East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-02-22
Portland HeIghts. Feb. IL

Portland Heights, Feb. 16.-
From the steep promontory gazed
The stranger raptured and amazed.
"ARd what a scene were here" he
cried,
For princely pomp or churchman's
pride:
"On this bold brow a lordly tower;
'Tn that soft vale a lady's bower.
"on yonder meadow. far away,
''The turrets of a cloister gray;
'How solemn on the ear would come
1.-THE holy mathis distant hum"
II the poet owes much to nature,
the every day individual owes much
to the poet who has put what he
wants TO say into words so much bet
ter than he can do it himself
When the visitor has walked these
streets till he is tired out, looked in
the incest shop windows, duly ad-
mired the chamber of commerce
building and the other skyscrapers,
marvelled at the sublime faith of the
individuals who are building three or
four-story bricks out at goth street.
visited all the theatres and some of
the churches. loitered several whiles
in the city library and city hall, been
up and down the river, got thorough
ly posted on what Sheriff Word is
doing and Chief Hunt is not doing;
also what ]. Whitcomb Brougher and
Edgar P. Hill would like to have them
do, that tired feeling is apt to steal
over him, and he decides to go some
where else.
Magnificent View.
And then comes q day of brilliant
sunshine, he climbs Portland Heights
and from that eminence carries away
a picture which will hang on mem.
pry's wall for some time to come. II
he IL In a hurry, he'd better take the
street car; II not, this walk will be
found an enjoyable one, although
somewhat circuitous and uphill. But
at each turning there is a picture to
look at, and one which is not seen
every day.
On the heights are found many
comfortable homes. There is room
for many more, some of which are al
ready in course of construction. Here
a family is occupying a tent, while the
house alongside is being built.
Fhe end OF the street car line was
passed some time ago; it will no
doubt be built further when business
for it develops. And now, at last, the
summit is reached, and surely the
view which meets the eye is worth
the climb. On one side as far as the
eye can reach, is spread out meadow.
pasture land, grain field and wooded
hillside dotted with farm buildings,
school house and church steeple.
On the other side. and seemingly
far below, from this elevation, lies the
city in all its pride of handsome resi-
dences. schools, church buildings, bus
mess blocks and busy river with its
shipping. A little farther away are
the broader waters of the Columbia;
and further still. but plainly visible,
the snow-capped peaks of Mts. Hood,
Adams and st. Helens.
"Many and excellent things are
spoken of thee" was said in olden
tlT.:: Of another city, by one who was
viewing u fram An elevation perhaps
somewhat similar to this. Many and
excellent things are also said of this
city today, and some others not quite
so excellent but surely the excellent
things will predominant.
Busy at the Fair Grounds,
One of the busiest places in the city
at present is the fair grounds. A
81 rin OF are
finished. and the exhibits arriving are
being housed. Other buildings are
partially erected, and still others yet
to begin. The visitor of today, view
ing all these preparations, can scarce
ly fail to be impressed with the idea
that it will be we'll worth visit next
summer.
What has the most moving effect
on the visitor at present, however, Is
apt to be a certain legend displayed
conspicuously on nearly all the build
ings, Keep out; this means you,
and that other Inscription dear to the
heart of Coxey's army: Keep off thC
grass"
Portland ls somewhat apt to plume
itself upon its climate, and not with
out reason, but there are complica
tions sometimes.
At a recent meeting of the cham
Der of commerce one of the speaker
compared the climate of the gulf coas
New Orleans and vicinity, with tina
of Portland, and not at all to the dis
advantage of the latter. But within
month the street cars we're advertis
ing the fact that there was good skat
ing in various parts Of town. Acct
dents were reported, owing TO tn
gripmen being unable to control tn
cars in the extremely frosty weather
collisions with other vehicles owini
70 the drivers having their ears tie'
up and thus could not hear the ca
bells; various boats tied up owing t
floating ice in the river; and last
though not least, the genial speech
maker was sick with the grip.
Figures are sometimes somewha
tedious, but they convey Ideas Tn
first ship to reach Portland was tn
brig Amazon from China, in 1851, an,
its arrival was something of an even
to the little town. Now such arriv
ais are a common occurrence.
Ten Ships Per Week.
over 500 ships enter the Columbi
river annually, nearly all of whicl
reach this port, which is the larges