The Republican journal., 1905-03-16
REV. RALPH GILLIAN
Tells of Portland, Oregon, and Its Beauties
and the Coming Fair.

/ e~AAo Va VASAA0O1 VAS6VAt - ~s~ D~~~e>S~'
and the Coming Fair.
On the first day of the New Year l
began a series of religious services In
this city under the auspices of the First
Congregational church, assisted by the
Taylor Street M. E. Calvary Presbytery
and the First Christian churches,
writes the Rev. Ralph Gillian to the
Lowell, Mass, Morning Citizen. Port
land is one of the bright, up-to-date
cities on the coast, and in ever SO many
respects it is at present the city to
which all eyes are turned, because OF
the Lewis and Clark exposition which
is to open to the public June 4th, and
remain open until about November 1st.
There are ever so many things OF inter-
est about which one might write.
Above all others no doubt are the great
mountains towering skyward 70 miles
away with their peaks snOw-covered
the year round. This is indeed a beau
tiful sight, when you take into consid
Grafton the fact that for more than Is
years no snow has fallen on the streets
of this city, and while | am writing to
you it is possible to look out of the
window and behold flowers, roses es-
pecially, in full bloom in ever SO many
gardens near by.
Mt. Hood is Americas most beauti-
fnl mountain, perpetual snoW-capped
peak rearing it's head II, 225 feet high.
A sunset upon Mt. Hood as seen from
Portland, with it's crimson and pink
colors blended with the soft whlteness
of the snow, is sight unsurpassed and
never to be forgotten. Unlike most it
is not shut off from view by surround
ing foothills. but may be seen from
base to top for 100 miles. Portland re-
ceives it's water supply from the melt
ing SHOWS of Mt. Hood, which is
brought to the city in large pipes. Mt.
st. Helen's and Mt. Adams are nearly
as interesting because except on cloudy
days they may be clearly seen for miles
around, there being nothing to hide
their view from Portland.
The Columbia river is the second
largest in the United. States. Here it
is claimed that its natural scenery sur
passes the Rhine or the Hudson. Its
famous gorge begins few miles above
Portland, and extends about 80 miles.
The cliffs forming this gorge rise sever
al thousand feet, and are OF rare and
grotesque formation. For grandeur
and immensely the scene is unequalled.
The water is clear as crystal, being fed
by numerous waterfalls which rush
over the cliffs and break through the
rock and drop for hundreds OF feet.
Portland as city is keeping pace
with other cities on the coast in almost
every respect. Her business houses are
large and up-to-d date. Her newspapers
would surprise one knowing little of
this great growing western city. OF
course the principal topic of converse
ton at present is the first and only
great fair ever held west of the Rockies.
The people are enthusiastic over this
coming fair, and no doubt thousands of
people from the East as well as else-
where will visit this most interesting
the line of exhibits from many States,
and across the sea as we'll, will also be
seen at the great fair which opens June
4th in this very wonderful city, Port
land. 1t is now being moved forward
with all haste. The other day had the
pleasure by special permit of visiting
the spacious grounds where ever so
many buildings are even now ready for
occupancy, and others being rushed at
full speed that all things may be ready
at the advertised time of the opening of
the great fair. Perhaps the most beau
tiful site is that upon which the Massa-
chusetts building is to be placed. 1t has
a location overlooking the entire fair
grounds. This the State of Massachu-
sets erects at the cost of nearly $780,
900. Massachusetts will surely take her
place with other States, and perhaps go
ahead as usual in her many exhibits in
this building
1t is surprising how many people you
meet who were born in old New Eng,
land, and who above all have never lost
their live interest in spite of years OF
absence for the home of their birth.
Directly opposite me at the table sits
man who can with ease recall his boy
hood in old Lowell, where he as boy
played about her streets when houses
were few indeed and places of business
were not what they now are.
l shall probably remain in this section
until about the middle of June, and then
return to my home and loved ones, to
which am even now looking forward
with greatest pleasure.