The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1870-08-20


and perhaps some 20 or 80 acres of land
under rude cultivation. He has an ex-
cellent garden, and raises vegetables |
enough for his family, and some to spare
The land having been originally covered
with a dense growth of heavy timber, it
was necessarily the hard work of a num-
Der of years, to bring it to even its pres
ent state Of cultivation The hay (timo- |
thy) grown upon this land seems to be
strongly impregnated with the smell OF
wood and weeds, and is not very much
relished by horses, still they eat it, as
nothing better, or as good is afforded,
anywhere in the mountains between
Millers,' and Lava Lake.
The spring, or rather springs, are sit
uated under the left bank of the Santiam,
and to the left of the road going east,
| close to the waters edge, and on being
taken up has something of 4 sparkle and
snap which resembles common ''pop,
without having the same taste, and is
clear as crystal. From the velocity of
the water issuing from the newly found
/ spring, it must have considerable ''head,
and apparently comes down from the
/ bank above. The drinking of it invari-
ably has a drowsy effect upon me, and
after drinking a gallon or two, could go
to sleep very comfortably. Whether
these Soda Springs have within them
selves any distinct medicinal virtues, | car
not say, but they are steadily increasing
in popularity, and who knows but that
in some distant day their fame may be-
come as wide spread as the famous Sara
toga Springs; and as patronizcd by the
elite and fashion of Oregon as is Saratoga
by the wealth and aristocracy of New
York and surrounding cities.
Our road to day as we leave the green
timber at Canvoa creek, q miles from
Lower Soda and ID miles from the toll
gate) and enter the "burnt district" along
the Santiam, lies through one of the
most dreary, wretched, dcspisable and
forbidden looking stretches of country it
has ever been my lot to travel over, if |
except volcanic country lying on the
north of Suake river, extending up and
down that stream from point some six
miles above Fort Hall to some 80 miles
below, and from near the banks of the
river to the base of the Wind River
Mountains some 25 miles distant \
description Of this country at this place
would be impossible for me- but will say
that the entire extent of country lncloscd
in the boundaries given you, is a vast bed
OF lava, IN every conceivable form and
shape where no sign OF vegetation Of any
kind Is to be seen Great deep assures
in the lava sometimes filled " ith yellow
sulphuric water, but generally dry,
occur, down which a stone may be thrown,
occupying several seconds in its fall,
striking the bottom with hollow sound.
Where the wagon road passes over it. the
crust fairly tremblcs and waves. and the
wagon produces a sound something like
that produced by pounding on the head
Of = bass drum. y perfect paradise Tor
all manner Of foul reptiles ana creeping
things; dirty looking izzaras. e=aiI
pedes, scorpions. and innumerab.e rattle.
f snakes, the thought Of which always
makes me shuddcr. But come to thiuk
of it, that has nothing TO do with FISH
Lake
We leave the green timber to come
out into the hot glaring sun of the burn
district. We travel short distance OF
level ground, theu the nonotony is re
lieved by riding down steep declivity
into the bottom of small creek, or pitch
J ed unceremoniously head first into ravine
= filed with round boulders, usually de
/ nominated ''nigger heads" and scramble
! up on the opposite side if you can get up
. If not, let your horses rest awhile ans
r try again, * and SO on. Th
G everlasting mountains present anythin:
: but contrast in the general make Of The
: surrounding scenery, but as far as th
r eye can reach is seen the same noun tain
n Gus stretch of barren hills entirely dcsti
| tute of vegetation, and covered witt
/ charred remains of once .tmonarchs o
4 the forest some still standing loo.1iu,
! grim aud gllas; i,aitst the brassy sky
others huv aaen blown down by vic
n lent wiuus or prostrated by their owl
Y weight are lying on the uneven surface G
$ the ground in endless and upsightl
d con fusion.
O We passed the Elephant Rock" tc
e day, a huge mountain OF adamant com
V ing close down to the edge of the water
:, of the creek, an obstacle in the way o
N the road which took hard work and con
S siderable amount Of blasting to surmount
}, The road running between its base and th
l. creek over portion Of the rock itself, i
d uncomforatably rough, and bad for bare
d footed horses The road from this poin
o to the Upper Soda, distant II miles lrol
II the Lower Soda, follows up the canyol
K Of the Santiam, crossing the strear
r seven times between the two point.
d There are, however, two places of not
d passed o-day of which I will speak
=. Henschei's on Canyon Greek and Keith
e on Vine Maple Bottom, where at botl
e places the enterprising proprietors hav
d provided ample entertainment for ma
4 in tho shape of 40-rod whisky, and oat
T for horses At the last mentioned plac,
e. we found our old friend Col. Morgan
e He says he is enjoying himself hugel.
d is happy in his virtue, and has goo
t. health,-what more need anyone want
n I, complete happiness. The Col. is an ee
" centric genius, aud a clever, good oil
d fellow.
Our old white pack horse is very a
tentive ANIMAL and a faithful servant
y so ue,.y attentive in fact that for fear h
te driver might say whoa, and he not he;
le him, he sometimes stops to take ma
le on the road, entirely ignoring the pre-
'e ence of the swarms of yoracious hors
al A;os ,pbo threaten to deyOur him,