East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1904-11-11
Prize Article on the City
Of Portland

Following is the article descriptive
of Portland, which won the 500
prize offered by the Commercial
Club of Portland. The article was
written by Mrs. Josephine Usher, a
teacher in the Portland public
schools, and was published in the
Portland Chamber of Commerce Bull
letin for November. The number of
the East oregonian containing it will
be given the widest possible publicity.
Mrs. Lisher's article is as follows:
In the summer of 1900 I was visit
ing friends in one of the large East
ern cities, and was besieged as all
Portlanders are, with questions in re-
gard to my far-away home. One day
at dinner l had been drawn into con-
versation on the subject, as usual
After listening to my enthusiastic
praises of our beautiful city. my host
said: "Oh, yes, l suppose every ones
crow is the whitest." The remark
put me somewhat on my mettle and
replied: "Well, you ask me many
questions, and l have TO tell you the
truth; If ever you go West you will
see that Portland is, most truly, a
White Grow CITY" For the rest of
my visit Oregon was known as the
White Grow Country" Now l am
going to tell you some things about
the country, so that you may judge
for yourselves whether we have rea-
son for pride.
If 1 tell you that we have a delight
full climate, probably you will say:
"Oh, yes, I know-rains the year
round" Some of your friends have
visited us during the wet season, be-
tween October and May gone back
and told you that it always rains. It
does not rain all the time, even in
winter but it rains enough to make
the country productive, for wet win
ters make fertile summers. But,
when Oregon has done its best for
rain, the average rainfall is less than
that of most other civilized parts of |
the globe
On Christmas day, 1902, I picked |
from our garden a large bunch of |
half-blown roses, La France, The |
Bride, Marechal Neil and other deli
cate varieties, and put them on the |
dinner table, much to the delight of |
our guests, because you know many
of us were not born in Oregon. We
know something about driving rains.
sleet, snow, blizzards and cyclones,
and we appreciate living where the
grass is always green.
As for summers in Western Ore
gon, you could not get more delight
full weather on demand than we have
from May to October. We have had
only one thunderstorm this summer,
and that was so very light that you
would not have called it thunder
storm.
Doctors and health journals tell us
to drink lots of water for health's
sake; in most cities one doesn't dare
to drink enough water even for
thirsts sake. But we have water
from a mountain lake 80 miles dis
tant; 1t is the clearest, coolest, purest
water and we have an inexhaustible
supply Portland might well become
health resort If only because of
Bull Run water.
But Oregon is justly famed for its
healthful climate. Malaria is almost
unknown, for oregon is, also ''the
land of the green valley and of the
river" Epidemics of conta-
sious diseases are rare. DR.. Woods
dutchinson says: Oregon is an ex-
cellent place for the average man to
come, to raise a healthy, vigorous
-amily of children" DR.. Hutchinson
s considered one of the best authori-
lies in the state, and, by the way,
we have host of "best" physicians.
We really don't need so many. but
hey like to live here on account of
heir own health.
Almost every city has its "Heights';
out without Dragging 1 really think
nat Portland was given the original
plan for heights. The hills which
'verlook the city are dotted with
homes. For many years
he residents were accommodated by
line of cable cars, but this summer ,
nat line has been discarded and a
lew electric line winds up to the top
u the nils, loops and returns. For
cenic beauty there is not another
rolley ride like it in the United
states, and many say there is not an :
'ther In the world to compare. &
a gentleman from Los Angeles en- /
Dying the ride was overheard in this
wise: Il have always supposed that
1os Angeles could beat anything on .
he Pacific coast, but this does us up; q