La Junta tribune., 1909-04-10
SATURDAY. APRIL 10, 1909
LAND OF THE wgsEooT
Where Roses and Rain Abound, With
the Greatest Diversity Of Climate
Of Any state in the Union, and
All the Inhabitants are Optimists.

Of Any. State in the Union, and
All the Inhabitants are optimists.
My Many Old Friends and Neigh
bors OF La Junta, Colorado.
Dear Friends: 1t is some time
since have acquainted you with our
whereabouts. and, thinking little
description of this part of the coun-
try might prove acceptable, have con-
cluded to send you letter wrote
while In Portland. just previous to
coming here, March list. and will fol-
low IL up with one from here If you
care for any further information.
After several years spent In the
city of Baker, high up in the fast
nesses of the Blue Mountains of East
ern Oregon, where IL wasn't mat
ter of much comment to have a snow
storm on the Fourth of July, We have
fitted down to the beautiful city of
the Willamette, already famed in
song and story as the Rose City, or
Portland the Beautiful. We came a
little late to see the famous roses
at their best. but we have had the
pleasure of the Emerald Greenness
of the Winter" caused by the de-
licious little spring showers, which
fall for several months of the year.
while the Frost King is raging over
all the land to the east of us. say
spring showers for they are iden-
tical with the late April showers that
bring May flowers back in the old
home states of Ohio and Pennsyl-
vania.
Portland would be Justified in
claiming Two names, one for summer,
the other for winter. and its civic
body should establish a precedent TO
that effect as 1t is as truly the En-
erald City of the Winter" as the
Rose City of the Summer" with
the advent of the little drizZly show
ers of rain one minute and burst
of sunshine the next. all nature be-
gins to take on an intense green fhat
one finds almost impossible to de-
scribe The grass, and 1t seems there
is grass everywhere, takes on
vivid velvety green. and the mrs
those fine old sentinel landmarks.
seen in almost every yard assume
bluer greenness with every shower.
while the many thick. glossy ieaved
shrubs. among which are,tthe holly,
with its red berries, and the oregon
Crane. with its blue, the magnolia
with its glossy, leathery leaves, ana
the many other native shrubs Win
which | am as yet un1amliiar, All
become greener with each succeeuihs
shower. and certainly give Portland
as beautiful winter appearance as
the roses of the summer give the
warmer months. In the very heart
of the busy section, the postoiilce
grounds are joy to the eye OF the
speeding pedestrian, with its Deau,
tifuI green terraces, dotted mere anu
there with the holly, frs and similar
shrubbery. -,
Portland. so beautiful in the win
ter when most places are in the
"sere and yellow leaf" must be
yeritable dream of heaven when hs
roses are at their best In the sum
mer. They are planted everywhere
the soil and climate being pecuiiar'
ly adapted to their cultivation. When
they have spot where they doh
know what else to plant they SUCK
In a few roses, and the street walks
i'm every direction are thickly borde.
ed with them, trellises are covered,
porches are a solid mass OF aeep
crimson, or pink and white, some VI
the houses being covered 10 the Up
Portland has lots OF show places ~.
the traveller in addition 10
famous roses, four superb showeap
ped mountain peaks being aima'
view, and a fifth that can We .ha
occasionally. To the north are the
mountains St. Helena. Rainier ana
Mount Adams; due east Is Noun.
Hood with a sight from diieren.
noints Of vantage of Mount Jeiter.
son :. These mountains are seen "
greatest advantage from wooueu
neal directly back of the city, known
as Council Crest. 1000 feet hieh; w
ton seeming almost directly apo'e
Council Crest is easily accessiole,
having snlendid electric car service
to the TOP. and is undoubtedly one
NJ tho greatest scenic lines OF .Is
world. not excepting our ueai sti,
Pixies Peak, the Crest oeins {,
different from the latter, IN ina. ,;,h
ia covered almost to the .op -
some of the most beautliuI ho ,;na
the city, and starts It's seem seem hmsi.
straight up from the principa, pus.
nass straat ri the city. Another OF
the show places, probably no. 81
beautiful vet replete with lh'eles,.
is her mort. the only fresh wa.vi van
one on the Pacific coast. the Mn w
annette river. at this point. is SO ueep
and swift flowing that the iaIs 10
sea.goine vessel can anchor q .h;s
docks. In looking up and down mp
\ stream one Is lost in wrap
temniation as to the probable ues
tination Of the many strange cta..
Sailors and people from every knonm on
cline. mingling with the crowus
the streets, give Portland % teei
cosmopolitan air. and LEAD one ~ tho
they are in closer touch with with 'ne
balance Of this big round worio.
NJ E.ditnr 7 feel I will nave ~