Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1905-12-11
WESTERN LETTER.
Editor of the Monitor:
No.

/ OOIumDla. AT halah1a our train
boarded ferry boat and we crossed
to the Goble on the opposite shore, a
mile distant. The people of the local
ity were urgent that we take a trip
oy boat up the river, as they declared
the scenic attractions too wonderful
for travellers in that locality to miss,
I should have been 10th to go on with
out following their advice, but leav-
ing our car to 60 on deck for better
view Of the river, the wind blew such
a chilly gale as to make it seem i'm :
prudent at this season and so we con-
tinued our journey to Portland, sThe
Rose City" as it is rightly named, for
there were roses in bloom every
where, which in size, color, and varie-
ty are unrivaled. The present popu-
lation is estimated to be one hundred
and thirty thousand. 1t is beauti-
fully situated on both banks of the
Willamette river twelve miles above
its junction with the Columbia. No
city OF its size in the East Is more at
tractive, clearly and we'll kept. It's
water supply comes from the glaciers
of Mount Hood, and is clear, cold
and soft. We took trip to Portland
Heights, where there. is an obserya.
tory commanding view of the CITY.
the river and the glorious mountain
peaks in the distance, Mt st. Helens
with far away Rainier creeping up be-
hind, Mt. Adams and shapelv Mt.
Hood. We we're 80 charmed with the
sight that we went up again in the
afternoon to see the glow of the set
ng sun on these glistening peaks.
changing them from purest white TO
pale pink deepening to pur pie hue
at the base as the sun drops below
the horizon.
We visited the exposition grounds
and found the buildings in an excellent
state Of preservation, save the Miss
ouri state building which was partisI l.
ly destroyed by fire. Nature provid-
ed all ideal site for this exhibit. The
elevated portion of the grounds, which
gave space to all principal buildings,
was natural forest park and Ii nd
scape garden, comprising one hum
dred and eighty acres. A gentle slope
from this down TO the shores of Lake
Guild, a natural lake covering two
hundred and twenty acres, provided
space for attractions of the ''trail.7'
while the United States Government
buildings were on sixty acre PENN
sular extending into the middle of the
lake. The buildings as whole ex-
coed nay expectations, as some who
had visited this exposition and had
expected it to be like others that had
had the worlds resources to draw
from, had pronounced this small af-
fair. Bat when we consider what the
Lewis and Clark exposition represent
ed, LIDO not see how any reasonable
oeing coad expect naore, if the exhi-
bits were on the same scale az the
buildings. The Onegon and, Wash
ington state buildings were surprs-
ingly large and attractive. The Cali
fornia building was an architectural
combination of the leading missions.
We have learned to expect great
things of this state with its, wonder
full resources and THAT she should lend
these to help swell the attractions. of
a neighboring state was also expected.
But when such far away states, as
New Work and Massachusetts, are suf-
ficiently public spirited to understand
that what prospers one section of our
beloved country prospers all, md
lent their aid with two noble state
buildings, was proud of them. FL g
F Forestry building was the, roWning
feature TO the Whole. This was bt lit
of immense logs, with bark on, solioIy
welded together. 1t is two
hundred six feet long by one hundred
two, feet wide and seventy three fl ct
high and contains one million feet of
lumber. Arranged On eithes hand
are huge pillars supporting the roof
and these pillars are the trunks of r. d
cedar, spruce and fir as straight as n |
arrow and six to eight feet in. Diane
ter with nos a protrasion of limb or |
knot to mar their shapeliasss. No |
marble or granite column polished or |
Huted ever appealed to me as much. |
To get these giants of the forest on the
ground and place them in position
shows that the intrepid spa.it of Lewis
and Clark still prevails in this section.
This unique building Is to- remain as
a Historical, Archaeological and Ma
tural History museum
Fifty three miles south of Portland |
is Salem, the state capital, situated On
the Willamette river. It has popu-
lation of fourteen thousand, has bread
well shaded streets and is a homelke
andpleasant city. The capitol build /