The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-10-17
FROM DOUGLAS COUNTY.

Ed. GAZETTE When we left Cor
Wallis, we came directly to Drains,
which we will make our headquarters
for the winter We have been made
quite comfortable, and had cordial
reception by the people. Drains is
a thriving little village on the Q. 6
G. r. R., on the south side Of the
Calapooia mountains. 1t has about
one hundred inhabitants, three well
stocked stores, one blacksmith shop,
one hotel, one good saw and grist
mill, one large grain warehouse and
a depot. There has been consid-
erable new building done here during
the last year. Two miles south is
the noted Snowden Springs, where
DR.. Payton is treating invalids to
good advantage.
Now, Mr.. Editor, that l might be
prepared for those mountain travels,
1 bought forty dollar cayuse pony,
and, well balanced on it, start over
the mountains for Sluslaw valley, II
miles distant, in northwest direc-
ton. Here is nice little valley, six
miles long by one wide, with about
fifteen families in it. There is a good
class of people here, who are not
only moral, but largely church mem
bers, and you could scarcely find a
more hospitable people anywhere.
Again in the saddle and over anoth.
er spur Of the mountains twelve
miles east, I fetch up at Cottage
Grove, on the north side of the Cali
pooia mountains. Here there is but
little improvement going on, and yet
there is large business done here in
merchandise aud grain. The rail
road missing the town has nearly
killed it. Latham, two miles further
south, is building up some, and is a
rival to Cottage Grove. In Cottage
Grove there is a church and some
church members, but none in La
tham.
In the saddle again and now six
teen miles up the coast fork of the
Willamette. There are quite a good
many well-improved farms in this
valley, and the inhabitants are gooG
livers- and church-going people
The people have suffered more or les.
through this country from rust il
wheat. Now back to Latham, and
then home to Drains, eighteen miles
over the mountain. again and dowr
Pass creek, part of which is th'
worst road that I have seen in thu
State:
One days rest and in the saddl,
from Drains west down the ELI
river to Elkton, Is miles. Thi.
stream is indeed mountain stream
for on both sides there are towering
mountains, with but small amount
of farm land along its course. Hal
way the road runs alonn the river
until the mountains close in, forming
a gorge here the road takes up ont
of those deep, dark canyons, in anc
out, forming all kinds of angles
Around two of the curves the roac
is little else than directly over the
river, and from one to six hundred
feet above the river bed. In place.
the track is only wide enough for {
wagon. But few days ago mar
with four horses hitched to wagor
loaded with grain came very neal
going over. I learn that Elkton was
formerly the county seat of Umpqus
county, before it was consolidated
with Douglas county, but there il
nothing there that would indicate
such thing.
The sheriff arrested Drains sa
loon keeper the other day and took
him to Portland, for selling whisky
to Indians.
One of our citizens was ont hunt
ing recently, got lost and lay out all
night, but got home next day. He
had captured large deer and hung
it up, But don't know where it is
was glad to get home himself
| TRAVELLER.