The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-08-05
EDIToRIAb CORRESPONDENCE.

aaa W a. AHAaNNa Va
DFA3 I,Etnrr- Hr rHs Nrw NoarHwFsr.
We hn1 no spot ia an our wauderings
where we more thoroughly enjoy en- an
nual visit than At the Cascades. i'm
Washington Territory. Here Mr. $ W
Hamilton settled thirty years ago. with
his wife and large family Of little ones.
aud here they have remained until the
children have grown to maturity. and
the most Of them are married aui set
tied near them, 10 the employ o. the o.
;. y. Company, and engaged in their
turn in rearing Interesting families Of
sons an I daughters.
Mr.. and Mrs. Hamilton can tell manv
au interesting Indian story, aud il is
better than reading story book to lis
ten 10 the incidents Of their early life in
this ROMANTIC spot. hard by the great
tree-elad mountains that loom in sol
emu dignity from the Columhia's edge
on the Oregon side, so seemingly npar
(though miles away that each pafticu-
Jar tree and rnck seems like "a fond, IA
miliar friend. On the Washington side.
where the Hamilton farm is situated.
there is an unjulstiug vale, " here hun
dre'ls II acres OF the choicest meadow
land are nestled amid luxurious friuses
Of deciduous trees, with here aud there
an orchard, a vegetable garden or pas
ture, aii rich from the loamy deposits
Of the mighty foods that three times
within thidy years have swept over the
lower plains, making the lands fahu-
lously fruitful, aui we'll repayiug the
hu-Aautmau in the succeeding season
for each years delay Ia gathering the
crop.
Tie i1ud Of this year, though not so
great as that OF '76. did much damage az
the Lower Cascades. The store aud res
idenre OF Mr.. Mpnett were flooded, and
the residences rf Mr.. Jaues and Mr.. Nc
/ D5uaid were surrounded for several days
by "a deep Cufreut that in many places
was so rapid that boats could not be
rowed through il. The water finally re-
cejed, leaving great hoies in the sandy
soil, and inpsr,iug a Wild appearance
| to The place. that would seem desolate
only for the genial company Of the
warm-heartsd deuizeus Of the busy
hamlet, whose hospitality drives dull
care To the abodes Of the busy aud hun
gTS mosquitoes.
Our leature in M1fietrs Hall proved
al enjoy able time, it We may Judge by
the courteous attention aud liberal pat
ronage bestowed. Any community that
Is sufficiently vids-awake 10 secure a
footing la such an advantageous gap in
the great mountain gorges, that open
here aud there TO form commercial
highways TO connect broad, mighty and
widely separated agricultural districts
and bear their products toward the sea,
has brains enough to be progressi ye an,
energy enough to promu'gate it. al
vAucld ideas.
The business of the transportation
cpmpluy at this point is enormous
From fifty % scventy-five men are con
stautly employed as laoorers, and
tf''tA"N 10 l'ANN aN4G'A lfii LlrAI AEGNiA
moda,ian, wue-e g wholesome fool is fur
ui7hei for four dollars per week. Al
uight a. well as all day, Sundays NO
excepted, the tfundIing Of trucks goe
on, the different portages requirin.
every hing To be haudied so often on th,
river that il is not wonderful that th,
freiEhts are high.
We wauied very much to go across
the bridge 90 the Upper Cascades, bu
the wyik was loaded down win rocks
and saud bags, aud we did not care {,
risk our neck by trying to step the tiel
above the roaring torrents that surge,
beneath ike angry auacJndas. Neithe
could we visit the locks, for the reason
that We did not fancy the journey aeros.
the boiling rapids in an opeu boat.
So, our visit being over for the pres
= ent, we tool; the boat for Portland, our
; spiritual strength renewed by assoeia
. tiou with SO many genial friends, anC
} our willing hands fairly bugdened viii
] blackberries, which we'll help TO ga
o next Winter while living over again
the associations connected with procur
! ing them. a. :. d.
] Portland, August 81, 1850.