The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-07-23
THE GREAT NORTHWEST.
TIE COUNTRY SEEN AT IT'S BEST IN
HAY AND JUNE.
Immense Fields Of Growing Wheat in On.
kota-Charming Scenery Along the
Columbia River.

A correspondent ut Portland, Oregon.
writes To see at its best what is known
as the "Great Northwest" one should
visit it in the latter part of May or in the
month of June. Then the sunshine is
warm enough to be pleasant, the land
scape is fresh and green, and the atmos-
phere is delightfully."- clear and bracing.
The later months are apt to be warmer,
and in the absence of much rain the
constant stream Of sunshine dries the
earth aud makes more or less dust. The
Northwest does not know such weather
as the East calls sultry and oppressive
The suns rays are penetrating, but the
air is always good, and it is invariably
cool in the shade.
Minnesota is the beginning of the
Northwest and st Paul and Minneapolis
are its gates. Winter there is long and
cold, and May is we'll advanced before
Spring shows itself in real earnest; its
appearance transforms an icy. cherries
landscape into one of much beauty.
Green fields and rolling prairie blend
harmoniously, and groves of small oaks
wave their new-grown hossy leaves in
the bracing atmosphere. Many little
lakes are dotted upon the surface of the
country. Fresh breezes ruf1e their
waters, and make tiny wavelets, which
dance and sparkle in the sunlight.
Dakota's atmosphere resembles that of
Minnesota, but its landscape is quite
different. Trees are scarce and prairie
abounds. There are long stretches OF
level country, and again the land rises
and falls in graceful undulations like the
waves of the ocean. One who has been
at sea will have recalled the picture of
the waste of waters fringed on the horri-
Zon round about with the waves ever
aising and rolling one upon another.
The pillows in the distance seem always
higher then those next the speeding
ship. Early summer shows Dakotas
prairie green for miles with newly sprout-
ed wheat. The cutting of the golden
grain comes later on. Miles of yellow
boards then wave in the breezes, and the
smoke from the many thrashinG engines
rises against the sky and floats of
langnidly like that of far-away steamer
at sea. The western portion of Dakota
is bunch grass country. Bunch grass
becomes quite green in the Spring, but
it is never as fresh and decided in color
as grass of Eastern fields and pastures.
What is green in Dakota in Spring and
early Summer assumes various hues OF
yellow and brown later on. Tho hot
midsummer sun eats the coloriug matter
from the grasses and cures them as they
grow. Nothing makes beautiful coun-
try like green grass. Without it the eye
grows tired of any landscape. But there
is much beauty in the many shades of
brown and yellow of tho prairies and
hillsides. At dusk, they have an indes-
cribably rich and velvety appearance.
Every possible shade in tho changes
from brown to yellow can be seen in the
softncss of deepening twilight. Cattle
like the green things of Spring, but
they fatten on the bunch grass, and exist
on it cured in the Summer and Winter,
Dakota grows warm at times in the sun,
but the mercury there ut 110a does not
mean the discomfort of muggy day in
an Eastern city, with the mercury at SO.
The dryness of the atmosphere which
sends the mercury up in the Northwest
also protects the people from feeling tho
heat.
Eastern Montana is grazing country.
1t is largely prairie, and north of the
Yellowstone River are large herds of
cattle. To the South of this river for
several hundred miles is the reservation
of the Grow Indians. Trees are most
refreshing sight to q dweller on the
prairie. Except on river banks he does
not see them. Trees line the banks of
every river, and. rising above the level
of the surrounding country. one can by
them trace the course of any stream for
many miles. The month of June sees
volume of water in the Yellowstone
River, scattering spots of snow on the
mountains of the Belt range, and the
river and streams of the National Park
are full of life and energy. 1t also
shows the country west of the Rocky
Mountains in its choicest season. The
Rocky MountNins do not present high
ridge of snow-capped peaks running
north and south across the face of the