The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-08-06
"a TRAMP ABROAD"
Interesting Letter from Mr.. August
j. Rehbein.
(Continued.)

Wednesday evening at 10:45, and
arrived at Portland, Oregon, Thurs
day morning at 7 o'clock. After
breakfast we went to the Tilford
building, where we met Mr.. and
Mrs. William Mcclure, who are in
business here, and their neice, Miss
Lilabelle Finger, friends of ours
from the Hudson River Valley, n.
Y. We owe many thanks to these
people for their generous and kind
treatment to us while in their city.
Mr.. Mcclure and Miss Finger gave
us their time for the whole day, and
in that period, with the aid of an
automobile ride, and several street
car trips we we're able to see and
form a very good idea of the City
of Portland.
At Council Crest, a twenty minute
trolley ride from the heart of Port
land, we were twelve hundred feet
above the city. 1t was clear,
bright day, and here a panorama
was unfolded, embracing the City
of Portland, Oregon City, historic
old Vancouver, across in the state
of Washington, and the Willamette
and Columbia rivers. We could
see five white, glittering snow
crowned mountain peaks. Mt.
Rainier 1896 feet high, and one
hundred and five miles away; Mt.
Helens, elevation $3.50 feet, fifty
three miles away; Mt. Adams 49,
470 feet, distance "a miles; Mt.
Hood 1925 feet, distance 81
miles, and Mt. Jefferson H. 900 feet,
seventy miles away. The central
figure of the scene from this point
is Mt. Hood, and it is a revelation
to those who have never feasted
their eyes on such sight. We
cannot describe it. This fascinating
picture will long dwell in our men,
ory when many Others are forgotten.
We visited Portland Heights and
the City Park, two of the most
beautiful spots in Portland, also the
location of the Lewis and Clark ex-
position grounds, which Fair was
held here in 1905. The unique
Forestry building. the most noted
feature of this Fair, has been left
standing and is open to visitors. 1t
is a large log cabin, similar to the
one at Seattle, 206 feet long, 102
feet wide. and 70 feet high, built
of huge logs, fifty feet long, left
in their rough state, and averaging
five to six feet in diameter. Grand,
massive and dignified, it stands
there in its glory, and fills us with
awe and admiration as we walk
through this building. Some of the
other buildings are still there, but
fast going to ruin.
Portland is city of great charm,
superbly set in valley and among
rolling hills. Delightfully."- situated
upon the banks of the Willamette
river, twelve miles from the juno
tion with the mighty Columbia, it
is a thriving up-to-date city, the
oldest and largest in size in the
northwest, covering an area of about
forty-five square miles, and has a
population or more than two hum
dred thousand. Portland is called
the Rose City" and it is we'll de-
serving of the name. Nearly every
inhabitant has his favorite variety
and in every yard they are to be
seen blooming in great profusion.
We were told that February 22d,
Washington's birthday, was called
Rose Planting Day" when every
citizen planted extra rose bushes to
supply roses for the annual week of
festival, held early in 'une of each
year.
Portland's business district is
solid and imposing. The streets are
well paved and shaded by trees that
form background for the cluster
ing roses, and green, well kept
lawns of the residential district.
They have thirty-siX public schools,
housed in modern buildings and en-
ploying more than four hundred
teachers. A large public library,
has fifty thousand volumes at the
service of the reading public. There
are one hundred and twenty-one
churches in Portland, some of them
remarkable for their architectural
beauty. The day we were there
I'oplloI llllnlSleIS from all DarJS OF
the United States, north of the Ma
son and Dixon line, were fiocking
into the city to attend the annual
convention of the North Baptist AS
sociation, that was to be held at the
famous Baptist White Temple, the
next day.
Portland can justly feel proud of
her hotels, they are first-class and
modern in equipment.
The distance from Portland to
the sea is 110 miles, and the largest
ships come up the Columbia river
to Portlands wharves. 1t is said
to be the largest fresh water harbor
on the Pacific coast.
We were very tired after such a
busy day, but wanted to meet our
former Honesdale friend, Mrs. Dora
Cady Smith, who is living in Port
land, with her husband, Mr.. F. E..
A. Smith, who is secretary of the
Y. NJ. c. A.