Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1873-01-09
No. 7

ClOuu rivers WnlCn are cultivated by the
woodmen, but with those exceptions the
country is only valuable for its lumber. The
remnant of the Shasta or Digger Indians still
linger near these mountain streams. COM
panies of them are often seen engaged in fish
ing. For two years the poet Miller lived
among them, adopted their mode of life,
married one of their daughters, had child
born to him, who is now at school in a neigh
boring city. The wild life he led at this time
had more of reality in it than romance I
cannot learn that he has ever immOrtaliZed it
in song. a... ..
Among the products Of the forests of this
region, none are more beautiful than the
laurel and manzanita, which grow prOfusely
and in great perfection. Unlike other forest
trees in appearance, they are not easily de-
scribed. The California laurel grows to the
size of the ash, though it does not resemble
it. The trunk is of reddish yellow hue,
and the foliage of light pea-green. 1t bears
bright red berry, and when in fruitage its
various colors give to it u very gorgeous ap-
pearance. If it could be cultivated as an or
namental tree it would surpass in beauty all
others l have ever seen. The wood of this
tree presents fine, light grain, and admits
! of higher polish than the maple, which it
| greatly excels tor ornamental purposes Sev-
eral of our principal hotels and saloons are
| furnished with it. IT,. .t.- ..
| The manzanita can hardly be called tree
or shrub. 1t is between both The trunk
less than foot in height, and not more than
| half that in diameter, springs into innumera-
BILE long and slender branches, which are
covered with small, light green, ovate leaves,
and spaead over large surface. The form,
foliage, and peculiar c0lors make up
plant of rare beauty. The trunk and branch
es are of deep red. The wood is much es-
teemed for canes, but / am told it is not
often found straight enough for use The
forest is full of manzanita and laurel till near
the end of the stage route in Oregon. -.
The pines increase in size and the forest
in density as we proceed north. Our driver
surprised us at midnight, at one of the deep
forest stations, with the inquiry whether we
can it mean? On inquiry we find that fa-
nous soda spring is near at hand. It is much
frequented during the summer by sportsmen,
whospend weeks in the vicinity hunting bear,
der, and other wild game, with which the
fofest abounds. The water possesses rare
m@lical qualities, and in time will be much
sought after by invalids.' ....s} ..t,....-
We have not seen the sun since leaving
FIeco, and for day or two past everything
hay been enveloped in fog. We are nearing
Shasta. The station men tell us we will not
beable to see it. It is thirty miles from our
nearest point of view, distinct and bold
f4bugh in the sunlight, but never visible
through the thinnest haze Night was fast
GINNING on when we arrived at that part of
Strawberry Valley, from which the grand old
fountain, if visible at all, could he seen.
4ur gaze. fortunately, directed by strong de-
4re, was not wholly unrewarded. We saw
he outline of the giant peak, as it rose white
Ind phantom-like through the clouds. Ma
)estic from its very size and loftiness, it is all
the more imposing in grandeur because of its
Isolation. It is alone monarch of all around
it, sole inhabitant of the stony wilderness
where it dwells, the first, and probably the
mightiest of those wonderful peaks which
stand like sentinels along the western margin
of the Cascade range, all the way to the
point of its nOrthermost termination. In the
carly days of California and Oregon, the
of the two States used to quarrel
about the relative altitude of Shasta and
Hood. State pride always lead the contest
Until by actual measurement it was finally
demonstrated that the topmost summit of
Shasta was three feet higher than that of
Hood. And since that time these three feet
OF difference have always been more percep-
tible to California eyesl than all the 1900
feet by which they were approached. By
way Of retaliation, however, you never hear
IN Oregonian, when speaking of Shasta,
1ignify it with any more pretentious appella-
ion than "Shasta Butte, term of contempt
which provokes smile, when one remem-
0ers that it is applied to the grandest noun
ain in North America.
On the side of the road opposite to Shasta,
1t no great distance, we saw dimly that re-
bit of scenery known as Castle
Rock. The elements have done their work
veil in fashioning that lofty peak, and its as
'ociate towers; and such as those, we con-
,eive readily, might have been the castellated y
ops OF those building fOrtresses of the mid
lie ages. 1t is worth the ride from Redding
o Oregon to see the two grand objects,
which at this point on the route greet the eye
# the traveller. Neither can ever be forgotten.
Dashing from Strawberry Valley again into
he forest, we find ourselves amid pines of
,reater girth and stature than any we have e
yer before seen. Nature, seemingly desi-
Gus of letting us turn gradually from our
urvey of Shasta to objects of ordinary size,
las planted these monsters here as first to
rect our vision, after losing sight of the
I3was told, and T. can readily .
elieve it. the largest of these trees were 81
1irty-fve feet in circumference, and 200 feet ~,
igh. The coach rolled its way through them : !.
9 passing through t the many col
rnned aisles of vast cathedral. Nothing
duld be more awe-inspiring than this ,twi- !,
ght ride. Far as the eye could penetrate y
.is .intercolumned gloom, nsught was vistioo
p save the majestic trunks, The soughing fus
the breeze thfnngh thar massive tops was
fitting organ choir for 20 grand > temple. w
Ter leaving kesdins, .hss Il our our coach lssd y y
to Yreka, and here, for the present. IMflp lsi
d vOuP reaf3era fareyval1