Page:Portland, Oregon, its History and Builders volume 1.djvu/11



PREFACE
The preparation of this work was undertaken at the suggestion of the late Harvey W. Scott. Having prepared a history of the city twenty years ago, and being familiar with the whole history of Oregon and Portland, the publishers were anxious to secure his services in bringing out a later and more extended review of the still greater city. But the hands of the great editor were fully occupied; and great cares pressed upon his time and strength. Deeply interested in this, as in all other things making for the history and development of the city, he had done so much to build up, he turned to the undersigned and urged him to undertake the task of which this book is the result; and at the same time pledging the assistance of his advice and counsel. His invaluable assistance was not to be realized. Already overburdened with great work he hoped to accomplish, his assistance could not be given beyond the generous grant and authority to use any and all of his many contributions to the history of Portland and Oregon.

To secure the assistance of scholars with experience in particular lines of investigation, it was deemed important to create an advisory board. And for that purpose a board of five gentlemen—to wit: Harvey W. Scott, Frederick V. Holman, president of the Oregon historical society, William D. Fenton, vice-president of the society, George H. Himes, assistant secretary of the society, and Dr. George F. Wilson, a leader in his profession, were selected. To these gentlemen the author is indebted beyond any words to express his obligation. Mr. Himes, has been a most efficient and enthusiastic aid on many topics; and has placed his great collection of material in the rooms of the historical society at the service of the author. Mr. Holman's monograph on Dr. John McLoughlin, is the last word on that great character. And to Joseph R. Wilson, D. D., for his like service on Marcus Whitman, and to Mr. John Gill for his sketch of Jason Lee, both the author and the subscribers to this work are under obligations that cannot be expressed in words or measured by dollars. We have in these sketches of these three great pioneer men, the fairest, most complete and satisfactory representation of them ever put in print.

To Mr. Fenton the history is indebted for his faithful review of the life and services of "Father Wilbur;" and for much important matter relating to laws and lawyers. And to Dr. Wilson obligations are many for the chapter on the medical profession, and medical college, and for first hand information about Schwatka's exploratory expedition to Alaska, of which Dr. Wilson was the surgeon.

Acknowledgement is freely made for valuable assistance from many others. To Mrs. Eva Emery Dye for her chapter on Oregon city; to and to General Thos. M. Anderson for much of the chapter on Vancouver; to Colonel Henry E. Dosch for most of the chapter on the Lewis and Clark Exposition, to Mr. W. D. B. Dodson of the Evening Telegram for the report on the Oregon boys in the Spanish war; to W. S. U'Ren for the account of direct legislation;