Sam soldiers have IN uninterrupted view
nf the Columbia River and its opposite
shore. The officers quarters are pictur-
esque and surrounded by flowers. The
wild clover scents the air for miles and
grows in the most lavish profusion all
along the way. Great heads of purple
or red clover nod in sweet condescension