The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-04-12

q lake-S0 llJLle CuErenb has III anu ~
uniform is the depth Of water-averag-
ing forty feet, or twice the depth OF the
river below the rapids. From this fact,
and that of the submergence of belt of
trees on either side of the river, for a
long distance, the character of the him
deranee to the flow ofthe Columbia may |
be very readily conjectured. At some 1
period, long subsequent TO the passage
of the river through these mountains-a
passage which evidently it forced for II
self-by some violent means, great
quantity of rock was thrown into the
bed of the stream, and, by forming
dam, raised the level Of the water 10 It's
present height.
An effort has been made to secure the
aid of Congress in removing this lmPed-
iment to navigation. Greatas would De
the benefit, in a commercial point oil
view, of removing the dam at the CAS-
eades, it presents itself unfayorably 70
| the mind of the worshiper at Natures
shrines-one of whose ehappiest emotions
must ever spring from the thought, that
| it is impossible for man ever TO inter
meddle with the eternal majesty ofscenes
like these.
The material to be removed consists of
laconglomerate offragments oftrap-roek,
/ in this cOnglomerate are trunks OF trees
often silicified-sometimes only car
! bonized, and sometimes both together.
OF this silicified wood, there are many
| fragments to be found about the Cas-
cades, embedded in the sand of the bot
tom-land. OF the trees standing sub
merged in the margin of the river, none
of them are at all petrified; though, from
the common occurrence of the fragments
spoken of, the belief obtains, that this is
petrified forest. The silica, which has
entered into the pores of the silicified
wood, was, probably, derived from veins
of that earth contained in the mass of
conglomerate thrown into the river from
the mountains at the time of the fOrma-
tion of the rapids.
From the deck of the steamer waiting
for us at the end of the railroad portage,
a beautiful picture is spread outOn every
side. The river seems lake dotted with
islands, with low shores, surrounded by
mountain walls. Almost the first thing
which strikes the eye is an Immensely
high and bold perpendicular cliff of red
rock, pointed at the top with the regular
ity of a pyramid, and looking as if fresh
~ split off from some other half which
has totally disappeared. The freshly
broken appearance of this cliff, so differ
ent from the worn and mOssy faces of
most of the rocks that border the river
suggested to the savage one of his le-
gends concerning the formation of the
Cascades: which is, that Mount Hood
and Mount Adams had quarrel, and
took to throwing fire-stones at each
other; and, with their rage and strug-
Cling, so shook the earth for many miles
around, that a bridge of rock which
c,,a nk f,fo
| from its mountain abutments, and cast
| in fragments into the river.
The grandeur of the Columbia, for
some miles above the Cascades, is so
great and oyerpOwering that one feels
little disposed TO attempt description.
The Hudson, which has so long been the
pride of America, is but the younger
brother of the Columbia Place hum
dred Dlmderbergs side by side, and you
have some idea of these stupendous
bluffs; double the height of the Pali-
sades, and you can form an idea of these
precipitous cliffs. Elevate the dwarfed
levergreens of the Hudson highlands into
frs and pines like these, and then you
may compare. Considering the history,
gether with the scenery Of this river,
there is no other so complete in the inn
. preston it conveys of grandeur.
Down this river, sixty-six years ago,
. fiOated those adventurous explorers,
Lewis and Clarke. Seven years later
the survivors of that part of the Astor
! expedition which came overland, were
struggling along these wild mountain
shores, among inhospitable tribes, try
, ing to reach the fort at the mouth of the
river. A few wears later still, the "brig-
adep of the "Hudson's Bay Company"
annually, flOated down from their hunt
ing-grounds in the Rocky Mountains,
jubilant at the prospect Of soon reaching
MISUNDERSTANDING and dipping
their oars in time, while their noisy
gayety was echoed and re-echoed from
these towering mountain walls.
Twenty-eight years ago, the first large
immigration of actual settlers for
Oregon came down from the Dalles in
boats, furnished them by the HudsOn's
Bay Company, with much toll and
danger, and some loss of life. To-day,
we tourists gaze and dream at our leis-
ure, from the deck of n first-class
/ steamer, with all our wants anticipated.
In another lustre, or in less time than
that, the travel and trade of One-third of
the continent may be borne upon this
great highway of Nature, to and fro, be-
tween Orient and Oecident.
But we have forgotten to observe the
notable places. "This," says our Cap
tain, ais Wind Mountain. The Indian
name answers to our word enchanted,
from the fact, probably, that when the
wind is foul it is impossible to pass here
with their canoes" On the south side,
a few miles above the Cascades, is the
beautiful place of Mr.. Coca fruit farm
among the foothills, and facing the
[ Columbia. Here grow such delicious
peaches as are rarely ever raised west Of
/ the mountains. A little settlement, at
/ the foot of the mountains, is called Hood
River, from being near the junction Of
that river with the Columbia. Opposite
/ the mouth of Hood River very fine
view of Mount Hood is obtained. So
near does il seem, that we see the glis-
tening of the snow where its cliffs reflect
the sun. Nearly opposite, the White
Salmon enters, cold from the SHOWS of
Mount Adams, a glimpse of which we
catch between the cleft heights Of the
!. rivers gorge.
The farther we depart from the heart
of the mountains the more marked is
the character and quantity of the tim
ber. Firs have entirely disappeared,
while spruce and pine have taken their
places. The form, too, of the highlands
: is changed, being arranged in long
ridges, either parallel with the river OF
at rfght-angles to it, but all very exten-
sive, and forming benches, dotted only
with trees, instead of being wooded, as
on the western side of the range. The
climate, also, is changed, and dryness
and warmth quite different from the
western climate are observable.
More and more the basaltic formation
constantly becomes visible, protruding