The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1885-07-03
CORRESPONDENCE
SOUTHERN OREGON.


stream rises WI the olhklEuo MountAiue
aud flows north into the Rogue River.
II is usually very clear, but the cen
slant mining along its banks keeps IL
quite muddy. Passing through chap
arral and other low growth over a re-
gion OF poor soil take up for the night
with Bro. Werts and had pleasl mt
time with him and family. Tho next
morning HE away leisurely for six or
eight miles across the desert. This II "a
large level region filled with hog wal
laws or footholes, Tor rather low places
running in every direction,) where the
water usually stands until it either sinks
or evapcratss, none can run on. The
two Table Rocks one to my left some
miles off, by whose bases flows tho
famous II ,gue River swiftly m"and"'-
lug its serrentine coure amid ragged
rocks, between steep hills and high
mountains from It's snowy source. To
my right are ranges Of morntains with
deep gorges and wide mouthed guiches
extending to the level OF the desert
Herds Of sheep, with some cattle, hogs
and horses, feed on the early growth Of
this region, while nice farms, well i'm
proved lie along the river and to the
right along the foot hills. But few
farms are on the desert as it IL better
adapted to grazing than cultivation. At
noon on thA east side of the desert on
Dry Creek | STOPPED for dinner with Bro
Matney. This Dry Creek is rather re
markab.e. IL drains large area Of
Territory, on my right kind Of open
b,sin, but with no living stream. This
/, only stream where there IL water
in it, at othe- times it il dcy. Never
theless in the spring season, it abounds
with the ricest 6sh. After dinner |
renew my travels over the hills and in
a short time my horse slakes his thirst
in the limpid waters of the Antelope.
This stream heads far TO the south and
winding its way through deep 6orges
and narrow defiler, wars msuy nice
farms.
Pushing ahead amid the ehAparrai, l
sea a man sou.9 distance before me. j
hasten on aud find it is Brother Geo.
Lacks, 50 | am good for another night.
We soon arrive at Brownsboro, neat
little town situated upon the righ. bank
of Butte Greek, with high mountains
in front and in rsar. This boro Is
named after Mr. Them Brown, an en-
terprising aud thrifty Eaglish@an, who
settled here iu an early day,and is nov
a large land owner. The town has ore
store, one school house, one wood aud
iron shop each and several residences.
This il the trading point for this re-
gion, currency, shingles, boards, ioSts
and peIts. At nightfall, after a ride up
the creek three miles, we halt at Bro.
Isacks. A warm reception, welcome
supper, refreshing sleep and good
breakfast, fit us for our onward march.
So we start again and soon cross the
famous Lost Creek, in which the last
expedition was made. IL flows from
the north, limpid, swift and cool. La
few honra we cross 70 the south side OF
Butte Creek, also cross Lake Creek and
for several miles pass over poor SOIL
and low growth, recross again, leave
LOST Creek to the right, aud passing 9
into farm halt at the house OF Bro.
Geo. Ratno, where we spend several
dAys. Lose Creek, like many Of these
mountain streams, has high hills on
each side, but has some valuable farms
ON its banks. This Is all a rough,
broken mountain country. On Sab
bath, we held a basket meeting in the
District school house, many men pres
ent, good Sabbath School, good din
ner and sociable time generally. After
several days / mount my horse and
with a friend, we start for Dead Indian
Tbi, stream il 20 named from the fact
that AZ all carly day three dead Indians
were found near its source. Winding
along the creek over bluffs with steep,
ragged sides, sometimes in rough road
and sometimes ia a trail, we pass Pois-
on rock. This is large, blunt looking
rock on the side of bluff, jutting be-
yond the soil and is, perhaps, posioness
Cattle resort here to lick, and in shor
time they are dead. To remedy this
tho people keep il fenced, and thereb.
save their stock.
Soon we pass by Soda Creek wher
poison waters flow, and also XII
cattle when they drink 1t. They ar
, also kept from this stream as muc
as possible. After awhile we are DC
yond settlements 10 deep canyon
now through thick brush, now unde
pending cliff, amid large growth an
dense under brush we wend our wa
still onward. Ho, what is this, Il
.,s .nrn aside and see. Well. bes