The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1873-05-16
Through Montana, Idaho and
Washington Territories.

Through Montana, Idaho and
Washington Territories.
M. EDlroR-Knowing that the time of year 4.
at hand when many turn their eyes and STRIPS
westw ard in quest of new homes, more remu-
n~erstive pursuits. healthier chimes. &C., and
having made an extensive tour through q country
that IL now attracting the attention Of the migra-
ting class, I will, for the benefit Of your readers,
route Of travel through Mountains, Idaho and
Washington Territories, embracing the much
talked Of region Of Puget's Sound.
Taking C0rinDe, Utah, for o starting point las
I deem but little country between the Nebraska,
line and Corinne, on the line of the Union Pacific
Railroad ut for = human being TO dwell in), l
journey northward by stage up the Bear River
Valley, the wheels Of the coach sinking deep In
the sand, and our pace slow and noiseicss. For
the sake Of breyify,I will state that my stage
route northward to the Deer Forge Valley, four
o osu as ths .M mountains, forming . huge horse
shoe bend, necessitafes the crossing OF them
twice. OF course, mountain ascent and descent
made up the most of this trip, with scenery wild
and interesting, but not near 50 grand rs i had
anticipated. At times we pass through. canyons
deep and gloomy, and spots are pointed out
where passengers have been robbci and muir
dered. We travel the Snake River Valley for =
long distance, and find 1t sandy and unpr"duct-
i've. This whole region thxt lays on the route 10
unattractive, presents no inducements to the
tons, is almost unsettled. Take it all in all, 1t
Is desolAte place for 3 home. But the Deer
Forge River Valley presents q scene quite re-
erai miles broad, win he river winding down
through the center. This river 10 colorcd some
what, like the .'Bis Muddy,'' owing TO- the
water rom The mining districts smptyins into
miles, snd find the soil gravel!y, though 1t
seemed productive, from the fields of grain We
saw, which the farmers at that time 1.-THE middle
- U.~.t ,.t~~. s-~;.r~f.u~ uuf lstt1O rnpa ia ruissSl
here. a. the nights ere too cool for successful,
cultivation. From this valley | Witnessed storms
rolling In the mountains, the peaks cf which
the sunshine. This Is a scene to excite the Won
de-. Of the pilgvim. The fine pastures Of the Deer
Forge Valley, and its foot-hills. impressed me
most favorabIy as to is ussislness tor grazing
hurfying along with water ss cold as crystal
over beds Of bouldcrs and pebbles.
Deer Forge City isa coy little town: and
himself SO Ear from rsilroad communication
The people sre very courteous and obiiging, and
. welcome greets the stranger from every quar-.
we'll managrd-Sf Savannah could boat Of one
half ~ good IL would be better Oh than It Is on
that score. At Deer Forge join my brother,
our westward tour. A short distance beyond
Deer Lodge City the valley grows narrow, and
In many places is . mere gorge; Farms Tor
ranches. Is they are " .nvar,aS,y esi e IN 'n,s ne
Ing little town some hundred uiles beyond.
Perhaps this is the best farming. region In the
whole Territory, and 10 an inviting country.
Of mountains through the koriscan pcale. and
! ind il . delightful ride. This range Is heavily
timbered with splendid specimsns Of pine and
| redwood, whose dark green foliage, In contrast
with flowers exceedingly rich In color bordering
. clear trout-brook, made . scene refreshing and
beautiful. From thi. mountain We descend on
the north into the Jocko Valley, broad. and AZ
foriinE good pasturagc, but entirely too gray
ely i1r agricultural uses. The Jocko Is q
swim. plunsing. mountain stream, vel, stocked s go
junction with another stream. 1.-THE name Of
which docs not occur to mel, and q short distance
below cross the latter stream and ride across
| locked tract OF arabic land lying ON the -.
These plains are about eighfy-hve miles west Of
| MissOula, and consists of about nines square miles
| rolling, which makes it dinicalt to irrigate.
Splendid tiMber 10 ut hand Of any. quantity,
Wheas, oats and vegetables grow in abundance,
great trouble with this place is It's i.olstion-no
roads 70 get ont--everything must be packed on
horses. The trail In some places is . very mar
row path along the mountain ano SIDE pitching steep
From this point we travel to the mouth Of the
St. Issegis Borgia River and an ex-
ce.dinsiy roash Journey over the 49, wU'ear DC
Mullen's wagon road, but inimany places there Is
nothing to marx the road, the bridges having
been swept way '.long. long ago." Our OBJ
''The Falls - q distance Of about one hundred
and seventy Ave miles. This once military road
Is rough beyond description-ap the 81. Regis
De Rlene River on the opposite side, aud through
q canyon to the Coeur DE Alene Lake. These
rivers are crossed some ninety times, and by
holding our legs well up on our horses. bscks,
night and from morning till night the jumping Of
huge logs on land, aud In water the fording. Of
streams and crowding through thickets, u unin-
terrupted. But the rough road ended when We
struck the Sp0kan, which Is o large. clear and
beautiful stream. Its valley, however, Is too
grnvelly for cultivation. But lying adjacent to
have been the bed OF an Immense riyer) Is thu
finest nnimprovcd country l ever beheld. II Is q
timbcred country, the timber consisting chiefly
buted, so rs to please the eye and be handy for use.
The land Is undulatlng, and there are intervals
In timber Of nom one 10 twenty or thirty acres
Of Sa} Prairie snis. q i,s sss% wasiS e ESSd AZ so 'ncrel sna nssin !
1t stands quite thick. There is but y little brush
and a good growth Of grass. We came upon two
sprinEs Of splendid drinking water, clear as crys.
deep. The roads IN this country are good, and
il Is supposed that the Northern Pacific Railroad
win traverse the spoksn Valley within 2 slior!
would judge, might amount to twenty miles
| square. There is only o little country between
here and Walla-W alla that is good for anything
pUt y05tuIukco 5t0l Va ouoNh OhC uuA CS
and forty miles. SO 1t seems this, too, ID rathei
A sandy road from Walla- Walla to wallulu,
Steamer am II Tor q ini down the Columbia. By the
way I must say that Wallulu Is one OF the most
despicable little holes TO be called . town that
mostly Of saloons and sandbanks, and the lattei
are continually shifting and drifting by o furi'
GUS w~ind-sand penetraies everything-its In thu
eyes, between the teeth, and asserts It's suprema.
cy everywhere. The trip down the gorge Of tn.
Columbia was delightful-the air pure, weather
all that conld be desired.s ride BY, m
iesvine WaIiain there is : succession OF scene
that would excite Inc sdmirntion of the mos
stupid observer. Here the FLYER nnrrows be-
tween walls Of rock, sometimes regular and 2
times Irregular and grotesque. The mountains
gradually become clothed with evergreens. II
several places miniature falls jump In siivel
spray from the rugged mountain slope, and eve
and anon through depressions In the mountains
immediate to the river, and above the deep green
Mt. Hood rears Its white, frosty head, away al
In the blue dome Of heaven, They talk about II
tremendous mountain Of snow, vast, ncompsr
able. After q voyage Of one hundred and TWEEN
ty.fye miles, we reach ''The Dailes,'' quite
and. strunge rs il may seem, though the town |
not as large rs Savannah, Il boasts Q hotel tina
would far outvic any public house In st. Joe
except the Pacific House. Charges were moder
From 'eThe Dslles'' to Portland, Oregon
through another succession Of beautiful scenes
/ spent o considerable time In Portland, an'
thought it one Of the handsomest and busics
ownsI ever visited. Now, from Portland :
Kalsma On tho Columbia, the terminus q q
Columbia Branch Of the Northern Pacific kail
road. Here the railroad company has built IN.
chine shops, car factories, Ac., and Kalama !
likely to 6ccoln. considerable OF q town. tn
a,uatry about IL not well suited to farming
though there are ss,nls fnr ssrms In the bottom
in the vicinity. The upland is heavily timber-d
and the soil Is light. From kslama to Oiympi
(the nearest poIif ON Fug.t's Soundl the dir
taiicc Il called eigiity-hss iniles. There ~
country is generally heavily timberrd and q
sx.ii unor