Page:Portland, Oregon, its History and Builders volume 1.djvu/322



that life here in our pioneer times never encountered so many difficulties or pri- vations as in the early settlement of the older states. The reason was that the great interior country out of which the states of Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illi- nois and Missouri were formed, was remote from the seaboard and almost in- accessible from it. On the other hand, access to the Oregon country was had direct from the sea, and necessaries of many kinds were obtainable here soon after the settlement began, which the pioneers of the old west could not obtain at all. Especially after the discovery of gold in California, and after the rush thither began, tools, nails, glass and clothing could be had here. Our women in Oregon did not spin and weave in the households, as our mothers and grand- mothers did in the older states, in their pioneer time. Certain luxuries soon began to appear here which our pioneers had not known in the states whence they came.

There were dried codfish, barreled pork, Malaga raisins and English wal- nuts. A few had carpets, possessions unknown to the early settlers of Illinois and Missouri. Attempts to imitate fashions in dress were not unknown. As soon as wheat and potatoes could be grown, living became easy, and in a sense luxurious ; for there was every kind of game, excellent fish in all waters, and the small wild fruits in greatest abundance. Social life was open, hearty and free. Every house was open to the comer, whether neighbor or stranger. If night overtook you and you wished to stay, you knew you would find welcome. You had to ask no questions. It was a thing of course.

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The country lay isolated so long that it took on a character of its own. Man- ners, habits, customs, naturally assimilated. One year was very like another. The few who came into the country from year to year from abroad soon and naturally fell into the prevailing modes of life. Industry was not strenuous. Production was carried scarcely beyond the wants of our own people, for trans- portation was lacking, and accessibility to markets. Of course, the mercantile interest in such a community, though the leading one, could not be very great. The foundation of a few large fortunes were laid, but the country in general 'got ahead' very little. As the years wore on there came some local railroad development ; but in the low state of industry then existing, it had little effect. It was not till connection was made by rail across the continent that the new era began. Even then, for a number of years, the progress was slow. It had taken time for the forces to gather that make for the modern progress. But now they are in operation to an extent, and with an energy that the survivors of the early times never could have expected to witness. Portland, as a leading center of this progress, presents wonderful aspects. No one who saw Portland fifty years ago, or thirty years ago, could have imagined the city would be or could be what it is today. And now we see that its growth is but just fairly begun."