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Show VJILSOIJ WRITES j ON PDRILAtiD My Dear Masters: Thinking perhaps you would appreciate ap-preciate some first hand knowledge of this particular part of Uncle Sam's domain, and feeling exceptionally jubilant ju-bilant over the general trend of events I believe that it will afford me pleasure to share this knowledge and experience with some of the folks at home, therefore, I find myself writing to you. Portland, one of the premier cities of our great Northwest, and beautifully beauti-fully environed, is today celebrating in an unprecedented manner one of the greatest events of the world's history. And such a celebration. Contrary Con-trary to the usual way at this season of the year, the sun has been shining brilliantly all day, after two weeks of almost continuous rain. Apparently Apparent-ly bestowing as it were, Nature's approval ap-proval of the glorious results commensurate com-mensurate with the stupendous happenings hap-penings of the day. This city, like others, through over iealousnesa upon the part of one of the great international news services, staged a premature celebration which under ordinary conditions might have militated against the success of the affair, but in this instance such was not the case. Portland is a city of about three hundred and fifty thousand population popula-tion In ordinary times, and directly across the river is the thriving little city of Vancouver, Washington, at which is located the headquarters of the Spruce Division of Uncle Sam's fighting forces. There is In camp there at the present time over ten thousand men, engaged in getting out lumber and milling it for airplane construction. con-struction. There also, is situated two or three of the many great ship building build-ing plants of the Pacific coast, all operating under the general supervision supervi-sion of the United States government and employing many thousands of men. Nearby is the Junction of the Wilamette and the Columbia rivers, some sixty miles inland from the ocean. Already Portland Is both a part of call and export and is visited by vessels from all parts of the world. At the recent election, a bond issue . was voted calling for the expenditure expendi-ture of millions of dollars for port , improvements, which when completed will make of this point one of the greatest harbors and shipping centers cen-ters of the world. At this moment, from my window, I can look down into the street and see thousands and thousands, of people in a perfect frenzy of enthusiasm and excitement. Every deylce subject to the Inventive k genius of an imaginative public for the purpose of making a din is being utilized for that purpose. The most stylish autos, of which there are thousands, thou-sands, are not alone blowing their horns, but have stringing out behind them long trains of thl cans, cow bells and other devices conducive to pandimonic sound, and (disturbance, while the masses on 'foot are equally as well equipped in this particular respect The streets, which average only thirty-six feet from curb to curb, are ablaze with lights, decorated with flags and streamers and in some places six inches deep with confetti, con-fetti, white from the tall and brilliantly bril-liantly lighted buildings falls a perfect per-fect deluge of colored ribbons and scraps of torn up papers. On many of the streets vehicular traffic is completely com-pletely suspended. Impromptu processions, proces-sions, some of . them blocks long, composed of men, women and children chil-dren from certain districts or commercial com-mercial establishments are trailing In and out through the crowds J with ear splitting devices of all descriptions. descrip-tions. Thousands of soldiers and hundreds of sailors in their, natty uniforms uni-forms lend plenty of color to the picture, pic-ture, while disorganized crowds gather gath-er at Intersections, hanging, burning or riding upon a rail, effigies of the ex-relgning heads of the Central Powers. Pow-ers. The theaters, stores and all the public places, with the exception of the hotels, are closed. Ninety per cent of the city's population, together with huge delegations from the country and nearby towns crowd the narrow streets. Civic, military, naval and shipyard ship-yard bands playing patriotic and harmonious har-monious airs, make themselves heard at times, above the chaos of sound emlnating from less musical sources. Chimes are ringing from the churches, church-es, whistles from the locomotives and Industrial plants are shrieking a welcome wel-come to the dawn of world democracy while the deep and sonorous blasts from harbor craft adds its full proportion pro-portion to the general din. ' So dense Is the crowd on certain streets, that the police are compelled to form flying wedges, to make way for the street cars. The lid is off, so far as the observation of conventions. conven-tions. Ranker, merchant princes, Btaid and dignified professors from the schools and colleges, clergymen, professional men and that class, vie with the general run of citizens in an effort to make a "howling success" of the occasion. A carnival" spirit prevails which dwarfs into lnslirnlfi-cance lnslirnlfi-cance In its good natured intensity, anything I have yet seen of this nature na-ture and in saying this I have in mind recollections of Poney Island and New Orleans iMadl Oraus which were of no mean proportions either. Tomorrow the city will regain its equilibrium, the same whistles will be calling the masses to their stations sta-tions in shipyard and factory; boats and trains will come and go all contributory con-tributory to the end that this grand old nation may retain Its present prestige pres-tige of superlative greatness In the great congress of which it Is a part. Next Saturday is the date set for the official celebration, and we are lead to believe that it will surpaa today's to-day's effort In many respects. If such a tiling If possible, I'm like our friend from Missouri: I must be shown I wish It wore possible for ma to describe the magnitude of the Kreat Pacific coast' ship building Industry, but time and stationary will not per- mlt it at this writing. However, if you are Interested, 1 will attempt to do so at some future time as it is a subject of wonderful possibilities from a dlscriptive standpoint and perhaps beyond my capabilities to do full justice. Kindly remember me to my friends in I'rovo, and when I figure I have completed my "little bit" in this gn at cuuse for which wo are all working, I lmpc to be back again, helping to keep alive the ' good roads" interests of I'tah County. With kindest personal ro cards. be;it wlhhos for the success of The Herald and a wee bit of longing tor the old ( homo town, believe nie. Very sincerely, VM. M. WILSON. |