and the enterprise is referred to as a "Brilliant Chance for Investment," and in the opinion of "competent judges" the cost is estimated at $500,000. The advertisement goes on to say that "From the unusual amount of stock taken abroad, and from the fact that every possible arrangement has been made for its speedy completion, it is confidently believed that the work will be finished in six months." The advertisement is signed by W. H. Tappan, St. Helens, and Crosby & Smith, Milton. An "N. B." is added to the notice in which it is stated, in italics, that "It is almost useless to add that the terminus of this road should be at a point that can be reached with safety by large vessels at any season and at any stage of the river" a thrust at the pretensions of the village of Portland to be a commercial point.
Beginning with Vol. VI, No. 1, September 9, 1851, Mr. Schnebly became owner of the Spectator. In November following he secured C. P. Culver as associate editor. At this time T. F. McElroy and C. W. Smith were the printers. A few weeks later T. D. Watson and G. D. R. Boyd became the printers. In the issue of November 25th Mr. Schnebly complains bitterly because there is only a semimonthly mail between Oregon City and Portland. On February 3, 1852, the Spectator became for the first time a distinctively political journal, and espoused the cause of the whig party. On March 16, 1852, it was suspended, and did not resume business until August 19, 1853. After this date the paper was not well supported, and gradually it grew weaker and weaker, and finally was sold by Mr. Schnebly to C. L. Goodrich, late in 1854, and was permanently suspended in March, 1855.
Soon afterwards the plant was sold to W. L. Adams, a pioneer of 1847, for $1,200. He used it in starting the Oregon City Argus, which was issued on April 21, 1855, and was the first distinctively republican paper in Oregon,
