The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1902-12-25
IrrrsR FROM OREGON.


vast domain, sheltered from the icy
blasts of winter by the high and mighty
mountains of the Cascade Range, and
with all the coast winds warmed and
tempered by the mysterious Japan cur
rent, the people of this region do not
need to worry themselves personally
about the coal strike. Coal is mined in
Oregon and Washington in sufficient
quantities to supply all the demand,
and while jewellers in these coast cities
are dependent on the eastern market
for many commodities, fuel is not one
of them. The coal of this region is
far inferior to the eastern coal, but that
is matter of small Importance as wood
is the principal fuel in use. There are
various kinds of wood used here, and
one has to learn the ropes in regard to
the purchase of it. The provident
householder orders his years supply of
wood early in the summer, or as soon
as the dry weather sets in, and one of
the sights new to stranger is the long
tiers of wood extending along the side
walk, and in some cases extending far
out into the street. If the fuel be cord
wood in four foot lengths, directly be-
hind the woodman appears the peripa-
tetic native with the steam saw; and in a
short time the wood is sawed into stove
len this, and the man, the saw, and the
patient horses disappear to perform
similar duty elsewhere. Next follows
the man, or men, with gunny sacks who
want the job of carrying in" These
men as a rule are gin fiends." That
is, they patronize the Chinese joints on
Second street locally called Hong
Kong where pint of Chinese gin can
be secured for dime. Other kinds of
wood are slab-wood, INSIDE and ''out-
side" wood and lockwood. With the
exception of the lockwood these differ
ent kinds of wood must remain outside
for a month at least during the summer
months in order to become dry, as they
are. water soaked, but after drying they
all make very satisfactory fuel. OF
course if severe weather prevailed one
could not keep comfortable with The
soft wood tires, but happily the piercing
days are few and far between, and with
the exception of the rains, there is moth.
ing unpleasant about the climate OF
Western Oregon. The true Oregoniar
revels in the damp weather, and when
it is dry longs for the proverbial rain
After all the joking about "web-foot
ers" there is something indescribably
sweet and refreshing about the rai1
here, especially after dry spell. II
seems to freshen and purify the air.
having much the effect that an cleo
trio storm does in the east; f4 be il
known that no sudden and vicious
thunder showers ever deal death and
destruction in this blest valley of the
Willamette; but after gentle rair
has fallen and the mists have rolled
away from the mountains the dark
green pointed frs stand out against the
horizon in singular beauty, and a sweet
aromatic odor pervades the air, and al
the semi-tropical trees and shrubs seen
imbued with new life, as if the rai1
had kissed into their verdure renewed
strength and vigor. In fact, everything
in nature is wonderfully responsive tt
the gentle coast rains.
While Portland more closely resem
bles a New England city than any othe
on the coast, the population is largel,
cosmopolitan. Settled at first almos
wholly by Missourians, in later years i
has drawn largely land is now drawing
heavily on the middle west. 1t would
probably surprise Eastern people te
know how many from the middle ives
are seeking homes in Oregon and Wash
ington. They all tell the same tale
They wish to escape the terrible ex
tremes of heat and cold, the billiards.
the cyclones, the droughts and the grass
llOPpClo. VII CiIlo WCoIClH COdSG UIlt
crops never fail, and the Bible promise
"seedtime and harvest shall not fail,
is literally carried out; and so fruit anC
dairy farms are on the increase and the
practical farmer who comes to Western
or Southern Oregon with some capita
is sure to meet with success. Here are
no arid lands to be irrigated, but gentle
and verdant valleys, and foothills crown
ed with noble trees and green grass, and
all the land watered with pure and un-
polluted streams that seldom go dry
even in the summer months.
On this side of the Cascade range the
nights are never hot, even in midsum.
mer. The same mysterious current
that so warns the air that roses bloom
in the gardens as late as Christmas,
equalizes the circulation in summer,
and sends cooling breezes at night, even
if the day has been warm, so that blank.
cts are necessity every night in the
year. In the hottest weather a cal
ride of a few minutes will take one to
Portland Heights, and the sunset view
there is like dream of beauty. The
snow-clad peaks of Mt. st. Helen and
M Hood ,.;cinr from IN nn0 f~ 10 mr.