Page:The Pacific Monthly vol. 14.djvu/136



Devoted to the development, growth and progress of the West. For a greater Pacific Coast

The Effect of the Exposition

The mere fact that an exposition, such as the Lewis and Clark Centennial, is now being held at Portland, is significant of the great progress which has been made in the Pacific Northwest. It is a magnificent monument to the progressive spirit of this vast region west of the Rocky Mountains. It will bring to the attention of the rest of the civilized world the present achievements and the splendid promise of the Pacific West in a form never before attempted.

It is a mistake to think that the progress of this Western country has all been made in the last ten years — or in the last twenty-five years. It has been going on, slowly at first, but with ever increasing momentum, since the advent of the first white settlers. And these pioneers are the men and women who made possible this latest world 's fair.

Our progress has been continuous, but the results obtained are now, for the first time, placed on exhibition in such a manner as to be properly understood by Eastern and foreign visitors.

Mo9t of the Eastern visitors will come here, and are coming here now, not so much to attend the Exposition as to see the country. They are taking advantage of the low rates offered by the railroads to investigate for themselves the truth of the many rumors that have reached them concerning the resources of the Pacific Coast States. Of course all will visit Oregon. Those who come here direct from the East will probably return via either Washington or California. Many will go to California first and return via Puget Sound, while others will reverse this. The result is inevitable. Homeseekers and visitors will come here in greater numbers than ever before. Nor is this all. Capi- talists of New York, Boston, Chicago, and other Eastern cities will seek large invest- ments in these growing states.

The effect on the cities of Portland and Seattle is already felt. In advertising the Fair, attention has been drawn to these cities, and thousands have come here within the past few months. In Portland it is impossible to obtain office room, and many new buildings are in contemplation for the immediate future. A large number of new build- ings, business blocks and residences are now under construction in both cities.

The Lewis and Clark Exposition certainly marks the beginning of a new era for the Pacific Coast.

The Portage Road

Saturday, June 3, 1905, was a great day at Celilo, on the Columbia River. The occasion was the opening of the new Portage Road, which makes it possible to ship cargo from Lewiston, Idaho, to Portland by water, with the exception of the land haul around the Celilo Falls.

The Portage Road is but a temporary expedient, however, but one which will prove of great benefit to shippers until such time as the new locks shall be completed.

It is not very long since the Cascades marked the end of open water. Then the locks built by the United States Government brought The Dalles into direct connection with the sea. And now Idaho towns will be able to ship by water.

The first steamer to make the new run from Lewiston to the Portage Road was the "Mountain Gem," which has the honor to be the first to navigate the upper Columbia in many years. But forty years ago Celilo was quite a steamboat center. At that time there were not less than six boats plying between that port and Lewiston.

The first steamer on the upper Columbia service was the "Col. Wright," which was built at Celilo — as were all the boats operated in that part of the river — in 1858. The steamer "Harvest Queen," so familiar to residents of Portland and Astoria, was built at Celilo in 1878, and for a time made the run between her home port and Lewiston.