Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-06-30
OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON TER.
FRIDAY ENEG, JUNE 30, 1NS.
Ten Days Vacation.

The return from Walla Walla at
this particular time afforded an
opportunity to observe the general
resources of the Oregon Railway
and Navigation Company and tie
admirable system by which all its
operations are controlled. The high
water had undermined and washed
out the filling at many places Oh the
track which winds along the river
bank between Umatilla and The
Dalles, rendering the utmost caution
necessary to guard against those
accidents which are always attended
with such appalling results. At the
former station the train came to a
halt, until daylight might be used as
an additional precaution against dis
aster. AtAlkali, the passengers were
transferred to one of the company's
steamers, to be landed at Cello, and
again to the train for The Dalles.
This thirteen miles section was
made over track at places on a
level with the water. At The
Dalles, another boat awaited, and
without delay we were safely carried
to the Cascades. There a portage
of FIVE miles was made by rail, and
we found ourselves again aboard
one of the elegant steamers on the
"last stretch" for Portland. All
along the submerged track were
hundreds of laborers, employed in
resisting the encroachments of the
great element at war with the works
of man. The conditions were not
calculated to inspire much faith in
the effort to withstand the mighty
throes of nature, still without any
apparent perturbation, the great
artery of travel with the upper
country was kept open, and the
traveller was carried, with little de-
lay, as safely as if it was in its nor
NAL condition. This system could
only be inaugurated and maintained
by q knowledge derived from long
experience, united with the soundest
Judgment. The operations OF the
company are controlled with the
precision and order of an army in
the field. The plan of operations in
any emergency is speedily formed
and the orders given from the CEN
trail Office are obeyed as literally as
if under the personal supervision OF
the mastcr-spirit.
The company's business at Walla
Walla is under the direction of H.
NJ. Chase, Esq, an old resident of
the city, aud a gentleman in every
way qualified for so important a
trust. His Office is in communica-
ton by telephone or telegraph with
the every station, thus enabling him
to ascertain at any moment the pre-
else condition of any interest under
his supervision.
THE SAND DRIFTS.
One of the most remarkable pecu.
liarities along great portion Of the
route from The DalIes to the point
where it leaves the river, is the
sand drifts. Wherever the hills
recede from the river, the track
passes through great plains of white
sand, piled up with all the peculiar
wave-lets, sloping sides and SHARP
crests of drifted snow.bank. The
prevailing winds, during the dry
season, being invariably from the
same direction doubtless accounts
for this regularity of deposit. Tc
the inquiry made of the Conductor
Where does it come from 2" the
reply 1.-The river bottom" seemed
open to some doubt, but the frank
countenance of this official disarmed
all suspicion as to his sincerity, and
= little reflection showed the truth
of this paradoxical statement. Dur.
ing high water, sand as sediment is
deposited on the numerous bars il
the bed of the river. When the
water subsidies, it is caught up by
the breeze and waited into the val.
leys along the bank. 1t is some.
times shifted about by a change Of
the air-currents so as to obstruc! the
track, and an occasional delay OF
the train was experienced until the
company built fences in the more
exposed localities to keep the track
from being literally showed in
by sand.
QUESTION ANSWERED..
A frequent inquiry is made, why
it is that the light and dry soil OF
Eastern Washington is SO produc-
tive without irrigation, as it is we'll
known that during the Summer
months scarcely drop falls in the
form of rain. A pamphlet before
US, "The Pacific Northwest" ex.
plains this seeming anomaly. 1t
is shown that the warm air currents,
are surcharged with vapor, which
sweep inland and supply just about
the amount of moisture needed TO
temper the climate and promote
vegetation. The mist with which