Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-12-17
They LIKE SALEM
FRED RUPERT WRITES INTER
!, EsTINGLY OF HIS. NEW HOME
+ IN OREGON.

+ Salem, Ore, Dec. 12.-I have at
last found time to drop you a few
lines. / promised to write regarding
this country and I have concluded
that a few moments of my leisure
time now could be very fittingly oc-
cupied in addressing these lines to
you with the idea that perhaps you
could use them in the columns of the
Tribune as partial substitute for a
personal letter to friends whom /
shall endeavor to write later:
I'VE had most enjoyable trip of
1000 miles over the Northern Pacific
to Portland, coming in contact with
number of very pleasant fellow
travellers aboard the sleeper and this,
together with the, lovely scenery along
the route, rendered our trip very en-
joyable. We stopped one day in
Portland and enjoyed every moment
of our stay there; The following day
we departed via the Southern Pacific
railway for Roseburg, Oregon, 1913
miles south of fPortland,. reaching
there the same evening. The scenery
along this portion of that road was
delightful, we being able to view
Mounts Hood, Rainier, Adams, st.
Helens and Jefferson, of the Cascade
range, with their lofty heights COW
cred with snow, glistening in the sun
with low lying scattered clouds float
ing along far below the lofty peaks,
indicating their wonderful heights
quite contrast to the hills of North
Dakota. The beautiful Willamette
and Umpqua valleys spread out be-
yond the foothills of the mountains
like carpets of sgreen, being dotted
here and there by farms and fruit
growing acres, with red and yellow
apples hanging from the trees and
covering the ground beneath. 1t was
truly pleasing sight and l am sure
you will agree with me that it was
more so than the monotony of hills
and ,prairies that nature had sadly
neglected in her gifts OF Verdure
which please the eye. For certainly
nature in her splendor is more beauti-
full than the artificial works of man.
Upon our arrival at Roseburg, we
stopped at the hotel pending the
securing of a house, but in the mean
time not being entirely satisfied with
that place, owing to its location in
such hilly section and scarcity of
local improvements. we decided to
look about for location more to our
liking. I therefore boarded the train
and went up to Salem, which is, as
you know, the state capital, my in
tention being to ascertain the bust
ness prospects and the outlook in
general.
l must say that I was more than
agreeably impressed with this city OF
$4,000 population, located in the love-
ly Willamette valley So miles south of
Portland. Here I noted the mag
nificent buildings, including the state
capitol with it's lofty dome and sur
rounded by beautiful grounds made
so by cedar, laurel, myrtle, weeping
willow. spruce and numerous other
trees, besides flower gardens. There
being two very large brass field pieces
on the grounds, cannon brought from
the philippines by the Oregon boys
and once used by the spaniards.
Beyond the capitol and just on the
outskirts of the business section OF
! the city stands the lovely ,postoffice
| building in the center of square
block of ground, the building being
| erected at a cost of $4,000. The
| grounds are surrounded by wide
| cement walks and are beautifully i'm
| proved. Beyond the government
building to the west is the Marion
county court mouse, Certainly poau
tiful structure, snowy white and hav-
ing a tall tower at the top OF which
is the clock, which strikes the hours
and can be heard over a greater part
of the city. This building also
reposes in the center of a block OF
beautifully improved grounds. The
| city hail, grand opera house, Elks
lodge and Commercial club buildings
are also beautiful specimens OF
architecture and would do credit to
any city. One feature of this lovely
/ city is the very wide streets and
avenues, showing off the handsome
public buildings and private resi-
dences to the hest advantage. The
city must be seen to be appreciated,
With all of mans works of beauty
there are natures beauties, consisting
of, large, handsome trees, shruhbery
ne all kinds and frlrit trees galore