Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-02-17
THE OREGON COUNTRY
Continued on page 80

the change is carcely perceptible win
ter changing to spring and autumn to
the wet season, If it may be called
winter Ell s 81
In my former letter. believe i gave
you meager account Of the beautiful
little city in which we reside Salem,
the state capital, also county seat
& of Marion county, has a population of
b about Is, 600. Its thanked on the west
Il by the Willamette river, upon the
channel of which two fets of steamers
operate daily between Salem. Port
1 land and many intervenin towns that
dot Its naYigable length. The South
ern Pacific railway lines run ten trains
daily through the city, and afford con
tinnous means of intercourse with the
centers and markets Of the whole
country Salem is the home of the
state government and has all Of the
purely state edifces within, or close
to her borders. Oregon has been no
niggard in the erection Of her public
buildings, and Salem has the benefit of
the charm lent by the presence of
these splendid structures, a matter of
adornment and convenience, to which
she and Marion county have contri-
buted a beautiful court house and a
fine modern city hall, and to this list
may be added the handsome and com
modious federal building, practically
complete, except the last touches to
the beautiful grounds surrounding the
building, which was erected at a cost
of $4,000.
Salem lacks nothing in the way Of
commercial Investment that should APP
pear in a city Of her scope. Ali lines
of business are represented by stores,
warehouses and displays that would
do credit to a city thrice her size. And
her commercial rating is one of the
objects of her especial pride. AS an
educational center Salem has won dis
tinction, and seeks further prestige
She is the mother Of the Willamette
university, founded here fifty-nine
years ago. Her public school system
is ample for her needs, being supplied
by four fine buildings, and corps Of
Z competent teachers numbering more
than forty. Besides these advantages,
there are numerous private academies
and schools with curriculums adjust
ed to- the various professions, arts and
trades. Her local Industries are head
ed by one Of the finest wooden mills in
the west and on the Pacific coast She
has numerous factories and mechan-
ical plants. She has a gas making
plant, which shares the light making
facilities Of the city, with an electric
lighting and power system of modern
|; appointment and capacity. And she
has a system Of water storage and dis
2 tribution for local use and consump-
ton, and the. water as to purity can
not be excelled. sa 3ss
We have a large ice manufacturing
plant here, which supplies the needs
of all with ice during the heated term,
therefore we may enjoy this cooling
commodity without being compelled to
Withstand the rigors Of cold weather
for its means Of production. The
streets are served with car lines run
\ by electricity and which reach to
every point in the vicinity. Salem has
wide and well-kept thorough fares, the
business and metropolitan residence
streets being from 80 to LOS feet in
width, lined with magnificent shade
q trees, behind which cluster the beau
tiful homes built upon mansion and
cottage lines, as the tastes and means
of the owners have dictated, but con
trbuting en- masse to the general
adornment Of the city. And these
thoroug hfares are equipped with ade-
quate and substantial sewerage, which
finds outlet in the current of the Will
lamette river below the city. Churches
of all denominations have buildings
and congregations here, and the fra
ternal orders Of the country are rep
resnted by hourishing lodges, while so
cieties Of local growth and elevating
tendencies are in active operation at
all times. Salem has one OF the best
Young Mems Christian associations on
this coast. The local governments Of
the city, county and school district are
all carefully organized and admins
tered, and committed to policies that
comprehend the public good and serve
the taxpayer in every possible way,
the non-partisan, business spirit and
basis being conspicuous in the hand
I ling Of the peoples affairs; a condi-
ton that is fast bringing taxation
4 down and advancing property values
and personal wages to a point com
mensurate with the expectations OF a
people that keeps III close and CON
slant contact with public administra-
.F