The Billings gazette., 1899-04-21

with its wearers of assafOetida.
:----.----------------------
PORTLAND AND THE PACIFIC.
The Editor of The Gazette Enjoying Him
self Among the Webfooters.
Editorial Correspondence.
Seaside, Oregon, Locksly Hall, April
16.-This is our fourth day in Oregon,
having arrived in Portland Thursday
morning, the sun has shone two OF
them. threatens to shine again a little
today and so we have no kick coming
that is good deal of sunshine fol
Oregon. Barring the rain. however,
this is great country. Portland, after
passing through the semi-arid region
between here and Billings, is verita-
BILE Garden of Eden. Spring is at least
month further advanced here than it
is III Montana and, for that matter,
there is more green foliage now in
sight in the Willamette and Columbia
valleys than there ever will be along
the Yellowstone, even if the whole
country was irrigated.
Portland is one of the very prettiest
medium sized cities in the United
States. 1t has close to 100, 900 popula-
tion now. and an idea Of it's rapid
growth may be had from the fact that
the water company claims to have ad-
ded 5000 new customers to its books
last year We got there early in the
morning, the day being a perfect one,
with hardly cloud in the sky It had
been pouring down rain for four days
without intermission, we were told,
and the city was as bright and clean as
a new pin. The flowers were all in
bloom. fruit trees were in full blossom
and there was green grass everywhere.
The city is well paved with asphaltum
and cedar blocks, is full of big, modern
business blocks and all tile residences
have well.kept lawns. Add to this an
abundance of shade trees, general air
Of cleanliness and thriftiness and the
effect produced on Montanian by a
view of Portland at this time of the
year is pleasing indeed. The town has
more than doubled in population since
was there sixteen years ago, has ad.
vanced proportionately in modern con-
veniences and is, in fact fully as Lice a
place as Billings would be if it had
about IS, 900 more population.
We spent the day sightseeing about
the city. first going up Oh Portland
heights by an electric and cable line.
The atmosphere was clear and it was
just the day to enjoy as magnificent
view as can be found, it is said, on the
American continent. The city lies be.
low you in the broad valley Of the
Willamette, which, with its ground
work of green, set off by the vari COL
ored blossoms of hundreds of small
fruit trees. and snow. capped mountains
in the distance, presents spectacle not
soon to be forgotten. Mounts Tabor,
Hood and st. Helena, whose white
tops seem to almost reach the sky. are
within easy range of vision, while
Mount Rainier, away up toward Seat.
tie. is just visible. The whole scene
forms panoramic view which no pen
can describe and which, if it could be
transferred to canvass and made to an.
pear as it is, would be worth fortune.
We next visited the city park, which
is credit to Portland. 1t is about
half mile square, should Judge, and
seems to have been designed by nature
for this purpose. The ground is not
only rolling, but broken by deep ra-
vines and steep hills, through and
around which are beautiful walks and
drives, shaded by the natural pines.
Here and there are small lakes and
the ravines being spanned
by rustic bridges. made by falling hugh
trees across them. There is a small |
geological garden, nature. on every
hand, has been toned down and beauti-
fed, not disturbed, and the park is
therefore sure to be a thing Of beauty
and JOY forever. 1t must be great |
'esort in the summer. as it enjoys the
advantage Of being within ten minutes
:ide of the heart of the city.
The next place of interest, especially
o landlubbers from Montana, is the
vharves and docks. Here can be seen
! variety of craft, including the big
,cean liners, the Lennox, from China
md Japan, arriving in port the day we
lot there. A good view Of the ship
'ing is to be had from one of the nu-
nerous bridges that here span the
liver, but we will see more nautical
wonders than Portland can boast Of
vhen we visit Seattle. Oregon City,
ituated at the Falls of the Willamette,
ighteen miles from Portland, we took
d in the afternoon Haro tho SoIls