Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1911-03-23
A new Conner
WRITES HOME
ABOUT SALEM

The following letter was written
by Mr.. Allen Hutcheon to his home
paper in Scotland and it is splen-
did specimen of expression from a
new conner.
Mr.. Hutcheon and his brother and
nephew are good mechanics and have
had constant employment since land
ing in Salem.
Pack Yer Kist, an Haud Vast
"a Brechiner in 0regon.)
Sir:-The season will soon be here
when many Brechiners will pack
their klst, an haud vast" that is,
If they do as they have done since
can remember. Therefore, a few
words on Oregon will be opportune.
Brechiners have heard comparatively
little of this part of America, as the
great majority settle in and around
the large cities of the east, or, as a
Westerner would say, the "effete"
East. Sitting at my desk here, 1 am
as far from New York as you are in
Brechin. Needless to say, conditions
OF life and living are entirely differ
ent in the east and west, and it is in
the hope of persuading intending
emigrants not to stop at the port of
landing, but to follow the setting sun
till the ocean calls a halt that
write these lines.
At the time of writing, the New
England Middle, and even the sunny
Southern states are experiencing an
exceptionally cold spell, in many
cases the thermometer registering 40
degrees below zero, while here in Sa-
lem, the weather is quite pleasant
gloves and overcoats being unneces-
sary.
Over the greater part of the north
ern continent outdoor industry Is at
standstill, while here the building
trades are exceptionally busy, and
houses are bein gbuilt without nter-
ruption.
Oregon has climate preferable to
any other that 1 have lived in. In
the summer the heat is moderate, and
in the winter the cold is scarcely felt
The summer is about Is degrees
warmer than that of Scotland, rain
falling here in place of snow, We
have had no snow this winter yet,
and not enough frost to freeze road
puddle The splendid climate is ow-
ing to the geographical position of
Oregon, and also to the Chinook
winds, which affect the temperature
much as the Gulf Stream does the
British Islands. Oregon is the great
est fruit-raising state in the union, if
not in the whole world. Cherries,
peaches, pears prunes, and apples are
the main crops; but walnuts toma-
toes, and berries of all kinds are
plentiful Were I to describe the
crops of the above mentioned fruit,
your readers would smile knowingly
"a Yankee yarn" But come and
see. Apples (the finest in the world
are two shillings per bushel, All
fruits are much cheaper than they
are in Scotland, Vegetables Of all
kinds are easily raised, and some Of
your horticulturists would be sur-
prised to see the potatoes and cab
bages grown here. Certainly this Is
an ideal place for vegetarian.
This town (Salem) is the capital
city of the state. Here are locat Ell
the insane asylum, state penitentlary,
blind asylum, deaf and dumb insti-
tute tuberculosis hospital, state ad-
mlnistrative building and all other
state offices. Salem is city Of Ia
0O). IN all probability it will double
its population in three years, Last
year over 400 new houses were built,
and i911 promises to exceed ;9,) in
the matter of building,
The city government has let con-
tracts for abouc four miles NJ hitN-
llthic ~ macadam streets to he laid
this year We have the Southern Pa
ciic lail'oad to San Francisco aud
Portland the Oregon Electric, at n
street car system Many new lines
are being planned in this part of the
state, which will further the prosper
ity of Salem.
Wages and living compare favora-
bly, with those of any other place in
the United States, Carpenters get IA
shillings per diem painters 10 shil-
lings, paperhangers IA shillings
plumbers is shillings, bricklayers %
shillings, plasterers 20 shillings, and
others accordingly Rents are the
only thing one could complain Of
The average board and lodging for a
week is from 20 to 25 shillings. All
mechanics and tradesmen work eight
hours a day. Salem is at present on
the boom, which will continue indefin-
~. n