Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-09-13
DECKER'S LETTER

DECKER'S LETTER
1t is enough if l am winning the
place of welcome visitor in happy
homes my feet may never enter. That
through the long winter evenings my
letters may be read by unseen friends
around warm fresides under the eve
ming lamp. If you care, for plain
pleasure and Informal Company and
friendly observation on men and
things then perhaps you may find
something here not unworthy your
perusal. If we would benefit by travel
we must take with US an ample store
of appreciative intelligence. CAREFUL
observation is as necessary to the
traveller who would improve by his
vocation as are wings to bird.
In crossing the continent over the
Northern Pacific railroad we are
taken through the productive wheat
fields of Minnesota and North Dakota,
along the gold and silver bearing hills
Of Montana and Idaho into the pro-
life garden like valleys of Washington.
On our way we are constantly meeting
immense freight trains, with mer-
chandise for the east, also passenger
trains crowded with animated intel
ligent people altogether testifying to
the great and growing traffic of the
northwest. The great scenic charm
of the northwest is the Columbia
river. No matter what kind of scenery
the visitor may desire Oregon has it.
just now there is one question, only
one I'll 1t absorbS all other conSidera-
tions. You talk to the miner of his
prospects, to the ranchman of his
cattle to the business man of his trade,
but before they have spoken long they
all alike settle down to discussing the
question. Before it political issues
fade party lines are forgotten and
craftsmanship yields to patriotism. 1t
is the making of Oregon. There is no
epoch like the making of state. The
OK team the fiat boat, the prairie
schooner and the log-cabin will some
day become invested with the halo of
the golden west. Immigration has
become almost science whole cities
are picked up and moved west bodily.
With respect to the productive capac-
ity of Oregon accounts so growing as
to excite Increduality have sometimes
found their way into the eastern
papers. YET in truth the frozen facts
are more inlisting the attention and
the industry of shrewd and far seeing
men.
The state is not paradise and it
has it's drawbacks but the general
opinion of capable observers is that it
is conspicuous among American states
for ability to supply all the needs of
civilized men. The great fact Is its
variety of resources substantially
every industry possible to temperate
climate is represented here. Most
remarkable to eastern readers is the
yield of an acre of Oregon timber
lands. A single acre has been known
to produce five hundred Thousand feet
and one tree had yielded fifty thous-
and feet. There is poetry as well as
dollars in forest like this but of the
latter feature only the lumberman
think. For twenty years the Columbia
river furnished annually from four
hundred to six hundred and fifty
Thousand cases of canned salmon.
Formerly California was supposed to
be the natural center of our western
frontier. We cannot diScredit the
magnificent location and resources of
that state but it is true that Oregon
and Washington is gaining on
California by leaps and bounds. 1t
sounds extravigant now but sober and
cool headed business men familiar
with the fact believed that Portland
and Seattle holds the key to the future
commerce of the world.
The quiet every day life of home
school, office and shop is not visible
from the train, street or hotel which
are the main points of obersivation
for the ordinary passer through.
Travellers are usually looking for the
sensational Human nature loves
the marvellous and bids good by to the
common place after it crosses the
Mississippi. The truth is that
traveller to any country is most likely
to see the worst and is often unaware
that the very same thing EXISTS down
the back alley Of the town he lives in
some other social stratum than his
own. Off all that group OF states
carved out Of the majestic wilderness
none now excite a deeper interest than
Oregon.
California in general has more glare
and glitter and style, But Oregon is
less venturesome is more like the
Lake states. With regards to manners
and outer semblance the men are less
reserved more fiexable less mindful of |
dress style and appearances than men
of like wealth and education in the
east. Outside show counts for very
little with one of these hard headed |
keen sighted pioneers who in his
varied carear has rubbed up against
nearly every species Of human being.
IF will mayor dn in Orooon RI ia1rro :, \