The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-18
Written for The Tribune.

Before passing to remoter themes a
word is due to one of the most interest
ing of American municipalities. which
has rightfully laid claim to the atten-
tion of civilization. Portland. Oregon,
Is the metropolis of the Pacific North
west and, next to Denver. is the hand
soonest and most energetic city we have
yet visited. 1t Is 772 miles from Gold
Gate. and S.4S4 miles from He'll Gate. II
Is conceded to be the most populous
city in the american Great West"
daily growing in area. wealth. pOpula-
ton and commercial importance. 1t Is
next in size to San Francisco as a sea-
port, in trade and traffic. In 1891 1t con-
tained $4,000 people: now II has a popu-
lation of S0.7S5, showing a rapid in
crease in the last four years For situ-
alton the city cannot be excelled. 1t
is located on the Willamette river.
twelve miles above it's junction with the
noble Columbia, and at the head of
navigation for deep sea vessels Of both
rivers. and 1l5 miles (by river) from the
Pacific ocean.
When the cities OF the Sound came
into being. Portland was already city,
wealthy and prosperous. The general
prosperity Of the coast has not been at
all to the detriment of Portland, which
held its own in all respects against its
young and enterprising rivals. Tacoma
and Seattle. The noble valley (Willa-
mette) at the foot of which the city Is
situated, is the largest in Oregon. con-
tanning 4,0O0,0OO acres of land. rich and
fertile. and its varied products are suf-
ficient to sustain a million people. Most
of this territory Is under cultivation,
and the vast products Of its harvests,
the fruitage from It's vines and orch
ards, tumbles into the lap of Portland.
and from thence they are scattered
over the world.
Tho City's Fine LocntiOns
The city IL situated on gently rising
ground back to a range of hills. which,
within easy walking distance, rises to
an elevation of a thousand feet above
the river, affording its picturesque
building sites abundant facilities for
sewerage and cleanliness. It's busi-
ness quarters contain huge structures
of brick and stone of the most sub
stantial kind. It's costly residences of
modern design. its elegant public parks,
It's broad streets. shaded with ash,
maple and hOrsechestnut trees, its pa
latial hotels and other public buildings,
besides the large and costly church edi-
fees of every denomination. 'whose up
lifting spires are aptly likened to the
finger of God" give some suggestive
iuCtt vi Tic NtullU WltIlu llS
city walls, and also the broad and
hustling spirit of it's citizens The
atmosphere of progression pervading
this whole city, and section even, is
very contagious.
Two things are especially noticeable
In Portland-the substantially of the
business blocks, and the beauty
of it's residence sites and resi-
dences. 1t takes just pride in the ex-
cellence Of its public buildings. which
do credit to any eastern city. The
chamber of commerce. 200 by 100 feet.
cost $65O,OOO: the town hall. $3.50. 900;
Hotel Portland. $75O.OOO: the First Pres
byterian church. $lS0,O0O. with an organ
costing $4,000 more. A public library.
though a private gift. cost 100000. and
contains $4,000 volumes. eighty secular
papers and one hundred and fifty mag
aZines. The two newspaper buildings
are elegant structures especially that
of the OregOnian. which cost $500. 900,
while the postofiice. custom house, thea
ters and churches are all models Of pro-
gressive architecture built on a grand
scale. The High School building is the
cost a round half million.
One Of the Wcalthiest Of Cities.
The founders of Portland were two
ANSN iLh6iuuu Ill DtSLOWIuE u
name upon the place. 1t Is said to have
been actually toss up" whether the
chief city of Maine. or the city at the
head of Massachusetts Bay should
bear the honor. The first settlers came
here In 1843 and the city was incorpOr-
ated in 1851. 1t may not be generally
known, but Portland Is the third
wealthlest city in the world. in propOr-
ttcn to its population. Frankfort-on-
the-Main stands first: Hartford, Conn.,.
second, and Portland third. Among all
hcr wealthy men. 1t Is said not one can
be singled out who did not make his
money here.
Though not more than one-twentieth
the size Of New York city. 1t has a bank
capital one-tenth the size of that city,
and a wholesale and jobbing trade of
about the same proportion. 1t has also
milliOnaires by the score, and the peo-
pie boast of no poor quarters, and pow
erty is almost an unknown quantity.
The great wealth centered here, the
wonderful country tributary to the city
and the ineXhaustible resources Of for
est and mines, near at hand, combine
to make 1t the great railroad and trade
center and metropolis of the Pacific
Northwest. Five railroads radiate
from it ip every direction.
The length of the city parallel with
the river. Is about seven and One-half
miles; two-thirds of this frontage is oc-
cupied with wharves from one to three
stories high and back for mile to the
many elevations of the city, are long
rows Of stately mansions. that skirt the
foot hills; many of them costing hun
dreds of thousands of dollars. There
are blocks of massive brick and stone
residences That of United States Sena-
tor Joseph N. Dolph. a brother of John
NJ. Dolph, a former principal of the
Honesdale public schools. is among the
most palatial. Portland has some mas
sive business houses, which indicate
great wealth and substantial prosper
ity. Here are twenty-four mercantile
houses which employ over one million
dollars each.
An Immense Jobbing Trade.
Tortlands jobbing trade in 1894
amounted to upwards of 800, 900.
Think of it! One hundred million dol
lars. Her clearings in 1894 were $685.
5S2. 5S.3,. The export trade of wheat in
1894 was 100000 bushels, besides over
;,UO.c 200 barrels of flour The export
trade of Portland to foreign countries
alone amounts annually to $1,000, 900
in grain, wool. fish and lumber, and
manufactured goods. $l7.0OO,OOO. The
output cf its factories I'm 1894 was $3l.-
COU.OOO With the motto among it's
business men, Portland first. and the
rest of the world afterward." it is no
wonder the city Is doubling It's popula-
tiOn every ten years. and forging ahead
with such rapidity as to astOnish the
world.
Chinese form large element Of it's
population. and are not. as in. San
Francisco, confined to a chinatown"
but spread out along the best part of
Second street for a dozen squares or
more. This element. however. is the
merchant order; the most intelligent |
and energetic
But while Portland may Justly claim |
to be the peer of any city of it's size |
in the country. in all that pertains to
social life. I'm the attractions of beauty |
of location and surroundings II stands |