The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1867-08-10
Trip Aeros. che Cascade sIountalua

Eutt0f ctute HtyHtS UeW0cfuts
On the 10th of July last FIVE Of rs, via
Capt. ]. A. White, Jackey Settle, w. s. FL.
kins, John Smelser and w. Usher, started
on trip across the Cascade Mountains on
the Lebanon Wagon Road. We continued
our journey on the same road to Crooked
River and 0choco yallies, in order TO satisfy
our euriosties Of It's scenery and also to dis.
cover its utility--as the Crooked River and
other vallies Of Eastern Oregon are 30 little
known TO Willamette denizens.
Our first days travel brought us TO the
toll.gats, where we encamped and at once
entered upon the scenes Of camp life. Mr..
Gilliland. the gate.kceper, received US cordi.
ally, and, opening wide his corral. bade us
rest in security. The senior part OF our
crowd took lodgings beneath his friendly
roof, preferring still the haunts of civiliza.
tion 10 the rude habits Of wild explorers -
BY next mornings dawn our party might
have been seen busily engaged preparing
their mornings rcpast-your correspondent
being chief cook. Our journey from here
led along the foot hills 10 Wfley's creek
which we crossed on n frame bridge, and
soon after arrived at the house Of w. Miller,
where mine host has Mt all hours, for the ae.
commodation Of travellers, smoking hniscuits
and hot coffee. Leaving this point, we IA
cnnded Wiley's hill ON an excellentIy graded
road af easy ascent, aud followed the same
10 Whisky Spring. where we slakcd our
thirst with is cooling draughts. From
thence we travelled thPnngh an open country
10 tho brow of Deer Greek hill, which we de.
seconded to the Santiam bottoms. Following
up this valley over excellent roads, We pass.
ed the ranches of Stephen Carroll and Mr..
Hensley. At the latter place we enioyed
the pleasant taste Of soda water from spring
gushing out Of the bank of the Santiam. and
which is, indeed, luxury unsurpassed by
any patent dccocton of human invention.
either for medical uses or pleasant drink
Here several persons from the Valley were
encamped. enjoying the benefits derived from
its mineral virtues. From here We journey.
ed leisurely. behaldng the wild scenery ui
nature displayed before the eyes Of the irav.
eler. S1on wo crossed Canyon creek un "A
frame bridge. and continued our journey up
the Santiam river. which runs through q
wide canyon. Ten miles from licnsley =
ranch we came To another soda spring. called
"Upper SOda. y which was tire frat uf these
springs discovered on this ruad aud il is
considered TO have a stronger TASTE Of soda
and cmits larger stream than Lower
Soda" Here is an excellent bo,iDm of good
land, containing about $50 acres, which has
comfortable log house standing upon IL.
built three years ngV by Dir. l.. Elklns. for
the better accommodation ut travellers and
invalids kecking the h0uaiits of this spring.
| This is destined at no distant day "a became
place Of considerable importance. Tho
entire country around this p'iini is burn;
district. leaving nothing standing but dead.
eharred trees. Soda Rock il q high b8ul.
der, standing on the north side nf Santlam
river, Que mile west ur tie spring, and
presents an object of curiosity 10 the be.
holder. We travelled from here eastward.
passing ''Powells Garden" and Sugar loai
| Rock, and sfon ascended m cxcclIen, graded
rad to the Pass or Summit. This pass is q
low defile in the mountains, lying between
Bald Mountain or the south and Iron Noun,
tain on the north. Bald Mountain has a
bald top covered with grass, while Iron
| Mountain is peak of baysalt covered with
dark brown color resembling iron rust. -
| Both peaks stand many thousands 0f feet ir
the air. From the pass we descended the
/ head waters of Mckenzic's River three
miles, 10 Lost Prairie, where our horses pas
tured upon gaOd grass and soon filled THEN
empty st0machs. Here one of our hunter,
brought in q hne gcnisnn. Our travel from
Lost Prairie followed along the valley Of Nc
Kenzie's river FIVE miles, t0 Fish Lake, whict
| is Mt this time about One.half mile wide ant
| two miles long, hut ia September it runs ou
until only small creek and several small
pools 1.-THE latter filled with isb) identify it,
location and at which time fishermen eniO,
fine harvest catching the fDny tribe Twl
men have located themselves hare for tht
present season 10 fish, and hage built pleas
ure beat for the accommodation Oftbemsesci
and others. After leaving this Lake ",
crossed - streak or layer Of burnt laya on
mile and quarter wide, which emanatG.
about twenty miles north. frum "Fbrce. fin
| gered Jack, an old crater, not now in nc
ton. We discovered, two miles gp the lava
n prairie containing near section of land
having good grass and being an excelIen
place to ranch horses, Two miles below
Fish Lake, and south from the foot of SAM
Mountain, lies Clear I.ake--one.h half mil,
wide and four miles long and containin,
water which is very cold and clear rs crys
tai. This lake contains an abundance O
trout, larger than those Of Fish Lake, which
can be seen floating forty feet below the sur
face of the water. So cleas is the water o
this lake that an object not hrger than al
acorn can be seen fifty feet under water
One Of its great curiOsitiss is n large spring
thirty feet vide and six feet deep, cold an,
clear, bursting fortb from the bank of tb
lake. This lake is sogth one and a hal
mises from the ROAD
Prom the lava we assembled Sand Noun
tain, and Travelled gradually down its castarl
slope to Big Lake. Two Wiles west Of tbi
lake, and two miles north Of tho road, VI
passed Hay.rick Mpuntain-a Basatic noun
tam of rock standing with perpendicula
walls 500 feet high, and having 40 0blopJ
shape resembling hay-rick, Eige mile
from here we descended to Cache Greek, tb
eastern limits Of the Cascade Monntains-
At this point are three old dry craters, whic
apparently have blown out their lives centu
ries ago, and nothing but deep holes or well
mark their existence. One of them contain
at its bottom cold spring of ice. Thes
eraters average about go feet in diamete
and 60 feet deep. They stand in row abou
ten yards apart.
Our course Of travel from here foliowe
down the valley of Cache Creek ten miles, t
Big Springs, Cache Greek valley is dcnsell
lowered with the best of bunch grass, whic
makes the best OF grazing for stock. Bi
Springs fOw out of the base Of Black Butte
~-a prominent butte which stands six mile
east from the Cascade Mountains, eoyerc
j tbickly with pine timber and in appearance
resembling o bay stack ,hronnd Big Sprin
4 is a fine tract of land. containing, probably
10. 900 acres, covered with good grass an
scattering pines of an excellent quality. Th
soil hero averages about three feet deep, pro
ducing strawberries in abundance ST
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