The Washington herald., 1908-05-24
DOWN HILL TO PORTLAND.

with a gradual descent from near Lewis
ton. Idaho. 10 the mouth Of the Columbia
Now Portland Is situated just at the
point where your north and south and
east and west lines cross each other.
She has. therefore. down-grade relation
ship to her immense supporting terri
tory.
The country tributary to Portland IS
the final consideration which guarantees
her future supremacy. This territory
embraces all Of Oregon. Idaho. a part
OF Northern California. Eastern Wash
ington. and Western Montana. Its size
made be better understood when we say
that IL equals in area the combaed
States Of Maine. New Hampshire. Yer
mont. Rhode Island, Connecticut. Mas
sachusetts. New York. Iowa. Indiana,
and South Carolina. Even the arid por-
tions OF the vast region are being rapid
ly developed by irrigation. and its future
riches and greatness can scarcely be
imagined
II that parson ever gets tired OF
preaching. he Will make a fine real es-
tate agent But he had a good subject
to exploit The State Of Oregon alone
has more arabic land than there is in
Japan, yet It has only 10000 inhabi-
tants. The territory known as the CO.
lumbia river basin has the natural
wealth to support 25oO0.0OO people. but
up TO this time the census takers have
been unable to report the first million
OF population. Fully half OF this pros
pective empire is capable OF cultivation
for wheat. fruit, and other crops. 1t is
said that this basin must be depended
upon to supply most OF the wheat FOR
all the population OF the Pacific coast
between Alaska and Patagonia.
The present milling capacity Of this
grain belt is 5000 barrels OF flour 4 dav
during ten months OF the year. The
mills are closed two months during the
summer 10 make repairs and because Of
the scarcity OF wheat. At present half
OF the wheat grown in the territory is
ground into flour and the other half
shipped abroad as wheat Two-tbirds
Of the grain that is exported goes TO
Asia. 1t is said that the export trade
in wheat has already reached its maxi
mum, because the people who come in
10 raise wheat also consume II. The
annual Increase IN acreage is now about
10 per cent.
Portland IS the greatest lumber port in
the world. It's sawmills annually cut
about 650,OOO.OO0 feet OF lumber. which
goes to Australia, the Philippines. China,
and other parts Of the world When the
lumber market Is normal It Is said the
sawmills OF Portland earn a profit Of
$4,000 a day. The manager Of one OF the
big local firms. in his testimony before
the Interstate Commerce Commission.
stated that his concern had earned a
million dollars in five years The invest
ment in timber lands. mills. railways
and equipment in the territory tributary
to Portland doubtless amounts TO $50. 900. COO
The notable feature Of this Sec
ton is that the trees will cut
$4,000 feet 10 the acre, while less
than 10000 feet Is the rule elsewhere
Some idea Of the magnitude Of our home
market may be had from the statement
that less than 10 per cent Of the product
Of the Portland mills is for export. Ex-
perts estimate that IL will be from fifteen
to fifty years before this great supply is
exhausted. Fifty years II used at the
present rate of consumption, and fifteen
II the supply should be exhausted else
pendence Of the general market.
Dairying has developed into the most
important purely productive industry in
Oregon. its products last year being val
ued at $17.0OO.OOO. Ideal climatic conditions
which permit OF pasturing throughout al
most the entire year. freedom from
storms, so that the cows are outdoors
instead OF being confined In barns all win
ter. and the excellent water Of OREGON
have given the cream and its products an
excellence and richness 20 be found in no
other part of the United States. Many of
Oregon's dairymen are from Switzerland.
Portland has become famous as the
Rose City, because IL produces the most
beautiful roses in the world, even sur
passing those Of the celebrated English
gardens. The scientific culture of these
flowers is carried to such an extent that
during the height OF the summer the
choicest specimens are protected with
japanese umbrellas so their delicate tints
will not be impaired The only time in
the year when the people of Portland for
get their geography is during the rose
carnival in June According to an old
story the two men who selected the site
OF Portland had a dispute over naming
IL. One OF them was from Maine and the
other from Massachusetts,. One wanted
70 call II Portland and the other Boston.
They tossed pennies and the man from
Maine won. He made a mistake in call
ing 1t Portland. II should have been
named Rosemary-that's for remem-
brance.
To-morrOw-Japanese In San Fran
cisco.