Page:The Overland Monthly, Jan-June 1894.djvu/252



Photo by WAtkins

UPPER CASCADE OF THE COLUMBIA.

was the only connecting link with East Portland, which could not be said to be thickly settled, as it contained but two buildings.

The "city," apparently, had just moved in, for it had but two or three passable streets, and the people were still busy removing the stumps of the trees from the main thoroughfares.

Her merchants were mostly of the thrifty, New England stamp, young, enterprising, and careful, withal ; men who came with a purpose, to build homes and to stay, and to build fortunes as well. In the exercise of good fortune as pio- neers they had selected this as the best location for a city, possessing natural advantages superior to any other in the territory. The city as it stands today testifies to the excellence of their judg- ment. The two dozen principal busi- ness houses were nearly all located on the west side of Front Street. Portland was the great business center to which the valleys of the Columbia and Wal- lamet were tributary. The Valley of Wallamet was called "God's Country." It was settled principally by Missouri- ans, every man, woman, and child, hold- ing down six hundred and forty acres

of land; and with the best land anc as fine a climate as can be found, one might travel from Portland the length of the Wallamet Valley, and the uni versal fare would be bacon, saleratus bread, and dried apples. Even in that early day Portland was awake to the value of her unequaled water faciliies. and had many fine steamers plying to her numerous points of supply. Her exports consisted largely of grain, flour, bacon, and apples.

In the spring of 1859 I made my first visit to The Dalles. Taking the new steamer " Mountain Buck," we left Port- land in the morning. J. C. Ainsworth was captain and Henry L. Hoyt, pilot. By their courtesy I was invited to a seat in the pilot house, where I could have the best view of the river and scenery, and a chance to chat with the man at the wheel, as each took alternate short tricks. Both were classed among the best of the river pilots.

We touched at Fort Vancouver, with its two-story docks, built to accommo date the seasons of high and low water for the spring freshets varied from thirty to forty feet above low water. Quite an interest attached