The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1878-06-28

Rlsh ana Clear Eaks...Ths sprlnSa---Game
nAaekborries, Etc, Etc.

Editor Democrat,
Having made tho trip from Albany 10 the
Lakes on thc Summit of the Cascades will
tell your readers what l know about the
roads, sports, resorts, etc, between the two
places.
The report has been current through the
valley this spring, that the mountain road
was very had Such is not the case at all.
II was muddy few weeks ago between
Moss Butte and Lower Soia, but that has
dried up now and in making the trip to the
Lakes, the tires Of our wagon were rarely
covered with mud. After getting above Il 9
saw-min on tho Santiam, the roads are n,t
very dusty and travelling is pleasant Hay
and oats can be had at nearly every ranch
on the route.
The first resort of any note is Lower Soda,
is miles from the toll gate. The health-giv
ing properties of the soda springs at this
place are fast bringing it into notoriety as
resort for invalids. The proprietor Of this
hotel st Lower Soda is T. P Mcknight,
formerly of Albany, and he makes first
clasa landlord He has several rooms fitted
up nicely and he boards and lodges people
for only IS per week.
The next place is Upper Soda, l2 miles
further on. There are no hotel aocommoda.
tions at this place, but campers could not
wish for = better place. S. w. Kei.h lives
here and kesps little store and also fur
nishes hoFse feed at slight advance on val
ley prices. Some persons claim that the
soda water obtained from these springs is the
best in the State.
But if you want sport and health com
bined, 60 up to Fish Lake-away up among
the clouds where the air is as pure as purity
itself Here the deer are so plenty that any
one who can shoot can get all he wants, and
the beautiful speckled trout in countless
numbers sport in the Empid waters of both
Fish and Clear Lakes At the former lake
Burnester L Nickevson keep store and
hotel, and they are both 50 genial and
whole-souled and take so much trouble in
imparting information to travellers and ex-
enrsionists that their friends are numbered
by the legion They have an sbundance Of
hay, and also furnish pasture at extremely
low rates.
Deer have not yet commenced going down
the mountains in any numbers. The bucks
are very fat and can be found in every direc-
tion from here on the mountains. The does
are extremely poor and are not fit to kill
Fisharep plentiful During the last few days
they would bite but little at Clear Lake,
bot we have been drawing them out of Fish
Lake lively. Throe of US caught about soibs
yesterday afternoon. Wo also found splen-
did fishing in the Santiau.
The indications are that the blackberry
crop viii be larger than ever this season.
The Santiam canyon is perfectly red with
them. The first of them will be ready to
gather by next week.
Ten camps at Fish Lake.
Starr Mealey Is at his fathers, on Moss's
Butte, and seems to be improving IN health.
W. ID. Smith arrived at Fish Lake yester-
day. He caught about 20 fish to-day, and
startss for Black Butte tomorrow.
IEstead of going up Salt River Caleb Gray
came up the SAAtiAn, bringing his family
With him, and IS now here.
Win. Peters. ef the Albany party, while
eamped at Whiskey Springs. happened TO
get up one night and go out into the road to
get view of ''pale Luna, and while ont
there was chased by bear. Fortunately
the fnttering Of his shirt in the night air
scared the savage animal away, and Win
still lives and can bake as good bread as any
body.
Probably the members of Linn Base Ball
Club are net aware of the fact that they
came near lOaing their captain a few days
ago, but nevertheless such is the case We
were all sleeping in row by the wagon with
the horses tied to the hind Wheela A little
disturbance was kicked up among our equine
friends and the old mare suddenly came over
the wheel and gracefully set her hind feet
Ia the bed. But IL the old mare was grace
full in her movements, Cash was rapid, and
with cry of s'FonE! Judgment 2" he per-
formed a rapid evolution backwards in mid
air and alighted in Ed Clark's stomach.
We viii draw the curtains Reader, you
ean exercise your imagination.
Messrs. Hensely and Swartz are putting up
trout here for market.
Bear viii be plenty when blackberries
nPen.
Large numbers of elk were seen about three
miles back from Lower Soda few days ago.
C. H. 8.
FIsH LAKE, June 24th.